Saturday, October 13, 2012

Avoid Dog Training Problems

By Allyson Westcot


Many dog trainers and obedience teachers like to remark that canine training is really dog owner training. This really is true, because the dog takes its cues from you. If you get exasperated, the dog can become irritable. If you're inconsistent in your training, the dog may not understand what you need each time you go to modify his behaviour.

Remember that if you do something wrong continuously, the dog will learn it. And unlearning unpleasant behavior takes more time and is trickier than learning good behavior from the beginning.

Some trainers don't use treats at all for many sorts of training. Instead they use praise and petting, a kind tone of voice and repetition. But most owners will use treats at some point, even if only to teach tricks like shaking hands and rolling over. It's very important to use treats just when they are appropriate.

For example, a dog that's hesitant to go out the door into the rear yard by himself should be picked up and taken outside or taken on a dog leash. Using a treat to coax the dog outside might appear a smart way to get the job done swiftly for you. For your dog, it's a reward earned for stepping outside. Shortly, a reward may be required to make him come back thru the door. And in almost no time, your dog will go in and out, not to potty or play, but to earn a delicious snack.

If you're housetraining your dog, take him out several times a day at regular intervals. Waiting for too long between trips or doing them at peculiar times will only confuse the process. Make putting on an EzyDog harness or collar and walking with a high quality dog leash part of the housetraining process that your dog comes to expect. Consistency will help keep your dog from being confused and allow him to learn the right behaviour faster.




About the Author:



No comments: