| Dog training can be fun or it can be hard. Hard dog | | | | dog ignores you for more rewarding behaviors, dog is |
| training starts with no foundation. No thought put into | | | | unreliable, you can't train your dog. |
| the methods and actual training of your dog. You just | | | | In short, pay the dog for the work (listening to you) |
| "train" and hope it all turns out for the best. | | | | they do and you will see results. |
| Fun training begins with thought. What methods are | | | | Besides, positive reinforcement based dog training is |
| you going to use? Why? How do you apply them to | | | | not all about giving cookies to your dog. It is about |
| your training sessions? What core behaviors are you | | | | giving your dog something they see has pleasurable. |
| going to teach? Knowing the answers to these | | | | A pat on the side, a belly rub, a game of tug of war |
| questions will cut years off your learning curve and | | | | or fetch, all of these can be used to reward your |
| help you train faster, more effectively, and training | | | | dog. |
| will be a lot more fun. | | | | Laying the foundation starts with knowing exactly |
| As a professional dog trainer my main piece of | | | | what you want your dog to do for you. When |
| advice for dog owners seeking to train their own | | | | thinking about this instead of, "I would love for my |
| dogs is to use positive reinforcement. Training using | | | | dog to stop jumping," you should think, "what do I |
| positive reinforcement is not only extremely hard to | | | | want my dog to do other than jump up?" The |
| mess up, it is what I call, "damage free." In other | | | | answer, "I would like for them to sit nicely and wait |
| words, if you do mess up you do not damage your | | | | for petting." There ya go, start training that behavior |
| dog. Using corrections, especially physical collar | | | | instead of trying to stop something dogs do naturally. |
| corrections, is very easy to get wrong. More to the | | | | This goes for all basic training. Ask yourself "what do |
| point you can damage your dogs confidence and | | | | I want my dog to do other than (insert undesirable |
| trust in you to a degree that makes future training | | | | behavior here)" When you get your answer you will |
| nearly impossible. | | | | have a goal to train for. |
| "Jason, I don't want to give my dog cookies all the | | | | Foundation training is what makes the difference |
| time!" My question back to you is, "why not?" Why | | | | between a reliable dog in all situations and a dog that |
| would you not want to reward for a job well done? | | | | can't be trusted as far as the end of a leash. If you |
| Would you wake up and go to your job without a | | | | take your time, think your training through, and use |
| paycheck? Same principle applies here. Pay your dog, | | | | positive reinforcement based training methods your |
| your dog is happy, your dog will perform when | | | | dog will be on the fast track to solid obedience for |
| asked. Flip that over, don't pay the dog, dog is bored, | | | | the long term. |