How to: Train by Amelia Moore  

Communication Training 

If you want to have an effective, copasetic and happy relationship with your dog it is YOU that will have to adapt YOUR communication skills to those your dog understands, not the other way around.  When beginning a training program you cannot reasonably expect your dog to learn English or understand long drawn out explanations as to why you need her to sit, or not jump and pull.  What you can expect is that with adequate exercise, patience, consistent practice and positive rewards utilizing your dog's senses from strongest to weakest, you will achieve desired results. 

Excersize Education

Before discussing effective training methods I just want to briefly touch on the importance of not only exercising your dog but incorporating a walk into that exercise.  Dogs, being the first domesticated animals, evolved with us traveling long distances at time to get all of their basic needs met; food, water and shelter.  True, our modern lives don't allot for miles upon miles of travel, however you can understand why Fido is a bundle of energy after being crated, with no mental or physical activity, while you're at work all day.  Although running around the yard is a great way to expend physical energy it can actually be detrimental to training because your dog is making all of her own decisions without check.   Walking taps into that instinctual need to travel as well as requiring her to listen to and stay with you.    Do breed research to find out how much exercise is needed to keep your furry friend balanced and happy.  Remember a tired dog is a well behaved dog!

Correction Training      

As previously mentioned doggie senses vary in degree of strength and, consequently, attention-getting capability.  From strongest to weakest they are; nose, eyes, ears.   Therefore when he, for example, starts chewing on your shoe and you start frantically screaming at him, and then running after him, continuing to scream, when he inevitably scurries off down the hall, he literally can't hear you.  Unintentionally you have just communicated either A.  Chase is a fun game! Or B. Mom turns into a raging lunatic over this odd object?  I must destroy all that smell like it! A better way would be to calmly walk up to him holding a toy he can have, give a firm "Drop It", replace the shoe with the toy and praise him for chewing on that rather than your shoe.

Your Dog's Thoughts

 It may seem strange to you to praise your dog for doing something you deem wrong but dogs never do anything to intentionally make you mad.  They don't think that way. Due to the many sweat glands in our feet and all the miles of ground we walk on, shoes are highly interesting keepers and collectors of scent.  Naturally a curious creature, Fido was simply following his instincts and investigating an incredibly appealing object.  Faced with this huge temptation in front of him and never having been clearly told otherwise what choice is he left with?  The best way to prevent a massacre of your stuff is simply to puppy-proof just as you would baby-proof.  When that doesn't work, or isn't an option, redirect their energy and attention to something they can have.  You will not be successful at communicating to your dog what he can't have unless you give him a more pleasant alternative.

Sit Fido, Sit!              

 You will have more successful interactions with them if they learn to anticipate the reward of listening to you is much greater than whatever else it is they want to do.  Show them you are a good pack leader by communicating with strong body posture-dogs are expert studies in the fine art of body language-and by using sounds and tonal inflection to convey meaning as opposed to word they don't understand.   To illustrate these concepts I am going to outline an effective way to teach "Sit".

                First, get Fido's attention with a high value treat (nose).  Then, holding the treat in your upturned hand between your fingertips and thumb, slowly raise the treat above the dogs head (eyes).  As he follows the upward direction of the treat his body will lower and his butt will hit the ground.  Mark this behavior with either a marker word or a clicker and then give the treat.  Only once your dog consistently performs this action (10-15 times in a row) will you connect the action with the sequence of sounds that make up the word "Sit" (ears).   In other words as soon as your dog's butt touches the ground say "sit", mark and treat.   

Conclusion

Dog's truly are Man's Best Friend.  They want nothing more than to bond and be with you 24-7 playing, walking and snuggling.  Keep that in mind the next time you are frustrated because Fido won't listen.  Try looking at the situation from his perspective.   Is the new dog on walking down the street at the same time as you, more interesting than sitting still as he passes? Yes.  Is happy mom with a really yummy treat asking me to sit and wait nicely more interesting than that stranger? Usually.  Will I happily go with mom when she offers me a treat and asks me to walk in the other direction?  Absolutely! Another dog?  What other dog?  I didn't see anybody...

Muddy Paws training offers many more helpful tips and tricks for communicating with your dog at affordable prices and convenient times.  Our intention is for you and your dog to have a joyful, harmonious relationship so if you're having issues give us a call and let us help.