Dog Training Basics

Archive for March 29th, 2009

Clicker training for dogs is one of the more systematic methods in dog training. It’s based on research done in behavioral psychology and the method is referred to by psychologists as operant conditioning. But you don’t need to know technical terminology in order to benefit from the method.

The method was first developed with marine mammals. With the dolphins, a whistle made the sound rather than a clicker. You can imagine how difficult it is to train a dolphin compared to a dog. The whole method is based on positive reinforcement. It was very difficult to give a treat to a dolphin at the precise time the dolphin did the behaviour you wanted. However, you could easily blow a whistle at the precise time. Then you could follow that with a fish shortly afterwards.

In order to reward a wanted behavior, you should reinforce it at the precise moment it happens or very soon afterwards or the animal will not relate the reward with the action. The whole reward process is made so much easier and clearer by using a sound from a whistle or clicker to mark the action.

Firstly, you must positively connect the sound of the clicker with getting a treat. You do this by repeating the process of clicking and following the sound with a treat. Once this connection is made, the clicker sound itself becomes like a reward because it’s so closely linked with the treat in the dog’s mind. This process is called charging the clicker by dog trainers.

Now that the clicker is charged, you use the clicker when the dog does a behavior you want and you always follow with a treat. In true clicker training, you allow the behavior you want to occur naturally and click and reward. In order to do this more complicated behaviors need to be broken down into smaller chunks. A tool which helps to do this is the target stick.

One of the first exercises in clicker training is to get your dog to touch the target stick with his nose. Once your dog accomplishes this, the stick can be used to direct your dog to a particular place. This is really useful in training other behaviors.

Getting your dog to touch the stick is easy. If you put it in front of his nose, he will probably touch it. Then you click and reward. Be sure to let your dog to touch the stickof his own free will! Repeat this for a couple of minutes. Then have a break.

It can take a while when a dog is introduced to clicker training, especially if he is an older dog. So you need to be patient. You may need to repeat the target stick session a couple of times before he gets the connection. But once he’s got it, the learning will stick.

One other tool which clicker trainers find useful is a mouse pad or something similar that you train your dog to stand on with one of his front feet. You can get your dog to do this easily by just putting it down on the ground near him and waiting for him to stand on it. As soon as he does it, click and reward. As before, repeat this until your dog gets it. As with the target stick, this tool can then be used to direct your dog to a particular place in subsequent training.

Once a behavior has been trained, the next step is to add a cue. A cue means that you assign a verbal request like “sit” or “stay” to the behavior. You do this by saying the cue word just as you think the dog is about to do the wanted behavior. As always you click and reward the behavior. Then, by repeating this, the command becomes associated with the treat, just like the clicker sound is. Please note that when you start training with the cue, you only click and reward when the behavior follows the cue. You don’t click or reward when the dog offers the behavior without you having given the cue.

I hope this has given you some idea of how the clicker is used as an effective tool in dog training. Obviously there is a lot more to learn. What I love about it is that it’s very systematic and all that’s needed is patience and consistency. Read more about clicker training with dogs, a review of the clearest clicker training guide, and also reviews of other dog training guides.

Tell me, does this describe you?Puppy chewing has turned your dream of having a happy, obedient dog into a nightmare as your belongings are shredded into a million little pieces due to of dog chewing problems.  Don’t despair.  You can stop puppy chewing by learning some dog training basics. 

You Need To Understand Why Puppies Chew On Things

If you’ve ever been around a human baby, you know that they learn about their surroundings by putting everything in their mouths.  A puppy is no different.  Puppies chew on chair legs, shoes, and whatever they can get hold of.  This is normal behavior, but that doesn’t mean it’s not destructive chewing.

Also like human babies, puppies chew on things because they’re teething.  When a dog chews, endorphins are released.  These chemicals soothe your puppy and make his sore gums feel better.

The Do’s Of Dog Training Basics For Puppies

Puppies don’t automatically outgrow chewing on everything.Teaching him to stop puppy chewing on things that don’t belong to him is your responsibility as a dog owner.

You can prevent dog chewing problems by putting things away.  Don’t leave out eyeglasses, shoes, or the tv remote where he can get them.Hide your trash in the closet, and move your defenseless plants to a safer location.  Pick up throw rugs, socks, and anything else he’s tempted to chew on.

You can make furniture and things you can’t move taste bad to your puppy by spraying them with a bitter-tasting substance.  These sprays, available at pet stores, are very effective at stopping destructive chewing.

Provide lots of chew toys.  Only give him two or three at a time so he can learn that they belong to him.  If he starts chewing on something off-limits, say “drop-it” and make a noise to startle him into dropping the object.Move fast, and give him one of his chew toys immediately, and praise him when he puts it in his mouth.  This teaches him two things; he’s learning the “drop-it” command, and he’s also learning what things he should and should chew on.

Your puppy needs a couple of hours of vigorous exercise every day.  Take him out and play with him.Be on the lookout for training opportunities during this play time.  A young puppy can’t concentrate for long, but taking advantage of thirty seconds here and there to work on basic commands lays a good foundation for training. 

Keep an eye on your new friend.  If you’re busy and can’t watch him, put him on his leash and tie it to your belt.  Make sure he has something to play with.  Now he can’t wander off and get into mischief if you turn your back for a minute.

When you leave the house, confine your puppy to one area, either in his crate, or by using a wire-reinforced puppy gate. 

What Not To Do When Dealing With Dog Chewing Problems

Don’t confuse your puppy by giving him old shoes or socks or towels to chew on.  He can’t tell the difference between an old worn out running shoe and the ones you just paid $150 for yesterday.  The boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable things to chew on must be very clear.

Leaving him tied up outside the house all the time is a bad idea.  Your puppy needs to spend lots of time with you, so he can learn what you expect from him.  He can’t do this if he’s always in a puppy-proof environment.

Unless you catch him the act of destructive chewing, don’t punish him.He doesn’t get it that you’re upset about what he did three hours ago.  You might think he’s acting guilty, but what’s really happening is that he’s scared and threatened by you being angry and upset.  The guilty-looking behavior is actually a submissive posture that has nothing to do with being caught misbehaving.

You can see that it’s very easy to do the wrong thing when trying to stop puppy chewing.  The best way to train your puppy correctly is to make the investment in a well-recommended dog training course right now.

If you’re trying to stop puppy chewing, visit No More Bad Dogs to discover how a good dog training course will help you solve your puppy behavior problems.

Growling is to be expected for a puppy or dog, particularly if you are playing tug of war with him. However, it’s also a sign of aggression and can be a sign the dog may attack – so be careful!

You should know if the growling is appropriate or inappropriate. If your puppy or dog is at a meal or playing with a toy and growls as you get near, that isn’t behavior you should allow. Your dog is showing all the signs of dominance over you.

If the growling just starts out of the blue, it’s time for a visit to the vet to to ascertain if there is a medical cause.

Growling can be a signal that your dog is trying to position himself as the alpha dog or pack leader. So, the next thing you need to make sure of is that you position yourself as the alpha dog in your house. This is the foundation of solving many dog behavior problems.

To become the pack leader, the NILIF (Nothing In Life Is Free) method should be taken up. This approach means that you ask your dog to do something before you give him anything. With this approach, you can’t permit your dog to demand attention from you. If you allow him to demand attention, you have lost dominance. Just ignore him when he pushes you for attention. You should choose when to offer him attention. If he presses you even more you must not give in or everything is lost.

With NILIF everyone who comes into contact with your dog needs to be consistent and persistent.

So, for example, you ask your dog to sit quietly before you set his meal down or before take him out for a walk. Don’t allow your dog to offer a behavior before you ask for it – that doesn’t count.

Make sure that when leaving the house, you walk through the door first. You can let your dog see you eating a small snack like a biscuit before you put down his food since the alpha dog eats first. You only need to repeat this for two weeks to set  yourself as the leader of the pack.

Everyone in the family needs to engage in this NILIF activity to set them higher in the hierarchy than your puppy or dog.

The alpha dog makes his bed on higher ground, so do not permit your dog to rest on your bed if you want to be more dominant.

You should do regular training in obedience with your puppy or dog. Every training session should be short and fun. This will start you on the path to a better behaved dog.

Read more about stopping your dog growling and other aggressive dog behavior.

Housebreaking a dog is more than just getting the dog to relieve himself in the right place and at the right time. It includes this, but it also involves his entire behavior in the house. He must learn things like what rooms he is allowed to enter and what places he is not allowed to lie on.

One of the most unwelcome conducts of any dog is to urinate on the carpet.  (A more exhaustive list of dog behavior problems is available in Dog Training Secrets.) Of course, young pups don’t know any better. They do it whenever they need and wherever they are. That’s natural. Therefore, it is important to start training him as soon as you bring him home.

If you got your pup when he was eight weeks old, you got him at the ideal time. But remember, the dog usually can’t control the urinating muscles until he is about twelve weeks old. This underlines how important it is to take your dog outside often during the first days of ownership. Especially get him out a short time after a meal. Every hour would be good for the first few days at least. When he goes in the proper place, reward him with voice and treats.

Positive reinforcement is crucial. He will understand a pat, a dog biscuit, kind and encouraging words. This assures the pet that he is pleasing you and most dogs like to do that. So, opportunities to go, and much praise when he does will reinforce his acceptable behavior.

Perhaps your dog is not welcome in every area of the house. For example, you may not want a black shedding dog on the white couch! Perhaps the dog is to stay out of your bedroom or at least off of your bed. Your pet must understand these rules.

Such training, say the best dog training books, is done by consistency and patience. If the dog goes into the forbidden area, then instruct him with words and drag him off, or out. Do this every time he trespasses so he knows this is not allowed, ever. Don’t make exceptions for anything for he won’t understand exceptions.

If you suspect your dog is trespassing when you are not watching, but not when you are, then it is obvious he likes the place but knows it is wrong. One family made it clear their dog was not to get on the living room furniture. But when they came home and felt the warm spot on the softest chair, the dog was caught. Try tricking the dog into thinking you are not watching when really you are. Then when you catch him disobeying the rule, rap his bottom with a paper and scold him so that he gets the message this is never allowed, watched or not.

Dogs generally like to please their masters. Therefore, when the dog follows the rules without being told, words of praise should be poured on. Let him know he has done very well to control his urge to do what feels good but is disobedient. If you give in, or give up, then remember the dog won and has really trained you.

Hope you enjoyed this article. Learn more tips and read reviews of top dog training books at http://www.dogtrainingbible.net.