It's important to train your dog to respond to basic commands. In addition to encouraging his good behavior at home and in public, doing so can help ensure his safety. For example, if your canine is tempted to dart into the street, telling him to stay will prevent him from becoming injured by traffic.
Unfortunately, many owners train their pets at home, and assume they will respond reliably to the same commands elsewhere. Unless an animal's behavior has been "proofed," there is a good chance he'll ignore his owner's commands due to distractions or misunderstanding.
This article will introduce the concept of proofing your dog. This is a training strategy that tests your pet's ability to respond to your commands in different settings and with an increasing level of distraction. We'll describe how to approach the training, and what to expect from your dog afterward.
Rewarding Success And Ignoring Failure
Positive reinforcement plays a key role in proofing. When your canine responds correctly to your commands, praise him and give him a treat. If he fails to respond, or does so incorrectly, refrain from yelling or pulling on his leash. Punishment is seldom effective toward encouraging desired behaviors.
It's also important to reward small successes in the beginning. For example, suppose you are training your dog to sit. If he does so for even a moment, praise him. You'll be able to increase the duration down the road. With new commands, small accomplishments deserve a reward.
Begin Without Distractions
Teach new commands in a distraction-free environment. Your home may be ideal if it is quiet, and others in your house can avoid walking through the training area. This type of setting is necessary in order to help your pet focus on the responses you desire from him.
Continue these training sessions until your canine has demonstrated that he understands the desired response, and is able to perform it quickly and reliably. At that point, it's time to introduce distractions.
Adding Distractions To Improve Your Pet's Focus
Start with a single distraction, such as bouncing a tennis ball, while telling your pet to sit. When he begins to respond correctly and consistently, use something else to distract him. For example, hum a song, perform small jumps in place, or turn on a television in the room. This improves your dog's focus.
When he has proven his ability to respond correctly regardless of the diversion, add multiple distractions. For instance, bounce the ball while the television is on. Or, ask others in your home to walk by while you tell your canine to sit. Once he has reached this level of proofing, take him to locations outside your home.
Venturing Into Different Settings
Because your dog spends so much time in your house, he can focus more easily on your commands. But this does not mean he'll be able to do so in other settings, where the sights and scents are new and exciting to him. Also, canines often have difficulty with context. That is, when you tell your dog to sit, he learns to do so in the setting in which he is told. In a different environment, his learned response is less likely to be triggered.
This is the reason training your canine in unfamiliar settings is a key component of proofing. Doing so builds context for him, and trains him to respond to you alone regardless of the setting. Take him to a park, a neighbor's yard, or to a quiet store parking lot. As before, introduce distractions slowly to further improve his focus.
Proofing is a long process that also involves giving your canine commands from different positions and distances. That is, he should sit when you tell him, regardless of whether you are near, far away, standing, or lying on the ground. Once a behavior has been successfully proofed, your dog will perform it reliably in every situation.
Unfortunately, many owners train their pets at home, and assume they will respond reliably to the same commands elsewhere. Unless an animal's behavior has been "proofed," there is a good chance he'll ignore his owner's commands due to distractions or misunderstanding.
This article will introduce the concept of proofing your dog. This is a training strategy that tests your pet's ability to respond to your commands in different settings and with an increasing level of distraction. We'll describe how to approach the training, and what to expect from your dog afterward.
Rewarding Success And Ignoring Failure
Positive reinforcement plays a key role in proofing. When your canine responds correctly to your commands, praise him and give him a treat. If he fails to respond, or does so incorrectly, refrain from yelling or pulling on his leash. Punishment is seldom effective toward encouraging desired behaviors.
It's also important to reward small successes in the beginning. For example, suppose you are training your dog to sit. If he does so for even a moment, praise him. You'll be able to increase the duration down the road. With new commands, small accomplishments deserve a reward.
Begin Without Distractions
Teach new commands in a distraction-free environment. Your home may be ideal if it is quiet, and others in your house can avoid walking through the training area. This type of setting is necessary in order to help your pet focus on the responses you desire from him.
Continue these training sessions until your canine has demonstrated that he understands the desired response, and is able to perform it quickly and reliably. At that point, it's time to introduce distractions.
Adding Distractions To Improve Your Pet's Focus
Start with a single distraction, such as bouncing a tennis ball, while telling your pet to sit. When he begins to respond correctly and consistently, use something else to distract him. For example, hum a song, perform small jumps in place, or turn on a television in the room. This improves your dog's focus.
When he has proven his ability to respond correctly regardless of the diversion, add multiple distractions. For instance, bounce the ball while the television is on. Or, ask others in your home to walk by while you tell your canine to sit. Once he has reached this level of proofing, take him to locations outside your home.
Venturing Into Different Settings
Because your dog spends so much time in your house, he can focus more easily on your commands. But this does not mean he'll be able to do so in other settings, where the sights and scents are new and exciting to him. Also, canines often have difficulty with context. That is, when you tell your dog to sit, he learns to do so in the setting in which he is told. In a different environment, his learned response is less likely to be triggered.
This is the reason training your canine in unfamiliar settings is a key component of proofing. Doing so builds context for him, and trains him to respond to you alone regardless of the setting. Take him to a park, a neighbor's yard, or to a quiet store parking lot. As before, introduce distractions slowly to further improve his focus.
Proofing is a long process that also involves giving your canine commands from different positions and distances. That is, he should sit when you tell him, regardless of whether you are near, far away, standing, or lying on the ground. Once a behavior has been successfully proofed, your dog will perform it reliably in every situation.
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