Posts Tagged ‘training’

Dogs Train People

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009
You wouldn't believe what your small dog is capable of doing.

Don't let the innocent look fool you. This is a crafty and sly trainer of humans. (Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

I have spent a lot of time and words in this forum talking about how to train your dog. I think it is about time to discuss how your dog trains you. Dogs are excellent trainers of people. They fully understand how to manipulate the environment so a particular stimulus produces a desired response. Dogs know how to train consistently over time to get predictable and desired results. We can all learn a thing or two about training from watching our dogs. Here is an example. (more…)

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The Fairness Doctrine

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

How many things can you do at once? (photo courtesy of Ianuiops)

How many things can you do at once? (photo courtesy of Ianuiops)

Are you a good multi-tasker? Furthermore, can you rub your own belly while you pat your own head? If you already own two dogs and you are planning to get a third, you may become an unwilling participant in a 3-ring circus. It does not have to be that way. You can eat your cake and have a third dog too.

Dogs have an innate sense of fairness. In their minds, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander, and the third gander as well. Enough with the metaphors. Let me explain clearly with some examples. (more…)

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Let the Dog Decide–A Great Training Method for Shy Dogs

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

“Borscht was ranked number 1 in his obedience classes. He did everything perfectly. That was two months ago. Now, it’s like he never went to class. I don’t understand what happened.”

“Do you know a good trainer? We tried this place, and they seemed pretty good, but now Snickerdoodle acts like he’s deaf. He just won’t respond to me.”

“I’ve tried everything. Everything. I think Silvadius is mentally challenged.”

If I earned one Quetzal for every time I heard statements such as these, I could buy a pretty decent meal in Guatemala. (They make a very good pupusa in that country, by the way.)

Otis the Puggle has an "Aha!" moment.

Otis the Puggle has an 'Aha!' moment.

There are as many dog training methods as there are dog trainers out there, and while all seem to work to some degree, very few methods transfer well to the dog owner. By that I mean most dogs seem to respond correctly to trainers or to their owner within a training environment, but the lessons learned do not carry over at home. Even in-home training does not always stick. I knew there had to be a common weakness in all the dog training methods used by our customers, but until recently I did not know what that weakness was. (more…)

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The Big Controversy: I Want My Dog to Respond to Me, Not Treats

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

I want my dog to respond to me.

I want my dog to respond to me.

Have I got a deal for you! I would like you to go to school to learn a highly technical and demanding skill. I mean, pick something that really stretches your abilities and makes you work long and difficult hours. Law school or medical school will do nicely, but you are free to choose your own course of study. Then I want you to refine your skills for 2 to 3 years at an internship in your chosen field. Then I want you to go into practice for yourself, but promise me you will never, ever take any pay for your work. I want you to do all this just because I asked you to and because you like me. In return, I promise to pat you on your head and tell you what a good job
you are doing. If this sounds like a good deal to you, please give me your name and email address in the comment section at the end of this article so I can add you to my list. (more…)

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The Nose Knows, Part 1

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

“Finster, come.”

“Finster, come!”

“C’mon Finster!”

“Finster, come here. NOW!”

“I said come! Come Finster! C’mon, that’s right. Good Bo–. . . Holy Mother of . . . Finster! Get over here!!”

The nose knows.

The nose knows.

Does this sound familiar? The tendency for dogs to come when called is known as “recall.” Many dogs have great recall inside the house. When outside, your dog’s recall may be, in a word, non-existent. No doubt your dog is distracted when he/she is outside, but by what? Answer: everything. Unless your dog spends the majority of the time outside, the outdoor environment offers rewards and stimulation far greater than your praise or your companionship. I’ll give you a moment to sulk about this. When you are done, meet me at the next paragraph. (more…)

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