Kids and Snacks
Young children can find it tough when there are dogs in the house especially during meal time, the temptation to give their favourite friend a snack is almost too much to bear at some times. It is important to do this however so that the proper treat training can be adhered to. The dog that has access to any food that he wants is a poor candidate for training.
The little morsel that any child gives its favourite friend is a major distraction to the dog, why should it obey?
The ideal solution is to keep your dog away from the food, especially when there are children around! It could also result in the dog becoming aggressive and teretorial!
Saturday, 10 February 2007
Friday, 9 February 2007
Food for Dog Thought!
The Rule of the Iron Paw!
Food is great, it can change a 120 pound Rotweiller cross into a docile pup, it can stop you having to push, pull and bully your dog into submission so that you can train him, a simple treat can work wonders.
With all training it pays to start early though, having to deal with a unruly dog already accustomed to his or her own way can require a lot more patience. A dog that is happy to serve the human that feeds him is an easier dog to train. If you dog is unruly, experts tell us that cutting him or her of from affection and food is necessary till he obeys your commands, don’t give in to impatience and expediency otherwise what “goes around comes around”, your dog will be your master!
The difficulties of the first few days, and there will be some (!), will soon be forgotten as soon as our faithful friend learns that the centre of their universe is their owner. Obedience will then replace frustration.
Experts give us a word of warning, if a dog becomes aggressive get straight to a canine behaviour specialist like Cesar Millan “the dog whisperer”. This is an experts job and must be dealt with immediately.
Thursday, 8 February 2007
Is Training is All About Manners?
“Manners maketh man” (and dogs!) Just as we require our children to be well mannered at home as well as in public, so we should expect the same of our dog family members.
Manners for dogs – start with the very young dog. Commands only work if they are reinforced and food is very useful as a training aid, it is and excellent attention getter to focus your dog or puppy on what you want them to do! Puppies (like some people!) will do just about anything for a treat and which should always be accompanied by praise, "good boy"! spoken with enthusiasm! Some owners insist on not using food but in my experience, that it is a panacea for training puppies! The frustration of teaching the basic commands of “sit, down, come, heel, stand, etc” are lost with a little bit of food. One sniff of food and he or she is there! One article I read recently said:
“With food, there is no pushing or scooping the puppy into position and no irritation because the puppy bites at hands, wiggles away, or collapses into a pile of oozing protoplasm. With food, the action, the treat, and the praise are a package, and the puppy will respond to the praise as much as the treat as his bond with humans grows”
Some experts teach puppies to do all the basic commands without any manhandling. teaching puppies to sit, lie down, stand, and come without man-handling. For example one expert says that by holding food treat just slightly above the puppies head (this makes the puppy lookup and therefore sits) and when the dogs behind is “sat” he gives him a treat. He also touches his/her collar to get the puppy used to a hand coming to them while they are sat. This makes it easier to clip a leash onto the dog later on in training.
Further steps in the process involve holding the treat just above the puppies head, if the puppy jumps withhold the treat until the dog sits. If the puppy reverses his body back them into wall. Work with the dog so that you get the puppy to focus on whatever you want, to lie down get the treat low so that the dog has to lie down (some help may be necessary) withdraw the treat until the puppy obeys.
Once he learns down, combine the two commands by telling him to sit, go down, then sit again. Give the treat at the end of the sequence.
1. Sit
2. Lie
3. Sit – treat
Teach him/ her to stand on command by holding the treat in front of him while he’s sitting and saying “stand.” Move the treat forward so he has to stand to get it. Incorporate stand with sit and down in sequence and give the treat after he obeys a string of commands.
Puppies should always sit to be fed, get a treat, get petted, have leash attached to collar, go out of the door or get out of the crate or the car or any other time when they are told to sit. Let us know how you get on.
Manners for dogs – start with the very young dog. Commands only work if they are reinforced and food is very useful as a training aid, it is and excellent attention getter to focus your dog or puppy on what you want them to do! Puppies (like some people!) will do just about anything for a treat and which should always be accompanied by praise, "good boy"! spoken with enthusiasm! Some owners insist on not using food but in my experience, that it is a panacea for training puppies! The frustration of teaching the basic commands of “sit, down, come, heel, stand, etc” are lost with a little bit of food. One sniff of food and he or she is there! One article I read recently said:
“With food, there is no pushing or scooping the puppy into position and no irritation because the puppy bites at hands, wiggles away, or collapses into a pile of oozing protoplasm. With food, the action, the treat, and the praise are a package, and the puppy will respond to the praise as much as the treat as his bond with humans grows”
Some experts teach puppies to do all the basic commands without any manhandling. teaching puppies to sit, lie down, stand, and come without man-handling. For example one expert says that by holding food treat just slightly above the puppies head (this makes the puppy lookup and therefore sits) and when the dogs behind is “sat” he gives him a treat. He also touches his/her collar to get the puppy used to a hand coming to them while they are sat. This makes it easier to clip a leash onto the dog later on in training.
Further steps in the process involve holding the treat just above the puppies head, if the puppy jumps withhold the treat until the dog sits. If the puppy reverses his body back them into wall. Work with the dog so that you get the puppy to focus on whatever you want, to lie down get the treat low so that the dog has to lie down (some help may be necessary) withdraw the treat until the puppy obeys.
Once he learns down, combine the two commands by telling him to sit, go down, then sit again. Give the treat at the end of the sequence.
1. Sit
2. Lie
3. Sit – treat
Teach him/ her to stand on command by holding the treat in front of him while he’s sitting and saying “stand.” Move the treat forward so he has to stand to get it. Incorporate stand with sit and down in sequence and give the treat after he obeys a string of commands.
Puppies should always sit to be fed, get a treat, get petted, have leash attached to collar, go out of the door or get out of the crate or the car or any other time when they are told to sit. Let us know how you get on.
Wednesday, 7 February 2007
The Dog Whisperer
You may remember a couple of days ago I mentioned a program that I watched called “The Dog Whisperer” .........
It is a National Geographic Channel series that began showing in 2004. Central to the program is a person called Cesar Millan who rehabilitates and restores balance to dogs with problems.
His specialty is working with aggressive dogs.
Cesar's specialty is the application of rules, boundaries and limitations. He advocates the use of Pack leadership, as a means of controlling the basic instincts of the dog to exist in a content calm state. His whole theory is based on demonstrating to the owners how to obtain and maintain this.
During the show, we are introduced to difficult dogs and their owners and home movies are shown to indicate their misdemeanors. Having chatted with the family Cesar then offers suggestions how owners may alter their own behaviors to become a pack leader for their pet. In the vast majority of cases, it is the people who need training, more than the dog!
It is a National Geographic Channel series that began showing in 2004. Central to the program is a person called Cesar Millan who rehabilitates and restores balance to dogs with problems.
His specialty is working with aggressive dogs.
Cesar's specialty is the application of rules, boundaries and limitations. He advocates the use of Pack leadership, as a means of controlling the basic instincts of the dog to exist in a content calm state. His whole theory is based on demonstrating to the owners how to obtain and maintain this.
During the show, we are introduced to difficult dogs and their owners and home movies are shown to indicate their misdemeanors. Having chatted with the family Cesar then offers suggestions how owners may alter their own behaviors to become a pack leader for their pet. In the vast majority of cases, it is the people who need training, more than the dog!
Tuesday, 6 February 2007
Clicker Training continued
More on Clicker Training
Having trouble potty training your dog ? Then click here for some answers….
The four messages mentioned a few days ago about the four reward markers that can be used to train your dog..
These four messages do not have to be communicated with words, and other, nonverbal signals, can be used.
Mechanical clickers are one of the options that are often used for the reward marker.
Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs.
Repetition is the way to teach the meaning of the four signals. You must consistently give your dog a reward marker immediately before giving him a food treat. The dog soon will learn to associate the reward marker with receiving something pleasant.
Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs.
Repetition is the way to teach the meaning of the four signals. You must consistently give your dog a reward marker immediately before giving him a food treat. The dog soon will learn to associate the reward marker with receiving something pleasant.
Also do the same with a punishment marker before he is scolded or put outside for bad behaviour, he will soon learn to associate the punishment marker with the punishment itself.
Remember dog training is all about consitency and repetition, and therefore is very dependant on you. The most re-inforcement and repetition the better and quicker your dog will respond.
Monday, 5 February 2007
Part Three on Dog Whispering
More on Dog Whispering
Some experts believe that the healthiest environment for a dog is within a working dog pack and that most of the psychological disorders can be solved within this situation.
Dog whispering is based on using us as leaders of the dog pack modifying the behaviors of the individual dogs which may exhibit numerous disorders such as aggression, stress, anxiety, fear, weight loss, hyperactivity among others.
Sunday, 4 February 2007
Part Two
“The Dog Whisperer” - Talking to Your Dog
Dog training and dog potty training can be enjoyable. According to experts there are four important messages that we can train our dog with:
“Reward marker” for correct behavior. Your dog has earned a reward. For example, the words "Free" or "Okay" followed by a reward.
“Keep going” signal for correct behaviour. You want the dog to continue and it will earn a reward. For example, "Good" or "Come on".
“No reward” marker for Incorrect behavior. You are telling your dog to Try something else. For example, "Uh-uh" or "Try again".
“Punishment marker” for severe incorrect behavior. Your dog has earned punishment. For example, a stern "No" or more specific commands like "off," "out," or "leave it."
It is important to use consistent signals or words for these messages, this enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If you sometimes says "good" as a reward marker and sometimes as a keep going signal, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward.
It is important to note that there is a difference between a reward marker and a dog's reward. The reward marker is a sign that tells the dog that he has earned the reward. So you may say the reward marker then the reward will follow - "Free" or "Okay" is the reward marker then give him praise or a treat or food.
Many new dog owners make the mistake of using lots and lots of verbal praise as both the reward and the marker which can confuse dog and owner. Remember dogs can only retain and therefore respond to 20 to 30 words at a maximum so choose your words carefully.
More tips to follow…..
Dog training and dog potty training can be enjoyable. According to experts there are four important messages that we can train our dog with:
“Reward marker” for correct behavior. Your dog has earned a reward. For example, the words "Free" or "Okay" followed by a reward.
“Keep going” signal for correct behaviour. You want the dog to continue and it will earn a reward. For example, "Good" or "Come on".
“No reward” marker for Incorrect behavior. You are telling your dog to Try something else. For example, "Uh-uh" or "Try again".
“Punishment marker” for severe incorrect behavior. Your dog has earned punishment. For example, a stern "No" or more specific commands like "off," "out," or "leave it."
It is important to use consistent signals or words for these messages, this enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If you sometimes says "good" as a reward marker and sometimes as a keep going signal, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward.
It is important to note that there is a difference between a reward marker and a dog's reward. The reward marker is a sign that tells the dog that he has earned the reward. So you may say the reward marker then the reward will follow - "Free" or "Okay" is the reward marker then give him praise or a treat or food.
Many new dog owners make the mistake of using lots and lots of verbal praise as both the reward and the marker which can confuse dog and owner. Remember dogs can only retain and therefore respond to 20 to 30 words at a maximum so choose your words carefully.
More tips to follow…..
Saturday, 3 February 2007
Part One
“The Dog Whisperer” - Talking to Your Dog
The other night I cam across a programme about communicating with your dog called “the dog whisperer” and I was intrigued. This programme made me think about how we communicate to our dogs.
Dog training is about communication. Unconsciously one of the owners of a dog was communicating something totally different to what they thought they were communicating and this caused the dogs behaviour to be unhelpful to say the least!
We as humans cannot help but communicate, even when we don’t mean to!! Some research has shown that nearly 93% of what we communicate, is not from what we say, but from non – verbal communication, “body language” Dogs instincts pick this up and will react accordingly.
From the dogs view we must learn what motivates the dog, if we want him to do as we say!
From our perspective we must communicate to (”tell”) the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred, in what circumstances and what behaviours are undesirable.
We also must also understand the communication that the dog sends to the handler. These signals can be that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. We must pay attention to this because a stressed or distracted dog will not learn as well.
Tomorrow we will look at some of the important commands that we can teach our dogs.
Friday, 2 February 2007
Another type of dog training!
Clicker Training
Clicker training has its origins in training dolphins and pigeons, which are animals that, unlike dogs and don’t respond well to obedience training. The process involves using a “clicker” (technically called a conditioned reinforcer) and this clicker marks the precise behaviour that is correct.
Clicker training is the more popular term used with dogs for what is called “operant conditioning” which deals with the modification of a dog’s voluntary behaviour through the use of consequences. The dog learns that through trial and error that only certain behaviours bring rewards. Unsuccessful or unrewarded behaviours get “stamped out” or extinguished.
This way the dog becomes conditioned to associate the clicker sound with a learned behaviour.
Clicker training has its origins in training dolphins and pigeons, which are animals that, unlike dogs and don’t respond well to obedience training. The process involves using a “clicker” (technically called a conditioned reinforcer) and this clicker marks the precise behaviour that is correct.
Clicker training is the more popular term used with dogs for what is called “operant conditioning” which deals with the modification of a dog’s voluntary behaviour through the use of consequences. The dog learns that through trial and error that only certain behaviours bring rewards. Unsuccessful or unrewarded behaviours get “stamped out” or extinguished.
This way the dog becomes conditioned to associate the clicker sound with a learned behaviour.
Thursday, 1 February 2007
Simple tricks to train your dog.
Training Tricks
Teaching your dog tricks can help to develop a stronger relationship with him or her, it can also be good because it provides entertainment and involves the dogs mind, and can alleviate boredom in the dog.
One trick – the popular, “shake hands trick”, involves the dog raising its paw on command. Another clever trick is teaching the dog to ring a bell to go outside and this can be useful to help the dog owner to realise when the dog wants to go out. This can be very useful when house training your dog.
There are other less useful learned habits such as begging for dinner at the dinner table, the best advice is to ignore the dog and he or she will soon get the message to stop, this should not be encouraged as it could lead the dog to be territorial about food or even aggressive.
Teaching your dog tricks can help to develop a stronger relationship with him or her, it can also be good because it provides entertainment and involves the dogs mind, and can alleviate boredom in the dog.
One trick – the popular, “shake hands trick”, involves the dog raising its paw on command. Another clever trick is teaching the dog to ring a bell to go outside and this can be useful to help the dog owner to realise when the dog wants to go out. This can be very useful when house training your dog.
There are other less useful learned habits such as begging for dinner at the dinner table, the best advice is to ignore the dog and he or she will soon get the message to stop, this should not be encouraged as it could lead the dog to be territorial about food or even aggressive.
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