How To Improve Your Dogs Retention

December 9, 2015

Training a dog can be a fun, but challenging, experience, particularly if you have never done it before. With the right training principles in mind, most dogs respond very well to simple obedience training, and they often get the hang of new commands after just a few repetitions. If you want to improve your dog’s retention in training, try following some of these suggestions.

The Details

Always use the same commands. Before you begin training your dog, you need to establish a concrete set of commands. Always use the same word or phrase for each command so your dog doesn’t become confused.

Establish one person to do the training. When you are first training your dog, it is wise to have only one person in the household do the training. Once your dog has mastered the basics, you can teach them to other family members.

Keep the training sessions short. Dogs are only likely to focus on a repetitive training session for 15 minutes or so at a time. Rather than forcing your dog to get through an hour-long session once a day, try breaking it up into several short 10-minute sessions.

Keep the training sessions fun. If your dog enjoys the training, he will be more likely to remain engaged and to retain the training.

Reward your dog for good behavior. The quickest way to teach your dog a new trick or command is to reward him for doing it. Once your dog learns to associate the reward with the behavior, he will repeat it more often.

Use a variety of rewards to encourage repetition. Different dogs are likely to prefer different rewards. Some dogs prefer treats, others like toys and some just want a little bit of playtime.

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Incorporate distance commands. Once you’ve taught your dog the basics, you can start to teach him to “come” or “stay” from a distance. Start by giving the command close to your dog; then gradually incorporate distance.

Be consistent. Your dog is more likely to retain his training if he receives a solid foundation. During your training sessions, do things the same way each time until your dog gets the hang of it.

Don’t move too quickly. Even the smartest dogs are likely to get confused if you move too quickly from one trick to another before he has mastered the first one.

Use simple sequences to teach tricks. Before your dog can learn to jump through a hoop, he needs to learn to walk through the hoop and then to jump on command. Rather than trying to teach your dog a complex trick all at once, try creating a sequence of simple things to work up to the big trick.

The Bottom Line

Training a dog can be fun if you go about it the right way. If you are consistent in your training methods, your dog is likely to enjoy the training sessions and to retain the training itself. If you are not, however, your dog may become confused, and you may find the whole process frustrating.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Digging Up Your Garden

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December 9, 2015

There is nothing more frustrating than coming home to find your beautiful garden completely destroyed. Digging is a completely natural behavior for dogs, but unfortunately, it can also be very destructive. If you want to keep your dog from digging in your garden, you need to give him an appropriate outlet for that behavior, rather than trying to stop it altogether.

The Details

Don’t try to stop the behavior entirely. Digging is a natural behavior for dogs, so it is unwise and unnecessary to discourage it completely. You can, however, redirect the behavior toward a more appropriate outlet.

Supervise your dog when he is outside. Keeping an eye on your dog when he is outside is the easiest way to keep him from digging in the yard.

Protect your garden with a fence or border. Something as simple as a decorative fence is often enough to discourage your dog or other neighborhood dogs from wandering into the garden to dig.

Raised beds may help protect flowers and vegetables. Dogs are less likely to hop up into a raised bed to dig than they are to just wander through a garden that is in no way differentiated from the rest of the yard.

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Teach your dog you don’t like the behavior. If you catch your dog digging in the yard, say “No” in a firm tone, and if necessary, lead the dog away from the area.

Startle your dog, if necessary. Sometimes making a loud noise or spraying your dog with a hose are effective ways to catch his attention and to get him to stop doing whatever he is doing.

Redirect the behavior. Give your dog a portion of the yard where he is permitted to dig; this will enable him to act on his urge to dig without you having to sacrifice your garden.

Bury toys in the area. To get your dog interested in digging in his own special area, bury a few treats or toys for him to find.

Correct your dog’s digging behavior. When you catch your dog digging outside his area of the yard, tell him “No” in a firm tone and gently lead him to his area of the yard to dig.

Reward your dog for good behavior. When your dog begins to dig or play in his special area, give him a reward to show him that you approve of his behavior.

Be consistent. The key to training your dog to do anything is to be consistent in not allowing bad behavior and in rewarding good behavior. Consistency is the only way your dog will learn.

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The Bottom Line

The key thing to remember is that it is natural for a dog to dig. You can’t expect your dog to completely stop this behavior, but you can redirect it to a more appropriate outlet. Simply reward your dog for digging in an appropriate place, and he should stop destroying your garden.

How to Avoid the Common Mistakes of New Dog Owners

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December 9, 2015

Bringing home your first puppy can be a very exciting time, but it can also be a challenge. If you have never owned a dog before, it can take some time to get used to the responsibility of caring for a dog. During the time when you and your puppy are getting to know each other, it is likely that you will make mistakes, which is just a fact of life. But if you come prepared by familiarizing yourself with some of the common mistakes of new dog owners, you can avoid some of those mistakes.

The Details

Buying a dog on a whim. It is important to realize that owning a dog is a big responsibility; it is not something you should do spur of the moment. Dogs require regular care and attention, and unless you are willing to commit to that responsibility for 10 years or so, do not purchase a dog.

Waiting too long to train. Many dog owners make the mistake of waiting too long to start training their dogs. It is important to start basic obedience training while your puppy is young to prevent the formation of bad habits, which will be much more difficult to eradicate later.

Not being consistent. If you are consistent in your training methods, your dog is likely to learn very quickly, but if you use different training commands or inconsistently reward your dog for good behavior, he may become confused.

Giving too many treats. Every dog loves treats, and they are likely to eat anything that is offered to them. However, you should not dispense them too freely. Treats should be a reward for good behavior so your dog learns to associate the treat (and your approval) with certain behaviors during training.

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Not socializing the dog properly. During the first six to eight weeks of life, socialization is incredibly important for a puppy. It will determine how he reacts to change and unfamiliar situations for the rest of his life. When you first bring home a puppy, it is important to introduce him to other pets, people and new experiences so he doesn’t become anxious or shy.

Under-exercising. Even the smallest dogs require a certain amount of daily exercise to work off their energy. If you do not exercise your dog enough, he is more likely to become hyperactive and to develop behavioral problems, such as excessive barking.

Neglecting mental stimulation. In addition to physical activity, your dog also requires a certain amount of mental stimulation. Toys and games, as well as simple playtime, will help to keep your dog from getting bored and developing problem behaviors.

Leaving the dog alone too long. Not only can leaving a dog alone for too long increase the probability of him having an accident in the house, but it may also contribute to his developing separation anxiety or destructive behaviors.

Not preparing the house. If you have never owned a dog before, you may not realize that your house is full of potential dangers. It is important to keep cleaning products, food and other potential dangers out of reach.

Using punishment as a training method. Although punishing your dog may eventually teach him to avoid a certain behavior, it is not the most effective way to help him learn. It may also result in him developing a fearful attitude toward you. Positive reinforcement and praise are much more effective.

The Bottom Line

It is impossible to avoid making mistakes as a new dog owner, but preparing yourself for the challenge will definitely help. If you are familiar with some of the common mistakes new dog owners make, you can avoid making some of the most significant mistakes yourself.

How Does Clicker Training Work?

wil_admin

December 9, 2015

The Details

It’s a matter of science. Clicker training is based on the idea that animals tend to learn by association. The clicker helps the dog form a connection in his mind between the command and the behavior.

The clicker helps the dog identify the desired behavior. The key to success in dog training is to get your dog to repeat the desired behavior, Using a clicker helps the dog make the connection between the behavior and the reward more quickly.

The clicker is paired with the reward. After giving a command, the clicker is used as soon as the dog performs the behavior. The dog will get used to hearing the sound in conjunction with the behavior, followed by the reward.

The reward is still very important. The point of the clicker is just to help the dog identify the desired behavior; you still need to reward your dog for responding appropriately if you want him to repeat the behavior.

You don’t have to use a real clicker. You don’t necessarily need to use an actual clicker to incorporate this training method; you just need something that will make a short, quick noise.

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Don’t over-use the clicker. Clicker training is designed to help the dog identify the desired behavior, so once your dog learns which behavior he is supposed to repeat, you can stop using the clicker.

There is a risk for dependence. Some people fear that using a clicker means that the dog will only perform the desired behavior to the sound of the clicker. To prevent this from happening, only use the clicker during the first few repetitions of any given command.

The clicker is clearly defined. Because dogs cannot comprehend human speech, they simply learn to identify certain words and phrases. This being the case, many of the words we speak to our dogs are meaningless. But the sound of the clicker is clearly defined, which makes it effective in helping the dog form an association between the behavior and the reward.

The clicker makes training faster. The more quickly your dog learns to identify the desired behavior, the more quickly he will learn to repeat it. The clicker helps to speed up the whole process.

The Bottom Line

Clicker training can be incredibly effective as a dog training method, as long as you use it properly. By following these tips and techniques, you can easily incorporate clicker training into your dog training at home.

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