| The following three tips are based on positive | | | | comesto me like we are old mates. Why? |
| reinforcement methods thatare proven and time | | | | Because I do not allow any emotion to hinder me. I |
| tested to get results. | | | | am not happy, I am not angry, |
| Let's get started... | | | | I am not sad, I am not nervous, or afraid. I am |
| Tip #1: Consistency is Critical | | | | neutral and along with a littlebody language the dog |
| Dogs learn through repetition and consistency. If you | | | | comes to me because he wants to. |
| consistently reinforcea behavior with praise, food or | | | | If you are mad, sad, overly excited, frustrated or |
| another reward the dog will start to offerthe | | | | nervous your dog feels this. |
| behavior more often as a result. | | | | She reads you like a book and your attitude conveys |
| This also applies to inappropriate behavior like jumping | | | | the message, "stay away" tothe dog. She reads this |
| or chewing on yourfavorite pair of shoes. | | | | language and avoids you. As a result you become |
| Jumping is an attention getting behavior. 99.9% of | | | | even morefrustrated and you start to try even |
| the time dogs jump to getattention. What happens | | | | harder to get her to comply making thesituation a |
| when your dog jumps on you? You push them off or | | | | lose-lose-lose for all involved. |
| youpet them or you say, "No!" in a stern voice. In | | | | When you start training your dog to do something |
| every case you are giving themattention. Either | | | | approach it with a care-freeattitude. Patience is the |
| positive (petting) or negative (pushing them off and | | | | key when teaching your dog to do something. |
| saying | | | | Remain patientand relaxed. Work in small bites and |
| NO!). What kind of attention does not matter to your | | | | keep the lessons short and to the point. |
| dog. They are gettingattention either way and they | | | | End on a happy successful note and your dog will |
| are being rewarded. | | | | become more reliable as a result. |
| If you push your dog off of you every time they | | | | Tip #3: Mark successful behaviors with a sound |
| jump you are consistentlyrewarding the behavior. As | | | | (clicker) or word like "Yes" |
| a result your dog will jump more often becausethey | | | | In order for your dog to understand they did |
| are receiving a reward. | | | | something right you must mark thesuccessful |
| On the flip side of this coin if you praise your dog | | | | behavior immediately with a distinct sound or a word. |
| every time they greet youby sitting your dog will | | | | I use a clickeror the word, "yes" to indicate a |
| start to greet you by sitting more often. This | | | | success. |
| appliesto any behavior you want to teach from lying | | | | For example, if you ask your dog to "sit" and he |
| down to coming when called. If youare consistent | | | | does you want to mark it the momenthe does it |
| they will offer the behavior more often and they will | | | | successfully with a clicker or by saying yes. Then |
| learn whatdoes and does not earn a reward. | | | | follow that up with atreat, praise, a good scratch |
| Tip #2: Keep Your Emotions Out of the Process | | | | behind the ear or whatever your dog finds rewarding. |
| If you have ever seen a dog trainer work you | | | | What you are doing is telling the dog, "Yes, that is |
| probably have seen what I refer toas the "he won't | | | | exactly what I want. Great job!"but not in so many |
| listen" game. The game is common amongst my dog | | | | words. |
| training clientsand it goes like this... | | | | When you mark a behavior successfully your dog will |
| My dog won't listen! I have tried and tried to teach | | | | understand what they did rightmaking the training |
| him how to come to me when | | | | process much smoother. |
| I call him but he simply won't listen! | | | | By using positive dog training methods you decrease |
| At this point I step in and without saying a word I | | | | the odds you will make a mistakeand hurt the training |
| get the dog to come to meeagerly. This is the first | | | | process and you increase the chances your dog will |
| time I have ever seen or met this dog and he | | | | actuallylearn something. |