Most Effective Dog Training Techniques
So, you’re looking to perfect your dog training techniques? Here we’ll cover 10 supremely effective, positive dog training techniques that can be applied to training pet dogs of various behavioural dispositions and at different stages of the dog’s life cycle.
Before we get in to the ‘applied science’ of implementing our dog training techniques, let’s first take at look at the dog trainer’s vocabulary.
Common Terms Used in Dog Training
1. Bait: A treat used to get your dog to give you his attention.
2. Collars: A “puppy” collar is a buckle collar made from a wide piece of cotton or nylon fabric. A slip or chain “choke” collar is made from cotton, nylon or chain. The best chain collars are brass with very tight, small links.
3. Cord or Long line: A piece of cotton or nylon cord, very lightweight and small in diameter (in relation to the size of your puppy or dog) with a snap at one end and a handle at the other.
4. Correction: A physical or verbal restraint to the dog. Anything that dog perceives in a negative concept. It’s important to understand that what one dog may find rewarding, another will view negatively. Key is: know your dog.
5. Free: Without restraint. A free dog is able is not in any form of physical contact with the trainer.
6. At heel. This is a dog either on lead or off in close proximity to the trainer’s legs. Either walking, trotting or staying at heel.
7. Praise: Positive physical or verbal reassurance to reward your dog. This can include ANYTHING that the dog reacts positively to.
8. Reward: An edible treat or toy that can easily be thrown.
9. Leash/lead: A lightweight lead. This type of leash comes in different materials, fabrics and lengths. Some show leashes have built-in collars while some are to be attached to separate collars.
Dog Training Techniques That Work
Attitude
The most crucial factor that will often determine success and failure in training your dog is attitude – both yours and that of your canine subject. Taking a positive attitude in to a dog training session is of even more importance that focussing on the technical aspects of whatever dog training techniques or learning disciplines you may be working on.
Time
The time you spend training your dog should not be set in stone. Certain techniques require, by their very definition, more time to spent on them. For example, the slow and ‘boring’ waiting and stay exercises should be built up over time to a point where the dog can be placed in a stay for as long as the trainer determines. But the key here is working in short, sharp bursts before moving forward to new challenges. The most crucial factor is to always end the training session on a high and never let the dog training session end with a dog that has been bored or has been left unable to finish on a positive, successful end.
Timing
Timing is not just everything, it’s the ONLY thing that separates success from failure. Learn to reward at the perfect time and learn that sometimes time (even fractions of seconds) may pass, leaving it inappropriate to attempt a correction. Timing comes with experience but recognising its importance and your need to perfect it in order to develop the best, most effective dog training technique in your arsenal will stand you in good stead.
As you can see, we have deliberately not focussed on step by step technical aspects of the dog training process (we have plenty of time to cover those in other areas) – the emphasis must be on establishing the three absolutely crucial techniques outlined above. With the right attitude, without dedicating the most appropriate periods of time and an inability to master the art of timing will render all dog training techniques next to useless.
20 comments December 5, 2010
Puppy Obedience Training[Puppy Training Guide][Puppy Training Tips]
If your dog[puppy] misbehaves[doesn't behave] all the time your relationship with the dog will turn sour sooner or later. That is why puppy obedience training is so important. Otherwise, your dog might become a real troublemaker later on. Some dogs are constantly biting people and chewing things, barking loudly all the time, dirtying the house, breaking their leashes and digging up the lawn. Naturally, the owner will get up fed up with the dog.
Puppy obedience training will probably not turn your dog into a little canine angel. However, you will be able to control it when you want to, if you train it properly. You could turn to a dog trainer for help but nowadays you can find all the information that you need through various books, DVDs and articles on the internet. You can do puppy obedience training on your own. However, if you are impatient and short-tempered you will first have to train yourself to be patient!
There are various things that you need to teach your dog. Some are things you want it to do and others are things you don’t want it to do. Puppy obedience training involves potty, leash, crate and house training. You also need to teach your dog some basic commands. Don’t think of the task as a hard, boring thing. You can have fun with your dog while training it. Puppy obedience training could involve training a lot of tricks. Children might be even better than some adults at teaching tricks to their puppies.
When your puppy misbehaves let it be known that you are not happy with the behavior. For example, don’t move when your puppy pulls at the leash when you take it out on a walk. Obedience puppy training has a lot to do with standing your ground. You must also reward good behavior. You may have seen trainers giving biscuits to puppies after they complete various tricks.
Your relationship with your dog should not be one based on fear. This type of puppy obedience training is very wrong. The puppy should obey you because it understands your intentions and not because it is scared of you. Don’t be too harsh on the puppy especially, when it is very young.
You might see your puppy chewing your slippers despite continuous puppy obedience training. In such an instance get your puppy something to chew so that it will leave your slippers alone. You need to be tactful and kind in order to build up a good relationship with your puppy. Without this any puppy obedience training would probably end up a failure.
Start training your puppy as early as possible. Time constraints might obstruct puppy obedience training but try to find as much time as possible. The job will get harder and harder, later and later on. Always keep this in mind.
Proper puppy obedience training would leave both you are your dog happy.
Resources:
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