Theresa's Tips & Training

TEACHING A DOG THE FUNDAMENTALS OF OBEDIENCE

Don't Use Punishment

Punishment as a training aid does not foster the willingness to please and excitement for work, which comes with positive reinforcement and treats. Any negative stimuli should be limited to using the word “NO” and blocking the dog negative actions. Hitting and physical abuse of any sort are unnecessary in any training session, and should not be used.

Timing and Consistency

Remember that timing is everything. Coordination of the trainer's movements and corrections is directly related to the ability of the dog to comprehend the lesson he is being taught. It is important to make him understand that the corrections given are a direct result of his behavior, and will not take place if he does as the trainer wishes. For example, if a dog is given the command “come” while in another room while chewing on a toy he is unlikely to respond. If no one brings him to the trainer on the command “come,” he will learn the word is synonymous with “ignore.” On the other hand, the dog is only told “come” under controlled circumstances, while on the leash in the hands of the trainer, he can be gently pulled towards the trainer with praise and learns that “come” always means to approach the trainer and that to do so brings praise.

Rewards and Praise

Directly related to timing is praise. If when given the command “come” a dog responds with the correct action and is not praised, he quickly loses enthusiasm and interest. Conversely, when given plenty of praise and caresses immediately upon correct completion of a given command, he quickly learns that the exercises are fun. He also learns to duplicate the correct action quickly in order to reap his rewards faster. In this way, praise and treats strengthen the understanding and willingness of a pup to respond to a given command. Allow a dog the chance to act on its own before forcing or using corrections. Guiding a dog is more confidence building than using force

Work for Short Periods

This is pretty self-explanatory. Keep sessions short (10 minutes for puppies 20 minutes for older dogs) and doing them frequently (2-3 times daily) ensures that the trainer will have the full attention of the dog, and that he does not get bored.

Repetition

This works hand in hand with working for short periods of time. Do an exercise for as many times as it takes to get it right or close to right. Once you get it right, STOP. A dog will learn that doing the exercise correctly and quickly will be a reward in and of itself, because it will not have to keep doing the exercise over.

Patience and Confidence

Training a dog requires patience and confidence. Dogs know when the trainer is sure of himself and what he is doing. Lack of confidence can be overcome by the trainer being consistent and patient.

Keep it Simple

Doing easy exercises one at a time is a much simpler concept for a dog than learning a whole exercise in one sitting. The sit-stay fir example, is not taught all at once, but broken down into its component parts. First he must learn to sit reliably on it's own, then the trainer can add movement away from the pup. Once that part is learned, the trainer can make the distance between himself and the dog greater and greater. Then he can add time away from the dog as a factor. Eventually, the dog learns that no matter how far and how long the trainer is gone, he must stay in the position originally placed until he is released.

Talk to the Dog

A constant of happy chatter from the trainer to the puppy insures that the puppy is paying attention. Praise words along with corrections can be given, and the dog will learn to watch the trainer and listen for changes of command given with the tone of voice. In this way, the dog also learns to watch the trainers face.

"All life contains a spirit with virtues we may learn from"
Nan Sea Love