Category Archives for "Training"

How to train a Golden Retriever with kindness.

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

The Golden Retriever.

The Golden retriever. A wonderful big bear of a dog with the heart of a lion. A sturdy breed of dog that is a favorite as a family pet. Generally trustworthy, the golden is a happy and unquestioning dog.  Many fans of this breed have multiple golden retrievers in their households.

A visitor to any home containing a golden retriever will receive a warm welcome from the dog. Usually, alongside the offer of a carried toy or borrowed item of footwear.

Healthy and happy.

A well and responsibly bred retriever will be a healthy and happy dog. Health risks are predominantly arthritis, hip dysplasia and the joint pressure of weight gain. Alongside others in the retriever group the golden enjoys his food. Working out how to train a golden retriever should not take you far passed the dog biscuit cupboard.

Originally bred for retrieval of game during shooting activity.  The versatile and friendly nature of the golden has led to it being trained in many roles. Dogs of this breed are employed as guide dogs for blind people and assistance dogs for people with other disabilities. Police and military also often employ golden retrievers as search and detection dogs.

In comparison to some other working breeds the golden retriever will need less mental stimulation. Not because he is any less intelligent, as he certainly isn’t but because he is a steady and content dog that is equally happy to learn or relax.  Good with other dogs, the golden retriever enjoys canine interaction.

Because he is bred to travel long distances on foot to fetch and carry injured game birds, the golden retriever will need a lot of exercise.

Researching how to train a golden retriever will show that this dog will respond well to reward based dog training techniques. Your golden is not overly complicated and is intelligent enough to figure out that it is to his benefit to repeat any behavior that is reinforced by a food reward.

How to train your golden retriever with clicker training

Tune your dog into the sound of the clicker. Your aim is to ensure that your golden looks to you for a food reward every time he hears a click. You can do this easily by introducing the sound and promptly following it with a treat multiple times over two to three ten minute dog training sessions.

Test the effectiveness of the click sound by waiting until the dog is looking away from you, and then pressing the clicker. If he looks at you immediately for a treat, then your dog is tuned into the sound. If little attention is paid to the click then you will need to continue the tuning in process.

Once the click is properly conditioned, you can use it to encourage your golden to repeat any behavior that you would like it to regularly offer. You can research how to train your golden retriever with a clicker and positive reinforcement .You will find many tricks that you can teach your dog.

The main thing to remember when deciding how to train your golden retriever is that a click should always result in a treat. Regardless of which behavior you may have reinforced with the sound.

Resource guarding

Resource guarding and possession of food items or other objects should never be directly challenged. Teach your dog to swap any resource from an early age and never place a lot of value on any one item. Confrontation or punishment is not how to train a golden retriever with success. Positive reinforcement and reward is essential when training your dog.

Bite inhibition

Bite inhibition should be taught to every puppy. The mother dog will allow her puppies to mouth her in play and interaction but will correct with a yelp or nip if the bite from her young is too hard. A dog with low bite inhibition does not realize the difference in the severity of a bite. Low bite inhibition means that a biting dog will bite hard. Researching how to train a golden retriever bite inhibition is a must with any new puppy.

Motivation and reward

A pocket of treats and a teddy bear with a squeak will probably ensure the most effective results when working out how to train a golden retriever. This delightful breed of dog will do anything for a biscuit and an extra ear rub.

How to train a German Shepherd by reward and reinforcement

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

German Shepherd Dog

The German shepherd dog is beautiful. An intelligent canine from working descent, he will bond with and protect his handler with courage and conviction.

This breed of dog is employed by police and military within roles ranging from crowd control to tracking and physical capture of an escaping subject.

The German shepherd can make a wonderful family pet and when choosing a particular dog, it is important to keep in mind that many suffer from hip dysplasia and related problems. This is normally due to irresponsible breeding. Both parents of a litter should be hip scored before mating. When taking on an adult dog certainly check the gait. If the dogs back slopes downwards towards the tail it may have a problem with hips due to excess pressure. It is not always possible to see potential hip problems but sometimes they are obvious.

How to Train a German Shepherd Dog

A biddable and handler focused dog, this breed is a pleasure to train. Extensive research on how to train a German shepherd dog is not always necessary. Positive reinforcement and reward based training is however essential.

Train your German shepherd with a suitable reward. His intelligence will ensure timely response and keen learning. Clicker training is a perfect tool when deciding how to train a German shepherd dog.

Train a German shepherd Dog with Positive Reinforcement.

Clicker training works on reinforcing positive behavior with a reward. The dog must first learn that a click always provides a treat. Then the behavior that you would like him to repeat is pinpointed with the sound. Any unhelpful behavior is ignored completely as this will encourage the dog to offer the behavior that provides him with the click and reward. The high intelligence of this breed ensures that he will pick up this type of training quickly.

When learning how to train a German shepherd dog with a clicker, you must first ensure that your dog is completely in tune with the sound and always expects a treat after hearing it. If the dog is not rewarded every single time, then the sound will lose its effectiveness. Also, if you click at the wrong time, you must still provide the treat despite the unhelpful behavior that you may have unwittingly reinforced.

Walking and other Dogs

The German shepherd is handler focused and obedient by nature. As they mature and if trained well they rarely go far from the person they are out with. Before bringing your dog home for the first time, take some time to research how to train a German shepherd dog on walks and recall. Practice calling him back for rewards on the leash initially. Extend the leash to a long line and continue to practice recall. Only if you are certain that the dog will return on command, should you begin to let him off the leash.

Socialized well they can accept other dogs and play with little concern, but the primary focus is often their human family.

The Family Protector

Be aware that a German shepherd is protective by nature. It is for this and their fearlessness that they are employed in guard dog roles. Your dog may guard the person holding its leash and everyone within the family including children. This should always be discouraged by regular and careful socialization in varied situations. The German shepherd can be a reactive breed that could bark or snap relatively quickly if he feels threatened or cornered. Keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you should welcome a German Shepherd into your home.

Overall, the German shepherd as all other dogs can be a wonderful family pet if properly trained and socialized. Noble, loyal and stunning to look at ensures that as a breed type, they automatically command a certain respect.

How to train a Border collie with positive reinforcement.

By Sally Gutteridge | Breeds , Posts , Training

The Border collie

The Border collie is used regularly as a working dog within livestock farming. Trials and competitions are carried out where the dogs are tested on their working ability. Originally bred for sheep and cattle control, many still carry a herding instinct even within a pet home.

Known for its intelligence and obedient nature the Border collie is a popular breed choice in dog training circles. Agility, flyball and competitive obedience all fulfill the collies need to work and stay active in mind and body.

Many Border Collies end up in rescue centers. Because they are attractive and popular, collies are often purchased as puppies to be family dogs. If the family group then has little idea of how to train a border collie, then its behavior can get out of control.

Highly intelligent and with the energy levels of a working dog, the Border collie will not cope with minimal exercise. This breed of dog needs to be mentally stimulated and provided with a lot of opportunity for training and physical exercise.

Training your Border collie

If trained correctly and in a kind positive manner the Border collie will thrive in its home environment. This breed of dog is biddable and handler focused. Anyone that is thinking of offering a home to a dog of this breed despite its age will need to research in detail how to train a border collie.

A collie will learn extremely quickly. Positive reinforcement training is a must with this breed.

How to train a Border collie with a clicker.

Clicker training is an easy and enjoyable activity with all dogs. Clicker training works by association of a sound with a reward which is usually food. First the dog must be trained to expect his reward when he hears the sound. When the association is established the sound is used to pinpoint specific desirable behaviors.

Bear in mind with clicker training that a Border collie can be sound sensitive.  If your dog is looking unhappy or worried when being tuned into the sound it may we worth wrapping the clicker in a towel or seeking a smaller less intense clicking device.

How to train a border collie to live as a family pet.

Often seen rounding up a group of dogs and people at the local park, the Border collie which is also a family pet needs plenty of exercise. Generally he will retrieve a tennis ball all day if the activity is offered. Your dog will often need no guidelines on bringing a ball back in retrieve games. If he has difficulty giving the toy back then swapping for a second ball is how to train a border collie and any other dog to drop his possession.

A vocal breed, the collie will certainly demand attention if his needs are not met. Learning quickly, he will work out that barking will command your interest and use the sound to his advantage. If excessive barking is a problem with your dog then teach him to bark on command using a cue word and positive reinforcement. How to train a border collie to stop barking is straightforward. Teach him to bark on command then add a suitable cue word to reinforce quiet behavior then use the established cue word when needed to achieve the required silence. This technique can also be used during travel as many collies will bark when in a moving vehicle.

Research and knowledge of how to train a border collie will be of little use if the dog does not receive regular and sufficient exercise. No dog can be expected to settle without first having used up his mental and physical energy. The collie has higher energy levels than many other breeds of dog.

Chase instinct.

Instinctively and being a visual dog a collie will chase. Be aware that joggers, bicycles, cars and any other moving target may trigger this instinct at any point during your dog’s life. It may be wise to research how to train a Border collie not to chase with positive reinforcement if you are the proud owner of this breed.

Your Border collie and other dogs.

The collie is a reactive breed. They can easily develop a snappy manner with other dogs. Socialization is paramount for this breed as their fear can cause instant reaction to stimulus. The female of the breed can be particularly shy and easily intimidated. Care must be taken to ensure that your dog is not put into a situation where they feel they must react with a fear response.

A well socialized Border collie will live and play happily with other animals.

Best Dog Training Motivators: Food, Toys, & Praise!

By Sally Gutteridge | Posts , Training

The best dog training tactic to use with your puppy or adult dog is positive reinforcement and motivation. Once your dog begins to understand that he will be rewarded for obedience and good behavior, he will instinctively want to please you to earn praise or another treat.

The key to the best dog training is understanding what motivates your dog.
Dogs are motivated by one of three things:

1. Food
2. Toys
3. Praise

Train with Food
The best dog training method to begin with at home is to motivate your dog with food so that he responds and obeys your commands. Training with the food/reward method will take less time than training your dog with punishment. Even better, training your dog with a reward like food will positively motivate him instead of making him constantly afraid of getting reprimanded.

The best dog training example to use in this scenario is house training. Most dogs can creatively find dozens of places in the home to eliminate without your knowledge. This means that there is potential for your dog to make an infinite number of house training mistakes, requiring you to correct him again and again. How exhausting!

But once you have designated a specific area in your yard for your dog to use the toilet, you can reward him with food each time that he eliminates there successfully. All you must do is show your dog where you would like him to eliminate and reward him with food for the action.

This same basic reward principle can be applied to a number of other behavioral issues, like barking, digging, or chewing. When you teach your dog to chew on a chew toy instead of furniture, reward him with food for doing so. When you teach your dog to wait to bark until he is commanded, reward him for his obedience.

Instead of punishing your dog for bad behavior, rewarding him with food for obeying a command is one of the best dog training tactics to use to receive quick results.

Train with Toys

Some dogs absolutely love to play, much more so than getting a treat. If this is your dog, then you are very lucky because training becomes much easier. You don’t have to carry treats around and you can always play a game of tug for rewards.

Train with Praise

The best training tip to remember when training your dog with praise is to only give praise when it is earned. If you constantly lavish your dog with praise and attention, then he will no longer appreciate it.

Praise can be two things, either verbal praise like “Good boy!!!” or physical praise like stroking the dog’s fur.

When your dog obeys you or completes a trick, praise him verbally in a lively, happy voice. Get down on his level and praise him immediately so that he understands that he has done something good. Your dog will learn that his good behavior earns praise and will naturally want to repeat the behavior to please you.

The Dog Crate Training Game

By Jean Cote | Posts , Training , Tricks

Dog crate training doesn’t have to be an overwhelming or even frustrating task. When you use the right methods, you can successfully crate train your dog without using force or punishment.

The first step to crate train your dog is to create a positive association with his crate. This will help your dog to learn that his crate is a place of rest and comfort, not a place intended for punishment.

Conditioning Using Treats & A Clicker

Instead of throwing your dog into a crate to let him get used to his new environment, use a clicker with reward-based training to help your dog acclimate and make a positive association with his crate.

This is a truly smart way to approach dog crate training; you will lure the dog into the crate with delicious treats. Once your dog goes into the crate willingly to receive the treats, you can use the sound of a clicker to reinforce the action and encourage good behavior.

1. Place a handful of treats in the crate with the door open.
2. Wait for your dog to notice the treats and enter the crate to eat the treats.
3. As soon as your dog goes into the crate, click the clicker to mark the behavior and give him another treat. (You can let him eat the treats that are in the crate. Eventually your dog will understand that getting into the crate is the behavior that earns him the treat.)
4. Leave the crate door open so that your dog can come and go as he pleases. Each time that he enters the crate to get another treat, click the clicker & give him a treat to reinforce the behavior.
5. Continue this activity for several days until your dog becomes comfortable with the crate.
6. The next time that your dog goes into the crate, close and open the door. That will get him used to seeing the door behind him. Always give him a treat to keep this a positive association.
7. After closing the door for a moment, let the dog out immediately.
8. After several days of this activity, increase the amount of time that the door is closed, starting from 30 seconds up to 2 – 5 minutes. You can give your dog some treats through the door while he is in the crate so that he associates pleasure with the treat.
9. The next step will be for you to step away from the crate. Place your dog in the crate and walk away, then turn back and give your dog a treat. You can do this a few times in a row, but don’t leave him in there yet.
10. In the last exercise, you will combine the amount of time he is in the crate with the door closed and also with you walking away (to another room). Gradually increase the time that your dog is in the crate before rewarding. When letting your dog out of the crate, make it fun by going outside or for a walk.

This is by far the most effective method in dog crate training to use to reinforce a positive association with a crate. Instead of feeling like you are locking your dog in a crate for hours at a time as a form of punishment when you leave the house, your dog will start to see dog crate training as a game.

When this method is used properly, your dog will love spending time in his crate – believe it or not. After this method has been used for successful dog crate training, you can leave the door of the crate open all day long so that your dog can enter as he pleases. You may find that your dog will enjoy resting and taking a nap inside of the crate because he feels comfortable, safe, and protected.

Once this happens, you will know that you have used dog crate training successfully! The entire point of a crate is to give your dog a safe, restricted area to spend time in whenever you leave the house. This will set clear boundaries for your dog so that he feels secure and is not anxious about doing something wrong and getting punished.

Leash Training Tips to Enjoy Your Walks

By Sally Gutteridge | Behavior , Posts , Training

Taking your dog for a walk on a leash shouldn’t mean that your dog is pulling you down the block! Proper leash training will make walking your dog on a day-to-day basis a pleasant experience. As your dog learns how to walk obediently on a leash, he will remain by your side at all times without any tension or pulling.

Before You Begin Leash Training

Before leash training even begins, teach your dog to remain calm when you put his leash on. Many dogs will get excited the second that they see their leash because they know that they are going to go outside on a walk. Command your dog to sit and stay quietly when you put on the leash so that he becomes obedient to you before beginning a walk.

If your dog begins to jump and react to the leash, wait to begin the walk until he sits down calmly for at least a minute. Most dogs learn how to quickly master the “sit” command. When you use this command as a requirement for starting a walk, your dog will understand that he must obey if he wants to go out on the leash.

How to Stop Pulling: At Home

You can practice leash training at home first of all to teach your dog good behavior on a leash. Attach the leash to your dog’s collar and stand still while holding the leash next to your body. Your dog may start jumping with excitement, but when you stand still, your dog will start to calm down.

As soon as your dog calms down, give him a treat and praise to reinforce the good behavior.

When your dog sits or stands at your side for a moment without jumping, reward and say “go” while taking a step forward. After you take the first step, stand still again. If your dog begins to jump or get excited, wait for him to stand still until you continue. Once he stands still, praise and reward with a treat.

Repeat this behavior several times until your dog learns to calm down each time that you take a step forward.

How to Stop Pulling: On a Walk

If your dog is new to leash training or is a puppy, his most common instinct is to pull at the leash. If your dog is pulling on the leash, do not walk, instead go in the other direction.

As soon as your dog responds to you and begins walking without pulling on the leash, praise him and give him a treat for his good behavior. This positive reinforcement will show your dog the correct way to walk on a leash; because of the reward, he will be likely to repeat his good behavior again and again.

Leash Training Mistakes to Avoid

• Do not continue walking if your dog is pulling ahead. This will only reward your dog for negative behavior. Stop walking immediately when your dog is pulling and wait for him to calm down next to you before you continue. You can also go the other direction, I recommend that you train in a park in the beginning as it allows you to go in any direction. Remember to reward with a treat for good behavior.
• Do not pull on your dog when he is on the leash. This will cause your dog to pull even harder.
• Do not use a retractable leash for better control. The problem with retractable leashes is that they always pull on the dog even if he is walking nicely, so it makes it impossible to train a dog to not pull.

If your dog is new to leash training, patience is the best tool to have on your side. Any time that your dog pulls or runs ahead, he must understand that his behavior is unacceptable. You must stop in your tracks or turn in the other direction until your dog corrects his bad behavior.

Once your dog calms down and walks by your side, he can be rewarded with a treat to positively reinforce the action. When walking on a leash, it’s you – not your dog – who is the leader!

Positive and Reward-Based Dog Training Schools

By Sally Gutteridge | Posts , Training

According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, punishment should not be used as a primary approach to dog training.¹ When an animal is punished, it indicates that the dog knew exactly what was expected of him and disobeyed on purpose. But in most cases, dogs are simply confused and have not been given the proper reinforcement to behave well in the first place.

A dog cannot be successfully trained when he is constantly afraid of making a mistake.

With that being said, choosing a dog training school that uses positive reinforcement can make a world of difference in successfully training your pet. When your dog is rewarded for good behavior, he will make a positive association with the actions he just performed. Once your dog understands that he will be given a treat or reward for good behavior, he will naturally want to repeat the action again and again because of the positive reinforcement.

When you are looking for a dog training school, it’s critical that you understand this concept. There are many dog training schools online and in your local area to choose from, but the style of training that a school uses will determine whether or not your dog can learn new, good behaviors in a short amount of time.

How to Find Positive Dog Training Schools

If you have already started looking online for dog training schools in your area, make sure that you are searching specifically for keywords like “positive”, “rewards”, and “reinforcements”. You can’t just assume that a dog training school will use positive reinforcement. You must actively seek out local dog training schools that use rewards-based training methods to ensure that your dog is in good hands.

Observe a Class

If you still have questions about the style of teaching that a dog training school uses, ask to observe one of their classes in progress. This will give you the chance to understand the process that a training school implements to reward good behavior and discourage negative behavior in a pet.

All methods used by dog training schools should be humane and positive.

It’s also important that class sizes in dog training schools are small enough to provide each dog with the individual attention that they need. If a class is large, it is essential that a dog trainer has multiple assistants to observe and facilitate training in the class.

Most importantly, look for dog training schools that have an attentive, respectful trainer leading the class. Any trainers that use physical force, like pushing, alpha rolling, choking with a collar, or hitting, should be avoided at all costs. Additionally, watch for trainers that talk down to pet owners whose dogs aren’t making progress. A trainer must be patient and willing to use positive techniques to give a dog the opportunity to learn new associations with good behavior.

Here are a few more questions that you can ask yourself when observing classes at dog training schools:

• Are the dogs happy, or do they look stressed?
• Are the pet owners talking to their dogs in positive, happy voices, or are they scolding and yelling?
• Are the dogs’ tails wagging and upright or tucked between their legs?

These visual cues will help you better understand what type of environment a dog training school is creating. Even if a school claims to use positive reinforcement training, if a class environment feels negative, tense, or harsh, it should be avoided.

Finally, take a moment to talk with current students after class. This is your opportunity to get testimonials and receive personal recommendations. Ask students how they are enjoying the class and how they feel that their dogs have progressed so far.

If the pet owners and dogs appear happy and comfortable in a training class and give you their recommendation, then congratulations – the odds are that you have found a positive training class to teach your dog good behavior!

Sources:
1.    “American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.”www.avsabonline.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011.