Tips
for Success
-
Don't
think of behaviors as good and bad - those words
carry too many moral implications that have no
place in the dog's existence. Try desirable and
undesirable.
-
Set your
dog up for success! Manage the dog's environment
so he can't make mistakes. When training, keep
your criteria low enough that the dog can be successful
frequently.
-
Don't
be afraid to have a high rate of reinforcement.
Your dog won't be spoiled - he'll be eager to
work because it's fun!
-
Divide
your dog's food into tiny portions and have him
work for it throughout the day. Some dogs, such
as herding breeds, actually prefer to work for
their food.
-
Train
off-leash whenever possible. Remember, the leash
is a tether for safety - it's not a training tool.
-
Don't
have treats in your hand or on your person when
you train, if possible. It's okay to delay delivery
of the treat for a few seconds while you walk
to a bowl.
-
Keep treats
stashed in bowls out of the dog's reach all over
the house, and carry a clicker all the time. That
way you can reinforce desirable behaviors anytime.
-
Change
the picture a little bit every time you ask for
a behavior. Change your position. Change locations.
The only thing that should be consistent is the
cue.
-
Ignore
undesirable behavior as much as possible. Every
time you reinforce a desired behavior, it's like
adding money to a bank account. The more money
in that account, the stronger the relationship
with your dog. Positive punishment - even if effective
- removes money from that bank account, and it
weakens the relationship.
-
If you
do use a physical correction, look at the effect.
Did the behavior not only stop temporarily, but
happen less frequently? If not, it wasn't a correction
- it was abuse.
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This article
was reproduced on www.Southwestk9services.com
with the permission of the author Melissa Alexander.
www.ClickerSolutions.com ,
a site dedicated to helping pet owners improve the
relationship with their pets by teaching training
and management techniques which are understandable
and reinforcing to both human and animal
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