Teach Your Dog To Roll Over

When a dog behaves inappropriately during training is it okay to use a leash correction?

In recent years it has become increasingly popular to use positive reinforcement methods when training dogs. The theory being that the dog associates the treat with a good behaviour and will repeat the action in order to gain more treats. As training develops and the dog gets more willing to perform the action, the treats are lessened in frequency until the dog eventually will respond to the request without treats being presented.

More traditional training methods started off with treat training but would progress onto corrections during the ‘proofing’ stage and would call for the dog to be corrected with a sharp ‘pop’ of the leash if it did not perform the requested command.

The problems with traditional training methods are that they can in extreme cases lead to fear (either of a situation, an object or the trainer) and nervousness. Neither of which make for a happy dog nor owner, and could lead to further problems such as aggression.

That said there are occasions when a leash correction can still be used effectively and humanely, without detriment to the dog or the trainers relationship with the dog. Leash corrections can be used as a means of attracting your dogs attention back to you rather than to punish him for a command that wasn’t carried out.

The force of the correction must only match the intensity of the distraction. If the dog does not respond to the attracting of his attention without applying inappropriate force, then the trainer has been too delayed in applying the correction. The leash correction should always be carried out in a calm controlled manner. Leash corrections should never be carried out in anger or frustration.

A dog can go from calm to extreme excitement within seconds, and the sooner the trainer realises that a distraction has occurred the smaller the amount of force on the leash will be needed to focus the dog back to the job at hand. It is therefore extremely important to concentrate fully on your dog and learn to read his body language so that the early signs of distraction (pricked up ears, fixating stare, stiffened body, etc.) can be acted upon soon enough to prevent escalation.

Certainly the leash correction has it’s place in today’s dog training methods, but it should be used as a way of getting the dogs attention during intense distractions than to ‘show the dog who is boss’.

Remember, always consult a professional dog trainer if you are unsure.  

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Train Your Dog Not To Bark

Prepare yourself for training your dog

Obedience training is the most effective way to get the most from your dog. It’s also how you give the best to your dog because a well-trained dog is a happy dog. They’re secure. They acknowledge that you’re the boss and that you’ve got a plan. Every dog is trainable but certain dogs are more susceptible to certain types of training. Some professional dogs take right to search and rescue dog training, Doberman pinschers are predisposed to be watchdogs, while collies are herding dogs, and setters, pointers, and retrievers are hunting dogs.

Understanding dog behavior

A tired dog is a good dog- Give the dog the exercise he needs, and he will spend a great deal of his day resting – not chewing, barking, digging, trying to run away, or destroying things.

Your reactions have an impact on your dogs actions- If you reward for some action, he will likely repeat it. Reward your dog for actions you like, and prevent your dog from getting rewarded for the actions you don’t want to encourage.

Dogs do what works- Dogs will behave in ways that they have learned are successful, ways that gain them Good Things and help them avoid Bad Things. Behavior that is rewarded is going to be repeated.

Be the alpha dog- To successfully train your dog, you must be the leader of your pack, or at the very least rank above him. Always be firm and consistent with your dog, as this will demonstrate to him that he can’t get by with everything, even if he actually is the most precious thing alive. If you are concerned that you might already be underneath your dog in rank, don’t give up and go along to let your dog hog the covers at night – make him get off the bed. Although it may seem mean, it’s a good idea to show your dog who’s boss by pulling rank on him once in a while. Make him get up from the sofa so you can sit in his place, and eat your meal before giving him his, even if he’s drooling a lake by your feet. Don’t act frightened if your dog growls at you when you ask him to do things – just growl back without touching him and stand your ground. Keep on urging him to obey you until he does.

Housebreaking

The absolute first form of dog training your puppy must learn is housebreaking. Housebreaking is basically potty training for dogs. The best age to begin housebreaking your puppy is between eight and twelve weeks of age Housebreaking means he must learn where and when he can do his business. In addition to being considerably beneficial to the hygiene of your home, dogs benefit from having rules and a routine – because they are pack animals, they look for duties issued by the pack leader and naturally enjoy keeping schedules.

Teach your dog some basic commands

At about twelve weeks old, your dog is ready for some dog obedience training. You should hold training sessions with your dog at least twice a day and each session should be around 10-15 minutes long (shorter if either you or your dog get impatient or distracted easily). When you first start out training, keep within a calm, confined location with no distractions, and then slowly work your way out to public areas.

The first step in training is to figure out what your dog likes so that you are able to reward him with a desired prize. If your dog is of the food-motivated type, make some small treats that don’t crumble. The smell of a dirt-size crumb can drive your dog crazy and distract him from the task at hand. You want to keep the treats small because you want to be able to give him several them, nevertheless you don’t want the training session to be ended by uncontrollable vomiting. Whenever your dog loses interest in the treats, change the type of treat. You might also want to try scheduling training sessions around mealtimes. If your dog is more driven by petting or an opportunity to play games with you, haul out the squeaky ball. Don’t get caught up in the petting and playing during a training session, though. Just reward your dog with less than half a minute of playtime then go back to work. Other tips

Some other tips for training your dog

The Crate As A Safe Den- People use crates for lots of reasons, like to help with housetraining or traveling. The crates are also a great place of escape when a dog’s world seems scary. When there is a big electrical storm, the crate is the ideal size and shape to crawl into and feel protected from the noise and lights. Even a socialized dog that is accustomed having three or four people come over to visit may be overwhelmed when all the relatives come for a holiday – crates come to the rescue. Crates not only give your dog a spot to feel extra safe, they come in handy to actually keep them out of danger. When there are workmen in the backyard, dogs feel safe in their crates, but they also won’t accidentally be allowed to run in the street or get hurt by nails or power tools. For thousands of years, dogs have had the instinct to den – so supplying them with a safe den seems like the least we owners can do. The crate is cleaner than a hole in the ground, and it has the added benefit of being portable and lockable. Dogs are less likely to bark when they can see less, and they feel more secure when “danger” can’t see them. What can make a wire crate feel as safe and cozy as a den includes a cushy pad to nap on and a tie-on cover. Some prefer the carrier because it is solid (with ventilation holes). With either one, you just need it to be large enough for the dog to be able to change position. A bigger one feels less like a safe den and adds the chance of it being used as a bathroom.

Act Like a Dog When Puppy Bites- Puppies bite everything while they’re getting a new tooth, which helps the teeth come in. But, you do have to stop him from biting people. The most effective discipline is the kind that his mom would use. Whenever puppy bites, grab his muzzle with your hand and say no in a mean voice – “in his face.” Then leave. Playtime is over. If puppy doesn’t get the message with this, pick him up by the scruff of his neck and shake his body while you tell him no in a mean voice. And, again, playtime is over. For the really stubborn puppy, place him on his back and hold him down until he chills out and gets the message that you are top dog. If he is little, you can do this in your arms. For the bigger puppy, do this on the floor. Playing tug of war with a puppy encourages him to use his teeth in play. So can wrestling. Rather than these trouble-causing games, you must demonstrate to him in the beginning that you are top dog. And that goes for everyone in your family. Your family is in danger of future aggression and real biting from a dog that believes that he is equal to or higher up than any of you.