Understanding The Fundamentals of Adult Dog Training

Thursday, August 19th, 2010 at 4:05 pm  
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AlexIn this introduction to my dog training guide I want to explain the basic principles behind all dog training practices and some of the pitfalls that need to be overcome.

Dogs live for the present. Their memories are based upon association; they have very little recall memory. Dogs are not able to reason as we do. They think in concrete terms, it is very much action = consequence for them. Dog behaviours that are rewarded are usually repeated while behaviors that are discouraged are typically avoided and in this way bad behavior is corrected. This is the main principle behind any kind of dog training. This is how to train dogs. In this way your puppy or dog learns good behavior from bad. It is called positive reinforcement dog training and it will bring out the best in your dog.

To take a simple example, if your dog sits and you promptly provide a treat or give verbal praise then he will begin to sit on his own in order to receive another reward. This is positive reinforcement. On the other hand, you should completely ignore your dog if he jumps up for attention, this is negative reinforcement and your dog will be disinclined to repeat it in future.

To create meaningful associations you should praise behaviours that you want to encourage and ignore behaviours that you want to discourage. It all sounds very simple doesn’t it? So what is it that makes adult dog training so problematic?

To make a successful association the time between action and reward cannot be more than about 2 seconds this can be a problem. This means that it is easily possible for the inexperienced owner to make an unintended association. As an example suppose you are teaching your dog to sit but you are a bit slow in praising him and by that time he is standing up again, then what you have done is reinforced the stand up rather than the sit. Another scenario would be to find that your dog has messed on the carpet when you come home. You pull your dog back to the mess, rub his nose in it saying ‘Bad Dog’ and then push him out of the back door. All you have done is taught your dog that going to the toilet is bad.

In the home there is another problem in that a dog can have too many trainers using different training methods and producing conflicting associations which will confuse the dog. A dog should only have one master and one trainer.

In this dog training guide I have explained the fundamentals behind adult dog training. They are very simple but as the saying goes, easier said than done. However, a knowledge of the fundamental principles will always be of help with any particular dog training method.

Puppy Training Techniques

Puppy dog training is one of the most rewarding things that I have ever done. In this post I want to highlight the main differences between dog training and puppy training techniques.

Your Dog and Training Equipment

Dog training equipment has many variations both in quality and style. Before you start training your dog there are certain basic pieces of dog training equipment that you will need. Here is a list of essential equipment together with some guidance about what to look for when buying.

Dog Leash Training – Stop Your Dog From Leash Pulling

In this dog lead training article I’ll be taking a more detailed look at dog lead training specifically walking your dog on a lead without any pulling. This is probably one of the most important things that your dog will learn in dog training. Walking well on a lead is something that takes some practice with your dog. Pulling is a common problem and unless it is corrected early, it will get harder to correct the older the dog becomes.

Dog Training Barking, Stop It At The Doorbell

In dog training, barking at the doorbell is often left untreated. It happens so often doesn’t it. You call at someone’s house and as soon as you ring the bell or knock on the door all hell breaks loose and a dog hurls itself against the door barking loudly. It’s worse from the dog owner’s view point, every caller is greeted with the same response from their dog. It is not easy to stop this behaviour. Breaking this pattern involves a desensitising process.

Using Electric Dog Training Collars to Stop Barking

There are few things worse than the continuous barking of a dog whether it’s yours or a neighbors. This article explains how certain electronic devices might be the answer to this and other related dog problems.

Crate Training Dogs is not Cruel

Crate training dogs is not cruel! By their very nature dogs like to live in a den like environment. Dog crate training means that you are providing your dog with a way of life which really suits him down to the ground. He feels safe and comfortable in his crate or kennel provided that you, the owner does not abuse it.

The Best Method of Potty Training Dogs

Potty training dogs, usually puppies but not always is one of the first things you must do to prevent your life with the new member of your family from becoming hell. Dogs are essentially clean animals. They will instinctively soil outside their sleeping and eating areas. There are several myths associated with dog toilet training that need to be dispelled immediately.

Pup Training in the Home

Pup training if not done sensitively and with care can permanently scar your puppy for life. Psychologists say that we have two kinds of memory, the ability to recall and the ability to associate. It has been shown that dogs in particular are not so good at recall but they are very good at association. It is therefore very important that your puppy is not exposed to events that he needlessly associates with fear.

How to Start Using a Clicker for Dog Training

Using a clicker for dog training is probably the best method of giving your dog instant praise for a correct behaviour, but it has to be done in a very precise manner. A dog’s memory is almost wholly based upon association rather than recall. A dog’s ability to recall is very limited – If you wait more than 3 seconds to praise your dog for something he has done then it is quite likely that he will have forgotten what you are praising him for. This is why clicker training works so well. You can click much sooner than you can praise him verbally or give him a treat.

Dog Training, Chewing Inappropriately

The first thing to say is that dogs and puppies will always chew; it is part of their make up you might say that it is built in to their genes. Chewing helps them relax, it gives them something enjoyable to do and it feels good. Puppies chew for the same reason but in addition because they are teething and like human babies they use their mouths to investigate most things.

Dog Training: Aggression And How To Control It

In dog training, aggression is a major issue – 30% of rescue dogs are there because of aggressive behaviour, it is also the main reason why dogs are put down. There many causes of aggression, they can be grouped into the eight categories listed below.