Archive for December 29th, 2008
A Dog Trainers Secrets To Potty Training Tricks
When training your dog, concentrate on the end result you’re after, instead of the behavior you want to avoid. So as you start each exercise with your dog, create a picture in your minds eye of the goal you’re aiming for, and hold that image through the session. Steer your thoughts away from what it is that you don’t want to happen.
If you don’t have a destination in mind, how are you ever going to arrive there? This is so true with everything in life, particularly when it comes to dog house training too
It’s very easy to fall into the trap of concentrating on things that we don’t want. This is particularly relevant with regards to training dogs as well. We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or start chewing slippers, or disobey our commands, or bark like maniacs when we have friends come into the house.
Just think about it for a moment. Suppose you’re about to adopt a puppy. Do you really want to spend the next ten, twelve, or fourteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Wouldn’t it be better to guide your dog into behaviors that you want?
For example, instead of thinking, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I will encourage him to play with his toys.” Rather than, “I don’t want my dog to jump up on my guests,” change it to, “It would be nice for the dog to sit nicely and welcome visitors.”
By focusing on the positive aspects of your training goals, you’ll better appreciate how to achieve what you want. I can’t think of a better way to get started with training your new dog.
Should You Use Rewards?
A crucially important area that people have finally realized in housetraining puppies over the last few years is the trend away from concentrating on correcting bad behavior, or punishment, to emphasizing rewards.
Rewarding a dog is a very effective training technique especially for potty training tricks. One of the critical reasons for this is that if you make a mistake using punishment, the upshot could be very demoralizing for both of you. Punishment can make a dog feel threatened when she might respond with aggression to being overly punished. Other dogs shut down. They seem to lose their sense of adventure. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.
The good thing about reward based training is that it also makes you feel good as the trainer. It’s nice to be a source of praise and treats, instead of a constant disciplinarian.
But the icing on the cake is that rewards based dog behavior training works a treat. It’s due to the fact that this approach to behavior training builds confidence and reassurance. If a behavior is rewarding, your pet will want to repeat he behavior as often as possible. When you learn the best way to use this technique, you will be able to use this method for pretty much any training goal you want to achieve.
Have you thought about making a home for a former Greyhound Athlete?
Greyhounds are wonderful animal athletes. As they race and perform through their racing careers, they normally work until they are between 1.5 and 4 years old. Throughout this time, they become adjusted to being walked and lead on a leash, so upon retirement from their profesional lives, they make excellent pets!
As a former athlete, they are intelligent, quiet, calm, clean, gentle, and generally good-natured and ready to adapt to a new home environment. They react well to positive attention and reinforcement and thus they are a pleasure to train and work with for the new families they become a part of.
Greyhounds love attention and while they do want exercise, they do not need as much space to run as many might think. Inside the home, they prefer to curl up in a corner on a soft blanket. They are quiet creatures and perfectly well behaved inside a home and around people.
Greyhounds spend most of their life with other dogs, people, and handlers, so they are very sociable breed and get along well with others. Their personality makes them an wonderful breed to be around kids. Their intelligence and dedication make them an perfect companion. And because they are well mannered, they are great around company and in public.
There is probably a local Greyhound Pets of America association near you. So think about adopting a former Greyhound athlete. For more information, check out the Tucson Greyhound Park. Various chapters have different requirements and costs, but each will encourage you to come visit and find out more about whether a Greyhound might be right for you!
Please help by volunteering your time. All local chapters need volunteers to help with supplies, veterinary appointments, or even just shopping for doggie supplies. Of course, financial donations are also welcome, but your time and love is needed most!