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Relationship experts state that you can improve any relationship that you have (personal, business, etc.) by learning to look at things from the other person's point of view.
In this lesson I want to take it a step further and advise you to look at things from your dog's point of view.
No w, before you think I'm crazy, I want to explain what I mean and why I think this is so important.
When I first started training dogs I thought that training was simply a "means to an end." I wanted the dog to do things for me, no questions asked. When a dog would not perform the command, I would get upset and blame the dog.
I would make comments like "He's stubborn, he's trying to spite me," and so on. The result was that the dog would often get a correction for not performing the command.
As I began to study behavior I learned to look at training differently. I began to ask questions like "Why doesn't the dog come when I call?" "Why does he jump on me or my guests when I walk in the door?" etc.
When I started to answer those questions, I was able to come up with better solutions for the problems instead of blaming the dog.
Now when the dog did not come I would ask myself "Why is the dog not coming?" I would then look at the problem from the dog's point of view. The answer to my question was often very easy to figure out.
A basic formula to use is as follows: My dog will not (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank).
Here is an example: My dog will not come back to me because: He has been in a crate for the last four hours.
My dog will not come back to me because: I never taught him the command come.
My dog will not come back to me because: The last time he ran away I scolded him when I got him back.
My dog will not come back to me because: A rabbit ran through the yard a few minutes earlier and he is distracted by the scent.
Once I started to do this little exercise I began to look at training in a different way. Instead of always blaming the dog I started to ask, is there a way to change the circumstances to get the dog to do what I want.
This is absolutely critical! In fact, I cannot stress this enough. |
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The definition of opposition reflex is simple, but very important to understand. Here is an example of opposition reflex for you to try.
Call your dog over to you. When he gets to you put both of your hands on his shoulders and try to push him down to the ground.
Most dogs will lock up and resist the pressure that you apply. Opposition reflex also happens when you take your dog for a walk and your dog starts to pull on the leash. You pull back on the leash, the dog pulls harder.
Your dog feels the pressure on the leash and pulls in the opposite direction. These are examples of opposition reflex.
Opposition reflex happens when you apply physical or mental pressure. Whenever you apply pressure your dog will resist with counter-pressure. Think about the last time a boss or family member demanded that you perform some task.
Chances are you first reaction was to resist. Whenever your dog is being trained, you have to try to remember to train without triggering opposition reflex.
Whenever you try to force your dog you will get resistance. Instead of resistance, you want compliance. |
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A point that I always stress when I am teaching someone how to train his or her dog is this: Training does not happen without motivation. You need to motivate your dog if you want him to perform.
I also stress the fact that there are two forms of motivation: Positive and Negative. Both forms of motivation can produce results.
For a long time dog trainers would not use food or other forms of positive motivation because they had the silly notion that a dog is supposed to work for its master, PERIOD.
So dog trainers of the past would put a choke chain on the dog and use negative motivation to get the dog to comply with the command. The pain motivated the dog. In order to escape the pain the dog would comply.
This is a very bad way to train.
Whenever a trainer uses negative motivation he will get side effects. A killer whale trainer once said: If you put a shock collar on a killer whale you will have a very short training session because there is a good chance that the whale will eat you when you get in the pool.
He went on to say that aggression is caused by negative training methods. I completely agree with him. At Alpha K9 Pet Services, you'll learn proven, positive methods to train.
We also stress that using food is only one part of the training process. We show you how to use what we call life rewards.
A life reward is anything that your dog likes or wants. Think of the last time someone demanded you do something.
How did you feel? I bet that Dog Training Secret #2 kicked in, remember opposition reflex? Now, think about the last time someone asked you to do something and rewarded you for doing it. How did you feel?
I bet that you like being rewarded more than forced. Here is a little exercise for you. Next time you need someone to do a little task for you, reward him or her.
Ask a spouse or child to do something for you. It could be anything and then reward the behavior. You will get better results with rewards than you will with force.
Here is the secret of compliance:
1. Ask
2. Motivate
3. Reward |
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This brings us to an important point in your training. It is also where I always get the question: "What happens if I don't have food with me?"
This is where you can start to use the Premack Principle, also known as Grandma's Law.
David Premack was a behavior psychologist who discovered a useful principle in his research within behavior modification. The principle goes like this: You can increase the frequency of any low probability behavior by making it contingent upon a high probability behavior.
Or to put it another way: A higher probability behavior can be used to reinforce a lower probability behavior, a little wordy but let me explain.
Grandma would use the Premack Principle when she told you that you could not watch TV until you washed the dishes. Or that you could not have desert until you ate all your vegetables.
You see, Grandma would not let you watch TV, (high probability behavior) until you cleaned the dishes (low probability behavior). The same thing can be done with your dog.
At Alpha K9 Pet Services, we teach you how to apply and use the Premack Principle. When you understand and apply the Premack Principle, you can get your dog to perform in any situation with or without food. |
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An extremely important aspect of dog ownership is effectively managing your dog's behavior. Management Of Behavior or M.O.B. is something that every dog owner needs to do.
A young puppy like a young child requires a lot of management. Some management tools for a puppy would be the crate, baby gates, a leash, etc.
As your dog gets older and learns the rules of the house you don't need to manage as much. My dog Sam was in a crate for the first six months whenever I left the house.
As she got older I would test a little at a time. I would leave her out of the crate for ten minutes, then increase to twenty minutes, until eventually she did not need the crate.
There are a lot of dog owners that think a crate is a cruel piece of equipment. I totally disagree. I think it is cruel to give your dog to much freedom in the house when they are young.
Dogs have no concept of electrical wires, chicken bones, or dangerous chemicals like rat poison. A puppy can get into a lot of trouble if left unattended.
It is good to crate train your dog even if you don't personally like crates because at some point in your dog's life they may have to go to a groomer or spend a night at the vets, all of which require you dog to be in a crate. |
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Dogs are social animals. They survive in the wild by forming packs. In order for the pack to survive there has to be a social structure. Within a pack there is a leader. The leader gives direction to the pack.
When a dog comes into your household, he will view the members of the house as his pack members. You as the owner need to teach your dog that you are the pack leader.
For years traditional dog trainers would teach harsh methods to dog owners. They would recommend smacking, rollovers (extremely dangerous move to do with some dogs), and other physical procedures.
The more physical you get with your dog, the more of a chance you'll have with your dog getting physical with you (or someone else).
The easiest way to teach your dog that you are the pack leader is to control his needs. Your dog has 4 basic needs: Food, social contact, shelter and play.
If you control your dog's needs you can easily and effectively teach your dog that you are in charge.
Once your dog learns that you control the activities that are important to him, he will learn that you are the pack leader.
At Alpha K9 Pet Services you learn exactly how to become the leader by controlling your dog's needs. It is very easy and very effective.
However, in order to effectively use secret #6 you've got to know Dog Training Secret #7 |
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Alpha K9 Pet Services Do g Training Program.
Mike Jeter, our training director, is certainly one of the best trainers to come our way in a long time. He has an abundance of all the qualities it takes to be a good trainer. The patience and perseverance he demonstrates while bringing a dog around to show good behavior and obedience is outstanding.
Mike has been training and raising dogs for a number of years. Whether it's a large or small dog, an aggressive or passive natured one, it is truly a pleasure to watch him as he goes through his training sessions with each one. His methods of achieving the desired results in the training process are to be admired.
If your dog's behavior needs a tune up, contact Alpha K9 Pet Services at 281-893-DOGS and get your dog on the fast track to success. |
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