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This was posted on Puppy by mistake... now reposted.
I am writing this in answer to many e.mails about the best methods of training your dog.
Well I'm sorry to say there is no magic wands, every dog is different and methods that is successful with one dog can be unworkable for others.
I will attempt to keep this as brief as possible, and no way can I cover every aspect of training on here.
Why should I train my dog?
Many people can’t imagine life without dogs. We admire and adore them for their loyalty, unconditional affection, playful exuberance and zest for life. Nevertheless, dogs and people are very different animals.
Although officially “man’s best friend,” dogs have some innocent but irksome tendencies—like jumping up to greet, barking, digging and chewing—that can make it downright difficult to live with them! To make the most of your relationship with your dog, you need to teach her some important skills that will help her live harmoniously in a human household.
How should I train my dog?
If you ask around, you’ll get all kinds of advice about training your dog. Some people will tell you that the key is to use a “firm hand”—to make sure your dog doesn’t think she can get away with naughty behavior.
Some people argue that you should only use rewards in dog training and avoid punishing your dog in any way.
Some people insist that all you have to do is “be the alpha dog,” assert your status as the dominant leader of your “pack.” It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the glut of differing opinions out there.
Regardless of which method and techniques you use, effective dog training boils down to one thing—controlling the consequences of your dog’s
behavior. If you want to influence the way your dog behaves, you need to:
1: Reward behaviors you like.
2:Make sure behaviors you don’t like aren’t rewarded.
Good behaviour,, Reward It
Some training methods use punishment, like leash corrections and scolding, to discourage dogs from doing everything except what you want them to do.
Other methods cut right to the chase and focus on teaching dogs what you do want them to do. While both tactics can work, the latter is usually the more effective approach, and it’s also much more enjoyable for you and your dog.
For example, you can easily use treats, games and praise to teach your dog to sit when people approach during walks in the neighborhood.
If your dog is sitting, she won’t be dragging you toward the people, jumping up when they get close enough, mouthing on their arms and legs, and so on.
That’s pretty efficient training—no pain or intimidation needed.
Alternatively, you could grab your dog’s leash and jerk her to the ground every time she jumps up to greet people, and you’d most likely get the same effect in the end—no more jumping up. But consider the possible fallout:
Your dog might decide that people are scary since she gets hurt whenever she tries to greet them—and she might try to drive them away by growling or barking the next time they approach.
Your dog might decide that YOU are scary since you hurt her whenever she tries to greet people.
If you can teach your dog polite manners without hurting or frightening her, why not do it?
Rather than punishing her for all the things you don’t want her to do, concentrate on teaching your dog what you do want her to do.
When your dog does something you like, convince her to do it again by rewarding her with something she loves.
You’ll get the job done without damaging the relationship between you and your best friend.
If You Don’t Like the Behavior, Take Rewards Away
The most important part of training your dog is teaching her that it pays to do things you like.
But your dog also needs to learn that it doesn’t pay to do things you don’t like.
Fortunately, discouraging unwanted behavior doesn’t have to involve pain or intimidation.
You just need to make sure that behavior you dislike doesn’t get rewarded.
Most of the time, dog motivations aren’t mysterious. They simply do what works! Dogs jump up on people, for example, because people pay attention to them as a result.
They can learn not to jump up if we ignore them when they jump up instead. It can be as simple as turning away or staring at the sky when your dog jumps up to greet or play with you.
As soon as she sits, you can give her the attention she craves. If you stick to this plan, your dog will learn two things at once.
Doing something you like (sitting) reliably works to earn what she wants (attention),
and doing things you don’t like (jumping up) always results in the loss of what she wants.
Lastly
Be a Good Owner
Some people believe that the only way to transform a disobedient dog into a well-behaved one is to dominate her and show her who’s boss.
However, the “alpha dog” concept in dog training is based more on myth than on animal science.
More importantly, it leads misguided pet parents to use training techniques that aren’t safe, like the “alpha roll.” Dogs who are forcibly rolled onto their backs and held down can become frightened and confused, and they’re sometimes driven to bite in self defense.
Keep in mind that ditching the “alpha dog” concept doesn’t mean you have to let your dog do anything she likes. It’s fine to be the boss and make the rules—but you can do that without unnecessary conflict. Be a benevolent boss, not a bully.
Good leadership isn’t about dominance and power struggles. It’s about controlling your dog’s behavior by controlling her access to things she wants.
YOU have the opposable thumbs that open cans of dog food, turn doorknobs and throw tennis balls! Use them to your best advantage. If your dog wants to go out, ask her to sit before you open the door.
When she wants dinner, ask her to lie down to earn it.
Does she want to go for a walk? If she’s jumping up on you with excitement, wait calmly until she sits. Then clip on the leash and take your walk.
Your dog will happily work for everything she loves in life. She can learn to do what you want in order to earn what she wants.
It has been proved over and over that kindness, patience, treats and praise delivers results.
I hope this helps, I placed the above here as I honestly do not have time to answer dozens of Emails.
If you wish more info please ask;
Shewbert
I am writing this in answer to many e.mails about the best methods of training your dog.
Well I'm sorry to say there is no magic wands, every dog is different and methods that is successful with one dog can be unworkable for others.
I will attempt to keep this as brief as possible, and no way can I cover every aspect of training on here.
Why should I train my dog?
Many people can’t imagine life without dogs. We admire and adore them for their loyalty, unconditional affection, playful exuberance and zest for life. Nevertheless, dogs and people are very different animals.
Although officially “man’s best friend,” dogs have some innocent but irksome tendencies—like jumping up to greet, barking, digging and chewing—that can make it downright difficult to live with them! To make the most of your relationship with your dog, you need to teach her some important skills that will help her live harmoniously in a human household.
How should I train my dog?
If you ask around, you’ll get all kinds of advice about training your dog. Some people will tell you that the key is to use a “firm hand”—to make sure your dog doesn’t think she can get away with naughty behavior.
Some people argue that you should only use rewards in dog training and avoid punishing your dog in any way.
Some people insist that all you have to do is “be the alpha dog,” assert your status as the dominant leader of your “pack.” It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the glut of differing opinions out there.
Regardless of which method and techniques you use, effective dog training boils down to one thing—controlling the consequences of your dog’s
behavior. If you want to influence the way your dog behaves, you need to:
1: Reward behaviors you like.
2:Make sure behaviors you don’t like aren’t rewarded.
Good behaviour,, Reward It
Some training methods use punishment, like leash corrections and scolding, to discourage dogs from doing everything except what you want them to do.
Other methods cut right to the chase and focus on teaching dogs what you do want them to do. While both tactics can work, the latter is usually the more effective approach, and it’s also much more enjoyable for you and your dog.
For example, you can easily use treats, games and praise to teach your dog to sit when people approach during walks in the neighborhood.
If your dog is sitting, she won’t be dragging you toward the people, jumping up when they get close enough, mouthing on their arms and legs, and so on.
That’s pretty efficient training—no pain or intimidation needed.
Alternatively, you could grab your dog’s leash and jerk her to the ground every time she jumps up to greet people, and you’d most likely get the same effect in the end—no more jumping up. But consider the possible fallout:
Your dog might decide that people are scary since she gets hurt whenever she tries to greet them—and she might try to drive them away by growling or barking the next time they approach.
Your dog might decide that YOU are scary since you hurt her whenever she tries to greet people.
If you can teach your dog polite manners without hurting or frightening her, why not do it?
Rather than punishing her for all the things you don’t want her to do, concentrate on teaching your dog what you do want her to do.
When your dog does something you like, convince her to do it again by rewarding her with something she loves.
You’ll get the job done without damaging the relationship between you and your best friend.
If You Don’t Like the Behavior, Take Rewards Away
The most important part of training your dog is teaching her that it pays to do things you like.
But your dog also needs to learn that it doesn’t pay to do things you don’t like.
Fortunately, discouraging unwanted behavior doesn’t have to involve pain or intimidation.
You just need to make sure that behavior you dislike doesn’t get rewarded.
Most of the time, dog motivations aren’t mysterious. They simply do what works! Dogs jump up on people, for example, because people pay attention to them as a result.
They can learn not to jump up if we ignore them when they jump up instead. It can be as simple as turning away or staring at the sky when your dog jumps up to greet or play with you.
As soon as she sits, you can give her the attention she craves. If you stick to this plan, your dog will learn two things at once.
Doing something you like (sitting) reliably works to earn what she wants (attention),
and doing things you don’t like (jumping up) always results in the loss of what she wants.
Lastly
Be a Good Owner
Some people believe that the only way to transform a disobedient dog into a well-behaved one is to dominate her and show her who’s boss.
However, the “alpha dog” concept in dog training is based more on myth than on animal science.
More importantly, it leads misguided pet parents to use training techniques that aren’t safe, like the “alpha roll.” Dogs who are forcibly rolled onto their backs and held down can become frightened and confused, and they’re sometimes driven to bite in self defense.
Keep in mind that ditching the “alpha dog” concept doesn’t mean you have to let your dog do anything she likes. It’s fine to be the boss and make the rules—but you can do that without unnecessary conflict. Be a benevolent boss, not a bully.
Good leadership isn’t about dominance and power struggles. It’s about controlling your dog’s behavior by controlling her access to things she wants.
YOU have the opposable thumbs that open cans of dog food, turn doorknobs and throw tennis balls! Use them to your best advantage. If your dog wants to go out, ask her to sit before you open the door.
When she wants dinner, ask her to lie down to earn it.
Does she want to go for a walk? If she’s jumping up on you with excitement, wait calmly until she sits. Then clip on the leash and take your walk.
Your dog will happily work for everything she loves in life. She can learn to do what you want in order to earn what she wants.
It has been proved over and over that kindness, patience, treats and praise delivers results.
I hope this helps, I placed the above here as I honestly do not have time to answer dozens of Emails.
If you wish more info please ask;
Shewbert
