Recipe for dog training success!

When it comes to dog training, Ive noticed that most humans focus on the final product, and not how to get there. Similar to going out to eat a meal - we focus on the finished yummy meal brought to our table, not how it was prepared. Why should we when someone else is doing the work? We may inquire how something is made in order to give us a better idea of what the meal might taste like - but do we really care how hot the grill was? If the meat was marinated first? The actual steps of the recipe? Not really - unless it was so great wed want to duplicate it at home... but even then, its usually somewhat different. 

So why is it most dog folks tend to focus intently on the final product of what they want their dogs behavior to be? As opposed to figuring out the simplest way to get there...with little strain and stress on themselves and their dogs. 

Its high time we as humans take the time to learn a "recipe for success" for educating and training our dogs. That is what I like to focus on in the classes I offer at The Inquisitive Canine - the "how to get the behaviors", not just the behaviors themselves. Sure, the dogs learn the behaviors that owners want, but thats just the side effect of actually learning how to get the behaviors in the first place... As the chinese proverb goes: "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Or in this case: Push the dogs butt to the ground and he sits for that moment - teach the human to teach the dog to sit, and he sits when you ask. 

So, come join us at the inquisitive canine to learn about, and develop the tools and techniques to create your own recipe for success for getting the behaviors you want out of your dog.

Read More..

The better dog behavior question leading to success!

When it comes to the behavior of our dogs, we often ask ourself: "Why do you keep doing that (dogs name)?" As a dog trainer I get calls all the time with that question. At home, being a *dog mom* first, I will catch myself asking myself this question...usually on Mondays when the garbage trucks are circling the neighborhood about nine times throughout the day... So, whats wrong with this picture??? Were just focusing in on what we dont want - what drives us nuts - which doesnt solve anything. What we need to do is simple... we need to ask the right question: "What behavior do I want?" 

From that answer you can say to yourself: "Then this is the behavior I want to reward!" For instance, lets say I want my own dog Poncho to be quiet while he is hanging out in the yard. I do allow him to bark once (to alert me, after all, thats part of his *job* description)... So, being out there and just being quiet gets him rewarded! I make sure to catch him in the act of doing what I want, then acknowledge it, and reward. "Thank you!" If its a situation where I want him to bark I allow him to continue, if not, then I give him a separate cue for wanting quiet. If he follows it, he gets rewarded - food, play time, freedom in the yard - if not, then inside he goes. "Too bad for you." 

Now he has the choice: stay outside following the rules gets rewarded - breaking the game rules gets him nothing. 

This is the type of training steps I teach in my classes - its simple, it works, plus it gets you focused on what you want, not what you dont want... So remember, the next time you find yourself frustrated with your dog, just ask yourself "What behavior do I want? What behavior do I want to reward?" Then do it!

 

Read More..