| Recently, a lot of our friends and customers have | | | | immediate results. We learn to expect that our |
| asked us about dog training and how to properly use | | | | actions will be met by prompt, anticipated responses. |
| treats when training dogs. We found the following | | | | Dog training runs counter to this societal trend |
| article to be very helpful: | | | | toward speedy, immediate gratification. Training is an |
| There are many different approaches to dog training | | | | extended process that can require a great deal of |
| and many different ways of implementing each of | | | | patience from the trainer. |
| those approaches. Most techniques utilized today | | | | Impatience results in unpredictability on the part of |
| however, are premised upon the idea that positive | | | | the owner as they hastily cease a training session or |
| reinforcement is likely to create the best results. | | | | abandon positive reinforcement techniques in hopes |
| Virtually every truly functional dog training system is | | | | of finding a shortcut to desired results. Patience is, |
| outgrowth of positive reinforcement thinking. | | | | indeed, a virtue when one considers the role of the |
| Regardless of which specific program a dog owner | | | | owner in a dog training situation. |
| may choose to adopt, there are common pitfalls that | | | | A successful trainer will master developing a patient |
| can be avoided. Dog owners are particularly | | | | outlook throughout the extended process of dog |
| susceptible to making three critical errors, which if | | | | training. |
| avoided will make the training process far more | | | | Treating the Dog as a Subject Instead of a Partner |
| enjoyable and effective. Three of the most common | | | | Dog training requires two participants: the dog and |
| mistakes are inconsistency, impatience and treating | | | | the owner. Frequently, however, owners tend to |
| the dog as a subject instead of a training partner. | | | | perceive the process as being uniquely about them. |
| Inconsistency | | | | They fret over their techniques, equipment and |
| Consistency may be hobgoblin of little minds in terms | | | | strategies without giving real consideration to their |
| of the need for human creativity. With respect to | | | | training partner, the dog. |
| dog training, however, inconsistency is the quickest | | | | When an owner approaches the dog as a simple |
| way to reduce the experience's effectiveness. | | | | subject for experimentation, they lose track of what |
| Dogs thrive on predictability. In fact, their ability to | | | | makes the dog unique and denigrate the |
| grasp cause and effect is at the very root of training. | | | | always-important dog/owner relationship. Training |
| Operant conditioning is predicated on the fact that | | | | becomes a chore, rather than a joint activity. What |
| dogs will begin to associate events with consistent | | | | might have been a pleasurable chance for interaction |
| outcomes. This notion of consistency's importance | | | | becomes an un-enjoyable task. |
| must be extended to the overall process of dog | | | | Dogs are sufficiently intuitive to be attuned to a |
| training. | | | | trainer's attitude and are less receptive to learning |
| A dog is likely to best respond to a system in which | | | | when they are treated merely as a subject instead |
| regular actions produce regular results. Too often, | | | | of as a complete being. Owners who fail to see their |
| dog owners fail to be entirely consistent. In the dog's | | | | pet's identity during training are unable to pick up on |
| mind, these lapses in regularity convey a sense of | | | | subtle clues and possible means to improve their |
| randomness to the process and make it difficult for | | | | techniques. |
| the pet to associate his specific behaviors with | | | | The successful trainer will treat his dog as a full |
| specific results-the key to training. Dogs will excel | | | | partner in training, not merely as a subject. |
| when they are taught that things happen for specific | | | | By avoiding these three common pitfalls, a dog |
| reasons. When surprises occur it undermines the | | | | owner is more likely to be able to implement a |
| whole of the training process. | | | | training strategy that produces results. Additionally, |
| A successful trainer will retain consistency and will not | | | | the training experience is likely to be enjoyable for |
| deviate from an established course. | | | | both the dog and owner, giving them a tremendous |
| Impatience | | | | opportunity to build their relationship. Regardless of |
| There can be a great deal of frustration in dog | | | | the exact methodology adopted by the owner, the |
| training. Concepts we believe dogs should be able to | | | | training process will benefit extraordinarily from |
| grasp easily often escape them completely for quite | | | | avoiding the mistakes of inconsistency, impatience |
| some time. | | | | and treating your pet as a subject instead of as a |
| We live in a world that is so often focused on | | | | partner. |