LESSON 3.
TOP TEN TRAINING TIPS by CarolynStolzenburg
1. Dogs are a different species.
They communicate via body language. They have an acute sense ofsmell-it's their most important sense. They receive different visualimages than we. Their emotions are flat and singular and in directresponse to their current environment. Ex: happy to go out, sad to beleft home, afraid of thunder, bored due to lack of activity. Theylive only in the current moment. They do not think about the past orfuture as we do.
2. Dogs do what works.
Behavior that is reinforced(rewarded) will be repeated. A dog willnot perform a behavior that has no reward. If you simply reward thebehaviors you like you will be a good trainer. "Catch your dog doingsomething good and reward it."
3. Ignore bad behavior and reward goodbehavior.
Start to think in terms of what you would like your dog to do.Look at the problems you see in terms of how you'd wish your dogwould behave and then work to reinforce (reward) that good behavior.If you see behavior you don't like ignore it and resolve to train thebehavior you want.
4. Dogs learn by association.
Your dog runs to you when you pick up its leash because it haslearned that that signals a walk. Your dog comes when you pick up thefood bowl because that means it will get fed. In training weassociate behaviors with rewards to strengthen the behavior. Avoidpunishment because your dog will associate punishment with you.
5. Dogs learn by repetition.
A dog doesn't "know" what sit means like we do. Instead, a dog hasa weak sit or a strong sit or something in-between based on thequality of it's training. A dog that doesn't respond is not beingspiteful. If your dog is not responding as you wish it is most likelya training method error. Most common mistakes made: jumping ahead toofast, weak rewards, and intimidating verbal or physical cues.
6. Use proper management to ensure that yourdog does well.
Part of this means preventing unwanted behaviors from occurring(re: keeping the trash in a closet or cabinet). When guests arriveput your lead on your dog and have her sit. Reward her for sitting.Even better; practice before the guests arrive.
7. Your dog needs mental and physical exercisedaily.
Dogs need regular exercise-if not behavior problems are bound tooccur. In addition, they need to use their instincts-smelling,tracking, digging, herding, guarding, etc. Lack of mental stimulation(new places & experiences) leads to boredom which leads tobehavior problems.
8. Dogs don't generalize well.
That's why it's important to train in many different places and tobegin at easy levels at each new place.
9. Use the lowest level reward needed.
Save the "big guns/best treats" for the beginning stages oftraining and for teaching complex behaviors-like coming when called.Usually more powerful treats will be needed at class than athome.
10. Learning should be fun, fair, andstress-free.
If your dog is not doing well then you need to look at yourtraining to set it up so your dog can succeed. We can help withthis.
Carolyn Stolzenburg
Canine Behavior Services, LLC
Barrington, NH
Thank you Carolyn! We owe her many cookies!
NOTE: Carolyn and I met through the Net and she sent me theselessons that she gives all her students to share with you.
Bedli loves and cookies to all!
alison underhill
THE CLICKER CORNER
Bedlington-L@LME2.LME.Mankato.MSUS.EDU
Sidney, BC
Babe: "I trained her all by myself"
Tilly: "Here, have a cookie, dummy."
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