For many dog owners, one of the biggest challenges they face is teaching their dog simple commands like sit, stay, and come. These commands are an important first step in building and maintaining good dog relationships. Dogs that know and follow simple commands are less likely to become aggressive towards others or to display undesirable behavior. The key is for the owner to be consistent and persistent in their efforts to teach the dog these basic skills. Below are some dog training tips and techniques that can be used to teach your dog these and other skills.
One of the most important aspects of successful dog training is consistency. Simply put, the dog owner consistently demonstrates their choices and actions to their dog, which results in both pleasant and unpleasant consequences. While this may sound like a simple concept, to truly understand modern balanced dog training it’s important to know a little bit about dog training history. In the past, dogs were trained using harsh and cruel methods, many of which are still in use today!
Fortunately, modern training techniques make it much easier to train your dog, and many of these methods have been adopted from previous practices. One method that has been adopted from the past is the use of an e-collar or clicker. An e-collar is a small, metal collar that emits a small “click” noise when pressed. Many dog owners and trainers use this method along with a behavior reinforcement package. For example, the clicking noise is used to distract aggressive dogs from biting or chasing the target dog.
Another method that is often used in dog training is the reinforcement of behaviors associated with specific targets, rather than simple commands. For example, in sites style dog training, the dog is rewarded for staying calm under pressure. Dogs learn to associate a relaxed posture with being calm. Clicker training makes use of these e-colors, and while they may seem relatively innocuous, many dog owners use them as a punishment. If you click when your dog attempts to bite on a biscuit, the dog knows that he’s getting no reward. This method can be tricky, and there’s always the risk of your dog developing a dependency towards the treats.
A relatively new method of dog training makes use of positive reinforcements and positive dog training rewards. Instead of clicking when your dog exhibits behavior, you give him a treat. He learns to associate having the reward to perform the desired behavior, and learns to be more willing to follow your commands.
Positive dog training rewards your dog for using good behavior, rather than forcing him to perform difficult behaviors. You can teach him good behavior by praising him or giving him a treat after he performs a command correctly. This gives him the message that he did a good job, and he’s going to get more praise if he does it again. Using treats to train your dog should be limited to short bursts during the lesson. Your dog will become dependent on you for continued reinforcement, and you mustn’t use anymore force than absolutely necessary.
Positive reinforcements work much better than negative dog training methods, and even for very difficult cases. In addition to using the treats, you can also use physical aggression, such as a short blast of spray paint or a loud noise. Positive reinforcement, by itself, is much more likely to lead to an obedient dog. Aggressive methods have been proven to work best on some breeds, but not all, so you’ll have to experiment to see what fits your dog.
Dog training, like any form of training, takes time and consistency. Most dog trainers say that it takes at least a year to see real progress in correcting bad behavior. Positive reinforcement trainers usually use short bursts of positive reinforcement, followed by more consistent, rewarding behavior. If your dog consistently pulls and yelps during a training session, then you know that a break from the action is needed. You can reinforce good behavior with a treat and a loud, “No!”
