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Well, to begin with, lets do away with the myth that your dog appears to think like a human, they do not. I know this is hard to believe and we all love to believe that our good boy is actually quite smart. The truth is the dog will react to you. You therefore need to educate yourself in order to train your dog. People often make huge unintentional mistakes with regards to training dogs, purely because they do not understand the dogs mind. Your dog requires certain key factors in order to be correctly trained and you need to know how to do this. Basically you need to arm yourself with the best dog training tools available in the market today. This may comprise of physical devices along with solid training advice. Your dog only really wants to be a loyal member of his dog pack. Dogs behave instinctively, being an animal, this is quite normal. All they want is acceptance. In order to change any bad dog behavior you need to focus on changing the way your dog expresses his natural dog instincts. Screaming and being angry with your dog will not train the dog. This will just create fear and lack of confidence within your dog.
Core Dog Training Advice
There are many areas in which one could train your dog. Some of these areas are purely for recreational activities. For instance, you may want your dog to do tricks like rollover or give paw, etc. These are just for bragging rights really, see how clever my dog is. However, there is a more serious side to training. Here you would need some more advanced dog training tools or advice. This type of training involves, maintaining control of your dog when out in public or in your own home when strange people are visiting, for instance. Heaven knows what a badly behaved dog can get up to if not kept in check. Bad dog behavior can cost their owners dearly, so it is advisable to focus on these aspects of dog training. Here are a few of the basics with regards to dog training. As we all know this is quite a vast topic, so we will cover some more well known dog behavior problems. There are plenty of, paid for,and worth every cent, professional instructional guides out there. Lets take a look at some of these bad dog behavior issues which require training of your dog, now.
Crate Training:
This type of dog training tool should not be abused, for example when you want time out from your pet dog. Crate training should be used to properly house train your dog. You may also want to familiarize your dog with the crate for those times when he will be travelling with you on a airplane for instance. The idea is to confine the dog to the crate for a short period of time, lets say 1 hour. Upon release from the crate you should take the dog outside to allow him to do his business. If the dog does his business then a reward in the form of a healthy dog treat or lavishing them with affection is in order. Once again, we see here good behavior associated with reward. Quick pointers here, always be at home when using the crate, do not lock the dog in the crate overnight, make sure the dog is comfortable in the crate. Never allow the crate to be seen as a form of punishment for your dog. Dogs react instinctively and as such, should not be shouted at or beaten for doing what comes naturally. Always bear this in mind when your dog has done something which we humans just do not understand. There is usually some good dog reason for doing whatever he has done.
Leash Training:
If your dog is pulling your arm out of its socket every time you take him walkies, its time for proper leash training. You need to assume control of your dog when he is on the leash. Never allow your dog to get over excited when he sees the leash or becomes aware that you are going to take him for a walk. If necessary make your dog sit and stay whilst you go and open the door. Then come back, put on his leash, only if he has behaved and listened to your commands. Repetition is key here, if you want to be rid of his over zealous behavior. Also, as long as your dog is in this hyped up state he will not listen to any commands you may give him. Whilst walking your dog, you should always be in control. The dog should not be leading you around. By all means let the dog sniff about and so forth, but not throughout the whole walk. Also, if he does not refrain from pulling, then make him sit and stay next to your side until he understands that you are the Alpha Dog and are therefore in charge. The dog will soon come to understand that his walk will be stopped each time he pulls.
The Alpha Position:
Every domesticated dog needs to be trained in this area. By no means should your dog be allowed to assume this role in your home or outdoors for that matter. Dogs do not speak, they bark, except for the Basenji breed of course, so do not assume dogs understand human language. Ultimately your dog needs to know that you are in charge and as such, your dog can relax, knowing that you will protect him. I know this sounds strange, as many of us assume the dog is there to protect us. Make no error, your dog will certainly "come to the party" when his pack or any one of its members is under threat. This serves to re-enforce the concept of establishing the pack roles so that your dog knows exactly who is in and who is not.
Obedience Training:
Now I do not know about you, but I certainly was not born an expert in dog training. So here, I would say its advisable to try and attend some good obedience training classes. This is especially true, if you are a new dog owner or have never really had any professional advice from people that have been doing this on a daily basis. Of course everything you are taught at these classes can be used in your home training. These classes can provide a solid foundation for aspects such as, assuming the alpha position, house training, issuing commands and even managing your older more mature dogs. Once you have the basics there is a wealth of advice, products and knowledge out there from experts in their fields, which will empower you. It may cost a little, but I would rather be penny wise than pound foolish.
Dog Training Advice - Consistency, its essential.
Dogs learn things by means of repetition, this has been clearly established already. So, for you to have any success in controlling your dog or dogs, you need to be CONSISTENT. Yes, this is truly the one most important thing when it comes to dog training. Whether you live alone or have a huge family at home, dog training is essential to maintain peace and harmony, never mind the bank balance. This is essential if you have a family or share your home with other people. You will need to educate the family or other people as well, so that the dog sees a CONSISTENT chain of command. Sounds very military, but I suppose this attitude is required if you want to eliminate bad dog behavior. There is no point in you putting in all the effort to get your dog trained and well behaved, just for the rest of the family to go and ruin it all. This will really make your dog confused as well.
Always remember that any knowledge gained through classes, a quality online book you have bought or merely by reading these articles, is going to benefit you ultimately. After all, KNOWLEDGE is POWER, and that is so true. Your dog may be physically more powerful than you, but you dominate because of KNOWLEDGE.
This is a GREAT post (even though I disagree with what you said about the crate)! Unfortunately, I have learned over the past 30 years, most owners don't really want a trained dog. They aren't willing to put in the time and dedication it takes to have a well-trained dog. It has gotten worse and worse over the years. Not to mention, it is pretty difficult to find a decent training class where the instructor is in charge and teaches (and demands) that you are in charge of your dog. Twenty-five years or so ago, it was still easy to find good classes - 8-week courses held in a park, a tennis court, or sometimes a high school gym or rec center space. You were told to have a flat collar or choke chain and a 6' leather (not nylon) leash; harnesses and gadgets were not allowed. You may or may not have had to bring treats. You were expected to do your homework and at the end of the session, there was a test that involved all the commands and there were not ribbons for all - your dog didn't pass, you didn't get a certificate. Each class I took, different years, different instructors, different towns, was pretty consistent in the format. Now when people do WANT to go to a training class, it's hard to even find one you can recommend. People get finished with 6-weeks of shoving treats down their dog's throat for nothing, because apparently 8 weeks is more than people will do, and their dog STILL can't perform a heel, sit, down, stay, and come with distractions and working around a group of dogs. These trainers are FAILING customers and their dogs because the methods don't work and then people think their dog is "untrainable." I've actually encountered people that have done 2-3 6-week sessions at the big box stores and still can't walk their dog on a loose leash or stop it from jumping and they "wish" their dog was as "smart" as mine, but theirs is "untrainable"! We need more Barbara Woodhouses and fewer Victoria Stilwells!
JohnR3 "Dog Training Advice - Consistency, its essential."
That needs to be on a T-shirt. If you had a chance to read my "I am such a sucker" thread, inconsistency, then no follow-up training was beginning to be the downfall of the 19 month old Rottweiler that was re-homed to me last week.
This dog has advanced so much since last Wednesday, she went to the barn off the leash, to help my two Catahoula/mix bring the horses in.
OttoR said: "These trainers are FAILING customers and their dogs because the methods don't work and then people think their dog is "untrainable." I've actually encountered people that have done 2-3 6-week sessions at the big box stores and still can't walk their dog on a loose leash or stop it from jumping and they "wish" their dog was as "smart" as mine, but theirs is "untrainable"!"
If you think this is bad, transfer all of this to an 1,100 pound or more horse, lollol. When you start dealing with poor trainers and people who are distraught because this "isn't the same horse I bought six months ago", you get one person trading horses faster than rabbits have litters (and ruining a great horse), and/or you get a person seriously hurt in the E-R and all the while it's the poor horse getting a bad rap.,
I've re-schooled my share of those ruined horses and found them good homes. I am greatful I never had to have a trainer for myself or my horses; my grandfather was those wings beneath my feet.
I also am strictly a trail rider -- never did like the unfairness in any of the venues of the show world. A well trained trail horse can save its riders life in a bad situation
At any rate, "you can't fix stupid" is as alive and well, in similar fashion, in the horse world as it is the dog world but the doctor bills are a lot higher, lollol
JohnR3 "Dog Training Advice - Consistency, its essential."
That needs to be on a T-shirt. If you had a chance to read my "I am such a sucker" thread, inconsistency, then no follow-up training was beginning to be the downfall of the 19 month old Rottweiler that was re-homed to me last week.
This dog has advanced so much since last Wednesday, she went to the barn off the leash, to help my two Catahoula/mix bring the horses in.
OttoR said: "These trainers are FAILING customers and their dogs because the methods don't work and then people think their dog is "untrainable." I've actually encountered people that have done 2-3 6-week sessions at the big box stores and still can't walk their dog on a loose leash or stop it from jumping and they "wish" their dog was as "smart" as mine, but theirs is "untrainable"!"
If you think this is bad, transfer all of this to an 1,100 pound or more horse, lollol. When you start dealing with poor trainers and people who are distraught because this "isn't the same horse I bought six months ago", you get one person trading horses faster than rabbits have litters (and ruining a great horse), and/or you get a person seriously hurt in the E-R and all the while it's the poor horse getting a bad rap.,
I've re-schooled my share of those ruined horses and found them good homes. I am greatful I never had to have a trainer for myself or my horses; my grandfather was those wings beneath my feet.
I also am strictly a trail rider -- never did like the unfairness in any of the venues of the show world. A well trained trail horse can save its riders life in a bad situation
At any rate, "you can't fix stupid" is as alive and well, in similar fashion, in the horse world as it is the dog world but the doctor bills are a lot higher, lollol
We are picking up our new puppy in a couple of weeks. It’s been many years since we’ve had a puppy, so along with other supplies, I was looking for a training book as a refresher. The title of this one resonated with me: How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves. I like what I’ve read so far. I want to understand what I need to do and why, and this book goes deep into that.
We’ve taken all our other dogs through obedience classes and I’ve always said the classes are needed for the humans more than the dogs. We had great instructors, I hope I can find good ones here.
I dislike saying “go potty” and would like another phrase to use this time around. I think after all these years of saying that, I might be inconsistent, falling back on the old phrase out of habit. Can I teach myself a new trick?
Yeah the classes are for the human to teach them how to train a dog but with a class you are also working your dog around other dogs and that is helpful too.
I have trained quite a few dogs but when I get a new one I do take it to a class so it can be worked around other dogs and learn to ignore them and pay attention to me. If it is a puppy we do puppy classes and I will agree people are not consistent and do not practice what they learn outside of class then get upset that the dog does not do what they ask it to in class. When Chaos was in puppy class people others in class kept saying " oh you are so lucky you have such a smart puppy" as she was the star pupil and at the end of classes the only one that was walking with a relaxed leash at a heal position and not trying to play with everyone else as she did so. I said No I am consistent with her training and I work with her outside class as she really is not what I consider to be that smart of a dog. I think that fell on deaf ears!
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