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Easy Guide to Dog Behavior Training
There are several approaches to dog behavior training. While they all work, some approaches are better suited for professional trainers while one approach is simple enough for a new dog owner.
The traditional approach to behavior training utilizes a dog collar and leash .
A newer approach is based on positive reinforcement - every time your dog does something you asked him to do, you reward him, either verbally, with a treat or a toy.
But no matter what approach you choose, if you want to achieve the results in the shortest time possible, leave the training to only one member of your family. As your puppy gets older and more disciplined, other members of the family may join.
Let's take a look at each approach and then go over an example.
"Collar and Leash" Dog Behavior Training
This approach is better suited for service dogs, such as police K-9 and rescue dogs.
The way leash behavior training works is pretty simple in theory, but more difficult to implement in real life, especially by an inexperienced dog owner.
Here is how it works…
First, using a command and a leash, teach your dog a certain behavior. Once he learns the command and what he is supposed to do, use the leash to correct him every time he disobeys. You can use the leash to apply a very mild or hard correction.
In my opinion, if you are a new dog owner, it's better to leave this kind or dog behavior training to a professional dog trainer or enroll your dog in a dog obedience school and learn from the pros.
"Positive Reinforcement" Behavior Training
With this type of dog behavior training, you will never apply any force.
What you will do is this…
Every time your dog follows your command, you reward him. The reward can be verbal, like "Good Boy" or a "Good Girl", or it can involve food or a toy. From my experience, food always takes precedence over toys!
Use a dog treat or a toy to get your dog to perform some action, but don't reward him until he performs. Of course, in addition to a treat or a toy, you can use verbal praise as well.
It's still a good idea to use a leash, but unlike with collar and leash dog behavior training, you will not use it to apply any correction. What you do is just hold it in the left hand. Let's see what I mean.
Here is how I would get my dog into a "sit" position using positive reinforcement method…
Dog Behavior Training Example
The main goal is to get my dog to sit down when I use the command "Sit" and without me touching him.
To prepare, I get some of my dog's favorite food treats handy. A small dog biscuit is perfect.
I call my dog by his name and put his collar and leash on. While holding the leash in the left hand, I show him the treat. I let him sniff it, lick it, anything to get his juices flowing!
But…, I don't give it to him just yet.
After a minute or so, when the dog is excited, I slowly raise the treat over his head. To get a better view of the treat, he has no choice but to sit down. As he is sitting down, I tell him in a firm and authoritative voice "Sit".
With my dog in a sitting position, I give him a treat and offer him some verbal praise.
Have you noticed what I did not do?
I did not use any force to get him in a sitting position.
Repeat this exercise couple of times per day, but don't overdo it. Ten to fifteen minutes per session is enough.
Another trick I like to use is to say "Sit" every time that I see my dog sitting down on his own. This technique reinforces the association between the action (dog sitting down) and the command ("Sit").
Of course, you can use variations of this technique to get your dog to follow any command.
Want to read more about dog behavior training? Then visit dog behavior tips.
We just covered a very important subject. You may feel overwhelmed and question yourself if you can do it.
But it's not any different from learning anything that's new. At first, you are not sure of yourself, but with practice, things don't look as scary. Just remember, dog behavior training is all about developing a relationship with your dog where you can effectively communicate with each other.
For additional information on dog behavior training and dog behavior in general, visit dog behaviors .
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