Without a doubt, pets are very popular among first-world countries today. In many western countries, cats are actually the most-owned pet, even more than dogs, fish, or birds. Cats are affectionate but less demanding than dogs, don't have to be exercised daily, can use litter-boxes instead of having to be let outside. Many folks feel that felines have a certain "aura" of cleverness and mystique.
But can cats actually have a beneficial effect on a person's health? Research shows that having a pet cat can affect a person's emotions and psychology in a positive way. Quite a few people that have depression, stress, or old age can find comfort in stroking a happy, purring cat in their lap. Cats can be great friends and companions.
Cats can boost confidence. Taking care of a pet can teach a child to be caring and responsible. When ill or old people have a pet cat that depends on them, it keeps them from feeling useless and helps boost self-esteem and confidence in themselves. By taking care of a pet, you can learn to take care of others too, and help them when they're in need.
Pets can be a source of stress-relief too. The Society for Companion Animal Studies has reported that patients often recover from their illnesses or live longer lives if they are an animal's caretaker, or through their companionship. It has been discovered that those with mental illnesses, or physiological or psychological impairment do better when accompanied by a pet.
If you're hesitant or shy in public, bringing a cat along can help spark conversation and introduce you to new friends. Lots of other people love cats and in a small crowd, you're sure to find someone else who shares your interest in cats and other pets. Keep in mind that some people are allergic to different kinds of animals, especially those with fur. Make sure it's okay to take your pet when you're invited to a social gathering.
Cats have wide ranges of personalities, much like people. Adventurous, playful, clever, mischievous, maybe even nifty. Some cats are content to sit on your lap, others have two speeds--high and sleeping. Kittens and young cats tend to be more energetic and get less so while they mature. But they always seem to keep their dignity and attraction. There are many different breeds of cats with different appearances, sizes and attitudes. Some cats are bred for beauty, some are rescued from off the street. Maybe you'll adopt a rescued cat one day.
Even if you don't adopt a cat, many other animals make great pets. Dogs, fish, and birds have their own attractions and places in your life they can fill. Some people find others interesting, reptiles, amphibians, hamsters, gerbils, or snakes. Horses have a "club" all their own. Beware more exotic pets though--zoo animals can make very poor pets, many cities have ordinances against them, and it usually takes very special care to keep one. Zoo keepers have lots of work to do and the organizations they work for spend lots of money to keep exotic animals healthy.
Whether for comfort or companionship, business or hobby, pets brighten millions of people's homes and lives. Will they brighten yours?
Most dogs, no matter their eventual advanced training or intended purpose, live with people who want them to behave in ways that make them pleasant to be around, keep them safe, and provides for the safety of other people and pets. Dogs do not figure out basic obedience on their own; they must be trained.
The hardest part of training is communicating with the dog in a humane way that the dog understands. However, the underlying principle of all communication is simple: reward desired behavior while correcting undesired behavior.
Basic pet obedience training usually consists of six behaviors:
Sit
Down
Stay
Recall ("come", "here" or "in")
Close (or loose-leash walking)
Heel
"Corrections" should never include harmful physical force or violence. Using force while training is controversial and should not be taken lightly, because even if it ends the behavior, when applied inappropriately with some dogs it may lead to a loss of drive (enthusiasm for the given task), stress, and in some cases even aggression. A handler may decide to use force, however the standard used by most trainers is the minimum amount necessary to inhibit the unwanted behavior.
Puppies and learning
The prenatal period is a recently recognized developmental period of puppies. It is thought that "long-term effects on behavioral development may also be produced in some mammals by events occurring in utero". (Serpell, 1995, p. 80) Previous studies tended to overlook the existence of this period, since the puppy behavior could not be observed. With the development of the ultrasound machine, a puppy can now be observed within the mother as early as the fourth week of gestation.
It was found that puppy fetuses would react to touch and/or pressure from the outside of the mother abdomen. In addition, it is theorized that since puppies have such a well-developed sense of touch at birth, the sense of touch would also be well-developed before birth. Studies have found that "when a pregnant animal is petted her litter is more docile", (Denenberg and Whimbey 1964, in Fox 1978) According to Fox, this facilitates relaxation, emotional attachment, and socialization. Other studies have indicated that puppies that receive outside contact (petting of the mother) while in utero have a higher tolerance for touching than puppies that receive no contact at all. One could theorize that gentle petting of the mother abdomen could help to facilitate positive, beneficial puppy socialization with people.
During the first two weeks of a puppy's life, also known as the neonate period, puppies can learn simple associations. (Serpell, 1995) However, early experience events are unlikely to carry over into later periods. Studies indicate that puppies in the neonate period do not seem to learn by experience. (Scott and Fuller, 1965) It is theorized that this is due to the fact that the puppy brain, sense, and motor organs are still undeveloped. Based on its limited capacity to sense and learn it would be difficult to affect the puppy psychologically, either in a positive or negative sense. (Scott and Fuller, 1965)
The next period of development is known as the socialization period. This period begins around 3 weeks old and ends around 12 weeks old. (Beaver, 1999) The main aspect of this period is social play. Social investigation, playful fighting and playful sexual behavior is very important to developing social relationships during its life. (Scott and Fuller, 1965) New behavior patterns are directly influenced by the puppy interaction with its mother and other puppies in the litter.
During this period puppies develop social relationships, with other puppies as well as with people. However, there is a point at which the puppies can develop a fear of strangers. At 35 weeks of age, puppies will actively approach strangers. Shortly thereafter stranger avoidance begins and slowly escalates until it peaks around 1214 weeks of age. (Beaver, 1999) While this natural fear of strangers could serve as a way to keep a curious puppy away from predators, it can also hinder normal relationships with people.
During this period, startle reactions to sudden movement and sounds develop. This serves to help the puppy learn to differentiate between dangerous and safe or insignificant events.(Scott and Fuller, 1965) During the socialization period, the development of attachment to certain locations occurs. This is displayed by an extreme disturbance in the puppy whenever a change in location occurs. This is known as localization. (Serpell, 1995) Localization often peaks in puppies between 67 weeks old (Scott and Fuller, 1965), and then tapers off after that time until a change in location is no longer distressing to the puppy.
Dogs that are handled and petted by humans regularly during the first eight weeks of life are generally much more amenable to being trained and living in human households. Ideally, puppies should be placed in their permanent homes between about 8 and 10 weeks of age. In some places it is against the law to take puppies away from their mothers before the age of 8 weeks. Puppies are innately more fearful of new things during the period from 10 to 12 weeks, which makes it harder for them to adapt to a new home.[citation needed]
Puppies can begin learning tricks and commands as early as 8 weeks of age; the only limitations are stamina, concentration, and physical coordination.(Beaver, 1999; Lindsay, 2000; Scott and Fuller 1965; Serpell 1995)
Basic training classes
Professional "dog trainers" train the dog's guardian to train his dog. To be most effective, the guardian must use and reinforce the techniques taught to the dog. Guardians and dogs who attend class together have an opportunity to learn more about each other and how to work together under a trainer's guidance. Training is most effective if all those who handle the dog take part in the training to ensure consistent commands, methods, and enforcement. Classes also help socialize a dog to other people and dogs. Training classes are offered by many kennels, pet stores, and independent trainers.
Group classes may not be available until the puppy has completed all of its vaccinations around 3 4 months of age; however, some trainers offer puppy socialization classes in which puppies can enroll immediately after being placed in their permanent homes as long as disease risk is minimal and puppies have received initial vaccinations. In most cases, basic training classes accept only puppies who are at least 3 to 6 months old however it's recommended to start training as soon as the puppy comes into your home. Puppies may also be trained individually by the trainer visiting the dog's home beginning as early as 8 weeks.
A puppy requires discipline, consistency, and the patience of its owner. The puppy training phase is integral in raising a healthy and happy dog and keeping a safe and fun home environment.
Dogs are expressive and may communicate needs by biting, whining, and getting fidgety. Changing one's own conduct may be effective in changing a puppy's behavior.
House training is an important issue for puppies. Various methods of house training will work although the key is to be consistent. With regularly enforced rules, litter box, crate, or paper training can be successful.
Posture Facilitated Relaxation (PFR) may be an effective technique to establish a bond between handler and puppy. The handler puts the puppy no older than 46 months in a down position and then holds the dog in that position by exerting only enough force to maintain the position. Once the puppy stops struggling and relaxes, the handler massages the puppy's neck and back. (Canine Dimensions, 2007, 23)
Communication
Fundamentally, dog training is about communication. From the human perspective, the handler is communicating to the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in what circumstances and what behaviours are undesirable.
A handler must understand communication from the dog. The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional state of the dog is an important consideration in directing the training, as a dog that is stressed or distracted will not learn efficiently.
According to Learning Theory there are four important messages that the handler can send the dog:
Reward or release marker
Correct behavior. You have earned a reward.
Keep going signal
Correct behavior. Continue and you will earn a reward.
No reward marker
Incorrect behavior. Try something else.
Punishment marker
Incorrect behavior. You have earned punishment.
Using consistent signals or words for these messages enables the dog to understand them more quickly.
It is important to note that the dog's reward is not the same as the reward marker. The reward marker is a signal that tells the dog that he has earned the reward. Rewards can be praise, treats, play, or anything that the dog finds rewarding. Failure to reward after the reward marker diminishes the value of the reward marker and makes training more difficult.
These messages may be communicated verbally or with nonverbal signals. Mechanical clickers are frequently used as a reward marker. Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs. The meanings of the four signals are taught to the dog through repetition, so that he may form an association by classical conditioning so that the dog associates the punishment marker with the punishment itself. Some sources contend that the most effective marker is the human voice. (Canine Dimensions, 2008, 32)
Dogs do not generalize commands easily. A command which may work indoors might be confusing out-of-doors or in a different situation. The command will need to be re-taught in each new situation. This is sometimes called "cross-contextualization," meaning the dog has to apply what's been learned to many different contexts.
Reward and punishment
Most training revolves around establishing consequences for the dog behavior. Operant conditioning defines these following four types of consequences.
Positive reinforcement adds something to the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again.
Negative reinforcement removes something from the situation to increase the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again.
Positive punishment adds something to the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again.
Negative punishment removes something from the situation to decrease the chance of the behaviour being exhibited again.
Most trainers claim that they use "positive training methods ". Generally, this means using reward-based training to increase good behavior rather than physical punishment to decrease bad behavior.
Rewards
Positive reinforcers can be anything that the dog finds rewarding - special food treats, the chance to play with a tug toy, social interaction with other dogs, or the owner's attention. The more rewarding a dog finds a particular reinforcer, the more work he will be prepared to do in order to obtain the reinforcer. Just being happy about a dog's accomplishment is a reward to them.
Some trainers go through a process of teaching a puppy to strongly desire a particular toy, in order to make the toy a more powerful positive reinforcer for good behaviour. This process is called "building prey drive", and is commonly used in the training of Narcotics Detection and Police Service dogs. The goal is to produce a dog who will work independently for long periods of time, in the hopes of earning access to its special toy reward.
Traditional forms of punishment is least used by modern dog trainers. A dog is generally only given this type of punishment if it is willfully disobeying the owner and owner needs to guard the dog's safety in a serious situation. Punishment is effectively paired with teaching the dog desired behaviors, but is not a single solution, as it will make the dog fearful or unwilling to cooperate if it is not taught desired behaviors.
Punishments should only be administered as appropriate for the dog's personality, age, experience and physical and emotional condition. Some dogs may show signs of fear or anxiety with harsh verbal corrections. Other dogs may ignore a verbal reprimand. Some dogs develop an aversion or fear of water, when water is sprayed at them as an aversive.
Training tricks
Many dog owners teach their dogs tricks. This serves several purposes: it develops a stronger relationship between the dog and human, it provides entertainment, and it engages the dog's mind, which can help to alleviate problems caused by boredom.
Collars and harnesses
Choke Collar: The choke collar is a length of metal-link chain with a large circular ring on either end. The chain is slid through one of these rings and it is slid over the dog's head. When the dog displays an undesirable behavior the collar is tightened. This is primarily used in traditional dog training.
Prong (or Pinch) Collar: The prong collar is made of metal links that fit together by connecting through long, usually blunt, teeth that point inward toward the dog neck. A section of this collar is made of a loop of chain links that tighten the collar when pulled, pinching the dog's neck. The use of these collars is controversial and is opposed by animal rights groups such as PETA. This collar is mainly used in traditional dog training.
Radio-controlled Collars: These consist of a radio receiver attached to the collar and a transmitter that the trainer holds. When triggered, the collar delivers an aversive. The specific aversives vary with different makes of collars. Some emit sounds, some vibrate, some release citronella or other aerosol sprays, some apply electrical stimulation. A few collars incorporate several of these. Of these, electrical stimulation is the most common and the most widely used. Early electrical collars provided only a single, high-level shock and were useful only to punish undesirable behavior.(Lindsay, 2005, p. 583) Modern electrical collars are adjustable, allowing the trainer to match the stimulation level to the dog's sensitivity and temperament. They deliver a consistent and measured level of aversive stimulation that produces significant discomfort and startle without risk of producing permanent physical injury.(Lindsay, 2005, p. 584) Lindsay finds these collars inappropriate for use as the initial or primary means for establishing basic obedience control.(Lindsay, 2005, 586)
Martingale Collar: The martingale collar is a collar that has only a section on it that will tighten when pulled. This is different from the choke collar that will tighten indefinitely.
Head Collar: The head collar is very similar to a halter on a horse. The theory it is that if you have control of the head, you have control of the body. The head collar generally consists of two loops. One loop goes behind the ears and the other goes over the dog's nose and they meet somewhere below the dog's jaw. This tool makes it more difficult for the dog to pull on his leash. This tool is usually employed during positive reinforcement training.
No Pull Harness: The no-pull harness is worn on the body of the animal. The no-pull harness differs significantly from the standard harness since it makes it harder for the dog to pull because it distributes energy over the dog back and shoulders. The no-pull harness restricts the movement of the dog body when the dog pulls. Like the head collar, the no pull harness does not teach the dog not to pull; it only makes it harder for the dog to pull.
Teething
Between three to six months of age, a puppy begins to get its adult teeth. This period can be quite painful and many owners do not recognize the natural need to chew. By providing specific chew toys designed to ease the pain of teething (such as a frozen nylon bone), attention can be diverted from table legs and other furniture. Many people also use a bad-tasting, bad-smelling spray on favorite items, such as shoes, furniture, or even wallpaper, to discourage chewing. Bitter apple is a commonly used spray, but there are several commercial sprays available. Different sprays work better for different applications, owners, or puppies.
Specialized training
Dogs are also trained for specific purposes, including:
Detection dogs
Assistance dogs
Herding dogs, livestock guardian dogs, and sheep dogs
Hunting dogs
Police dogs
Rescue dogs
Schutzhund German for "protection dog". There are three disciplines the dog must achieve (tracking, obedience, and personal protection).
Guard animals
This section requires expansion with:
Guard animals.
Due to their natural social structure which is territorial and protective of companions ompanion animals may exhibit some form of alert behaviors toward intruders. However guard dogs and police dogs are not simultaneously intended to be companion animals.
Guard dogs are defined as canines who either by training, or by instinct, protect either property, persons or objects.[citation needed] A well-trained guard dog protects person, property or objects on command and "turns-off" on command as well.
Several methods to train guard animals include the western (e.g. Koehler Method, developed by William Koehler, a military dog trainer and animal trainer for Walt Disney productions) and eastern methods. The Schutzhund sport also includes a protection phase in which the dog bites a padded sleeve worn by a "decoy" who plays the role of a "bad guy" threatening the dog's handler; the dog must also release on command and guard the decoy.
In some circumstances, when dogs are left alone to guard property it may be necessary to train them to not eat treats or other food items offered by unknown persons.
Service animals
This section requires expansion with:
Service animals.
Assistance dogs, such as guide and hearing dogs, are carefully trained to utilize both their sensory skills and the protective instincts of dogs to bond with a human to help that person to offset a disability in daily life. The use of assistance dogs is an ever-growing field, with wide a range of special adaptations.
List of types Companion dog Lap dogs Designer dog Poodle crosses Guard dogs Bull and Terrier Bandogs Fighting dogs Hunting dogs Bird dogs Gun dogs Water dogs Retrievers Setters Pointers Curs Feist Hounds Scenthounds Sighthounds Terriers Primitive dogs Canis familiaris dingo Herding dogs Drovers Livestock guardian dogs Sled dogs Eskimo dogs Turnspit dogs
Breeds
List of breeds List of named crossbreeds (hybrids) Breed Groups Ancient breeds Conformation Breeding Crossbred (hybrid) Mixed-breed (Mutt) Origin Purebred Rare breeds
Work
Assistance dog Attack dog Detection dog Guard dog Guide dog Hearing dog Herding dog Hunting dog Pet dog Police dog Search and rescue dog Service dog Sled dog Therapy dog War dog
Human-dog
interaction
Animal testing Baiting Breed-specific legislation Communication Dog park Dog Sports Intelligence Therapy Training Fear of dogs Dog licence Dog food Dogs in religion
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Pit Bull "Sunny" Training - Drop on command, Sit, Down, Stay
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[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Should I get my APBT fixed before putting her in Obedience School?
My APBT will be 4 months next week and I want to put her in an obedience school. I also am wanting to get her fixed. Should I get her fixed before putting her in obedience school or does it matter?
Also if anyone lives in Houston, Texas and can recommend a good obedience school!
THANKS
its not necessary. Ceasar had basic puppy obedience classes starting at that age and was neutered at six months. IMHO, it's never too early to start training.
Have you ever found yourself talking to your dog and got the feeling that he knew what you were saying? Well, it is very likely that your dog DID know what you were saying. The research in the field of Comparative Psychology (the study of the behavior and mental life of animals) has discovered that dogs are much more complex and intelligent than people realize.
In this article, I will present some important research and give an amazing example that shows complex thinking and learning processes in dogs. Hopefully, by the time you finish this article, you will realize that you need to be careful what you say to your dog because they know what you are saying!
A Brilliant Research Idea - Dog Psychology Tests
Traditional psychological research uses tests and experiments that depend on the subject providing feedback of some sort. Whether it is verbal or written responses, the human subject provides the information that in turn, allows the psychologist to define complex psychological processes.
In comparative psychology, this feedback is obviously not available. However, USA Today reported that Stanley Coren, emeritus professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, came up with a brilliant solution to this problem - use psychological tests designed for young humans that are pre-linguistic or limited-linguistic. This allowed him to make some fascinating discoveries about dog mental functioning.
Dogs Can Learn Human Speech and Count
Coren's research showed that dogs are more like humans than previously thought! So far he's discovered that dogs can learn about 165 words (author's note: there is no indication this is the top limit). Not only specific words but signals also. In addition, dogs can count up to four or five and have a basic understanding of arithmetic.
Think about this research for a moment. A 165 word vocabulary is large enough for complex communication. For a human, knowing that many words in a language would allow us to get by in a foreign country because 165 words would cover all the basics of food, water, directions etc. We might not be able to carry on an in-depth conversation with the inhabitants of the foreign country but we certainly could communicate our basic needs and understand the responses.
The ability to count and understand arithmetic means abstract thinking. Just think back to elementary school when you were trying to learn the concept of counting and how it made no sense. I still remember if Johnny had two apples and Mary gave him one apple, how many apples would Johnny have? Ouch, my head still hurts thinking back to the second grade trying to understand this abstract concept. Yet, a DOG can understand these things without the world view we humans possess. How amazing is that?
So, what is a real world example of the complex thinking processes of dogs? How about a dog using the telephone to call for help!
Dog Calls 911 to Save a Human's Life
It was reported in the news recently where a dog owned by Joe Stainaker called 911 to save his life. Mr. Stainaker has intermittent seizures from a brain injury. To help him live alone, he received a service dog named Buddy, a German shepherd, who was taught to dial 911 when Joe had a seizure. The telephone was set on a speed dial system and the dog was taught how to operate the phone.
Now think about this for a moment. The dog has to make an assessment that Joe is having a seizure, then go to the phone and press the correct buttons.
In September of 2008, Mr. Stainaker had a seizure. His dog ran to the phone and dialed 911. After the dispatcher answered, the dog started whimpering and barking, e.g. communicating that something was wrong. When the police arrived, the dog was barking excitedly as if to alert them that there was a problem.
Stainaker spent two days in the hospital and recovered from the seizure; saved by his dog's call to 911. His dog has called 911 two other times when Mr. Stainaker was having a seizure and ONLY when there was a seizure emergency.
If you think this is rare, Kevin Weaver's life was also saved by his dog calling 911. A diabetic, Weaver's blood sugar dropped to a dangerous low level which incapacitates a person and can be fatal. His beagle named Belle had been trained to use his cell phone speed dial to call 911 if Weaver had a health emergency. When Weaver was stricken by the low blood sugar, his dog called 911 on his cell phone and help arrived. Belle's cell phone call to 911 saved Weaver's life and the dog was the first canine to receive the VITA Wireless Samaritan Award, given to someone who used a cell phone to save a life, prevent a crime or help in an emergency.
But that is not the only way Belle helps Mr. Weaver. Belle also alerts him when his blood sugar is abnormal. How dogs are able to do this is not clearly understood but Weaver says whenever his dog alerts him to a blood sugar problem, he immediately gets his test meter to check and he said Belle has never been wrong. The key point here is that Belle makes a decision based on facts she ascertains and communicates this to Mr. Weaver.
Service dogs perform complex tasks every day. It just doesn't dawn on most people that these dogs are thinking and reasoning independently, making complex decisions that cannot be a function of training. Yes, they are taught to fulfill the role, but just like a person, education is just part of the process. They still have to collect the data and make complex decisions based on the facts. This means they have to analyze a situation and make a decision. There is more to this than simple training; it is complex intelligence processes.
Conclusion
Dogs understand human speech, they understand numbers and can perform complex tasks; tasks that require collecting data, analyzing the data and making the correct decision. They may have four legs and a fur coat but they are very much like people. Do we as people treat them with the respect and consideration they deserve?
The next time you say something to your dog, remember that he probably knows exactly what you are saying!
[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] How do you get the dog whisperer to come to your house?
I am in real need of the dog whisperer. I have a female doberman just over 15 months old. She is starting to get aggressive with me.
Here's the info... http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/dogwhisperer/submissions.php
According to the site, they are only looking for people in Houston, TX.. or southern CA.. so if you're not in those areas, you're out of luck.
however, you'd have better luck looking in your phone book and contacting a local trainer or behavoiralist..
hire someone who actually knows what they are doing, instead of hoping an entertainer will respond to you out of the thousands of people who contact him.
Dogs and are smart, aware, affectionate creatures but don't be fooled. Your loving canine companion is actually a wolf in dog's clothing. For all our efforts at domesticate dogs, they are still very much part of the natural, animal world. We need to accept this, and adjust the way we interact with our dogs.
A Dog's View of the World
A dog's thinking is based on drives and instincts. Their basic needs are food, a place to sleep, and a strong pack for protection. This means they need a pack leader who the trust and are willing to follow. This is where you come in.
The most important job of any dog owner is to provide pack leadership. Do this and he will obey your every command. Fail and you have a problem dog on your hands.
The first key to understanding dog behavior is to remember that dogs do not understand words.Now you are probably thinking about how your dog sits, when you give the command "sit", or looks up when you call his name. But this is word association rather than understanding.
The truth is that dogs have no capacity for understanding words, they mainly interpret body language. Dogs are atuned to associate action and reaction, so as your dog learns that certain actions bring reward he'll be encoraged to repeat them.
As part of this chain of action and reaction, most dogs learn to react to single words, so he may for example learn to associate the word "walk" with going out, but most likely it is the "pre-walk rituals" - putting on his lead, for example - that he recognizes.
How to Think Like a Dog
If you want to learn how to think like a dog, first understand that tone of voice and body language trump voice cues every time. By understanding that your dog thinks in images, and responds to actions you will have a much greater influence over him.
Dogs pay a lot of attention to regular routines. For example, your dog will quickly learn that you come home at a certain time and will look forward to your arrival. If you are caught up in traffic or otherwise delayed the dog may become anxious. The reason is that he has built up an expectation based on his experience of your comings and goings. Based on that he expects a particular result. If that result is not forthcoming he becomes anxious.
How to be the Pack Leader
In the wild, the Alpha Wolf is in control of all activities in the pack - when they eat, when they move, who receives affection. These are the same things you control in your dog's life. By controlling when he receives food, walks, and attention you reduce frustration and anxiety.
Where does affection come into this? Excellent question. Giving affection makes you a strong leader if it is given in the right way and at the right time. Given any other way, it marks you out as a pushover. And dogs are great at exploiting weakness.
Affection should be given as a reward for good behavior, so that it re-enforces that behavior.
Be loving but firm, consistent and fair and your dog will follow your every command.
Dog Training: Getting Your Dog’s Attention (Part 1)
In today's article about the first week of training your dog, we are going to apply a basic method that was originated by Mr. William Koehler, a respected animal trainer. His first week's long-line method (slightly changed here) should be highly praised as one of the greatest innovations in canine training.
Regardless of how basic and unpromising these first-week steps may seem, follow them carefully and exactly, and you will have a more obedient dog, one that will learn easier and faster.
Let The Training Begin
On your first day of training, take your dog to the backyard, the sidewalk, or the park (only if it provides little to no distractions). Put the training collar on your dog, making sure that it’s fitted correctly. Tie one end of the long-line to the free ring. Holding the other end of the long-line in your hands, pick a spot at a distance of about thirty to forty-five feet. It could be a tin can, a fire hydrant, or a particular patch of grass. Walk fast in a straight line to that spot. Determine to let nothing stand in your way, especially your dog and his tricks.
If yours is the type of dog who has had no form of total control placed over him, you can bet there’ll be tricks. He may start wailing, which means that he would prefer to go in some other direction and you are not cooperating.
He might roll over on his back and place all four feet in the air trying to hook a claw in the sky, which means he doesn’t particularly want to walk with you because you’re not going to the direction he wants. He may even try to rest directly in front of you which simply means that you forgot to ask his permission to walk, and he’d prefer that you stand still until he’s make up his mind.
In training your dog, you need to keep one thing perfectly clear in mind so that it will also be clear in the mind of your dog: You are training your dog, not the other way around.
Regardless of his tricks, and with the end of the long-line held firmly in your hand, go to the destination that you’ve chosen. As Mr. Koehler expresses “Your dog will go with you if for no other reason than to be near you”.
That first sixty seconds of training (the time it takes you to walk thirty to forty-five feet) may indeed be a test of wills. It is crucial that your dog develop assurance that you will win this test of wills. He will develop this assurance if he knows that you will go from point A to point B without considering his resistance.
By the time you reach your predetermined location, the learning processes will have already been triggered within the mind of your dog, so simply stand there for about forty-five seconds to a minute. Look around and observe everything around you except your pet. Do not even look at him. Doing so just might possibly get you hopelessly entangled in an emotional struggle.
When your forty-five seconds to one minute is up, pick another spot at about the same distance and, without warning or tugging on the leash to get your dog’s attention, walk at a brisk pace right to it. Again, do not let your dog stand in your way. If you have to clear your throat or in some other way try to catch your dog’s attention before moving, then your dog is doing a great job of training you.
Don’t ask your dog’s permission to walk and just go! When you reached your spot, pause again for about forty-five seconds to observe your surroundings – but not your dog. Again, pick a location and, without any warning, walk to it at a brisk pace. Continue this process for the full fifteen-minute training session.
Unleashed Unlimited Welcome Video - Austin TX Dog Training
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[simpleaffiliate source="chitika" results="0"][/simpleaffiliate] Question about Koehler method?
I have read up on the Koehler method for dog training and have a few questions....
First off, I only want responses from people who currently use this method. No bashers.
Would this be method be good for a 10 week old lab puppy? He is a good dog. Not pottytrained and bites the furniture but overall is just a good normal puppy. Should I train him using the Kohler method. I want a obedient dog, who is loving, and smart. I am afraid that this method will make him afraid of me.... If they need to be 6 months, then what should I do to train him now?
This is not the site to get many informed responses to the Koehler Method of Dog Training.
If you are really interested in REAL information from people that use it and use it properly then I suggest you visit the official website.
http://www.koehlerdogtraining.com
I have witnessed HUNDREDS of Labradors go through our Koehler class, I have seen none that were afraid of their owners either before or after the training.
From the website- Advisory note: There are those who will find this method offensive...so be it; even Jesus Christ couldn't please everybody. But there are many more who would bet the life of their dog on it's result...a reliable off-lead dog.
OVERVIEW
The Koehler Method of Dog Training produces a dog capable of performing the following exercises: Heel, Come, Sit, Down, Stand, and Stay, both on & off-leash in about 13 weeks; all exercises conform to American Kennel Club standards. Your dog will perform these exercises willingly, happily, and with uncompromised reliability. More importantly, the method will provide you with an understanding of canine behaviour unclouded by today's petty insecurities. You will be able to employ this understanding to achieve other training goals. Best of all, you will be able to confidently enjoy the companionship of a well behaved dog.
This is achieved by recognizing your dog as a living, breathing, thinking animal who possesses the God given right of choice. You will learn how to �naturally� influence his behaviour by concentrating on a sequence of essentials. Your dog will learn from this experience, that his own comfort or discomfort, is the consequential result of the choices he makes...naturally.
I exclusively train Koehler on my dogs and have the awards, titles and perfectly behaved dogs that behave on one command and one only -to show for it.
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