Dogs do better if they are trained and there are many dog training tools available to help you accomplish this. They respond very well to training. It is important that the person who is doing the dog training is nowledgeable and will be consistent and patient. ‘Stick-to-itness’ is necessary in order to do a good job of training a dog.

A good dog trainer is also patient. A lot of training is done with voice and hands but there are tools that can be used to make the job a lot easier.

Dogs like to please their people. They are also playful and think a game of tag and catch-me-if-you-can is a lot of fun. A dog trainer needs to understand that a dog rarely deliberately misbehaves, more likely you, as the trainer, have sent the wrong message.

There are many tools available to help training: collars, leashes, treats and toys designed to help your dog understand that you want him to do something specific, a certain behavior asked for by spoken and/or signaled commands. Good eye contact, an evenly pitched voice, patience, timing and praise are all devices that will help your dog acquire the skills you are endeavoring to teach. Did I mention how important it is to be patient and to praise? Repetition is also very necessary. Don’t expect to have your dog sit on command in one day and not have to repeat the steps used, regularly.

Many people use a clicker, a device that snaps when it is squeezed. The theory behind clicker training is that when the dog does something you want, you click and reward. The first step to being successful is to teach your dog that the click means food. So step one would be to just wander with your dog and every time you click you give your dog a treat. It won’t take him long to know that if he does a specific thing, such as sit or down, you will click and he gets a treat.

Some dogs, however, are sensitive to the sharp sound of a clicker. If this is the case with your dog, you will be better off to use your voice, backed up by a treat, to let your dog know he has done something you like. If you like the idea of the clicker but your dog is sensitive to the sharp sound it makes, try clucking with your tongue. The end result is the same; you have just allowed for the acute sound to be softened.

A favorite tool of mine is a lightweight line about eight to 10 feet long. A bit of parachute chord or a lightweight clothes line is ideal. I put a small clip on one end and attach it to my dog’s collar, allowing him to drag the line on the ground. When I teach the recall I can pull on the line as I tell my dog to “come” or “here” or whatever command I use for calling him to me. I make sure to have one end of the line in my hand before I call. Dogs read body action extremely well and the act of reaching for the line can become a cue for the recall. I want the cue to be the command and not my movement. As soon as my dog begins to move toward me, or in some special cases, if he even looks at me, I praise and move backward. Most dogs have prey drive that kicks in when they see something moving away from them so when I move away I reinforce the recall command. I always reward with a click, a treat and praise when I get the action I ask for.

There are many kinds of restraining devices used on dogs. There are many different kinds of collars and harnesses, some especially designed to stop pulling or jumping. The collar needs to suit the dog and his handler. By this I mean that if you don’t have excellent timing then a harness may be easier to use than a pinch collar. Another thing to consider when you choose a restraint is perception. A pinch collar looks like a weapon that will harm a dog where in actuality, when used properly, it is a very humane device.

Do some research; consider your physical condition and temperament and the size and zealousness of your dog. Find the ideal tools to use; tools that make training fun and easy for everyone concerned.

Learn more about dog training tips. Stop by therapy dog training tips where you can find out all about tips for dog training and what it can do for you.

Mans relationship with dog goes back thousands of years. There is speculation about how the companionship developed but most historians agree that it was undoubtedly a coexistence that began with the hunter/gatherer. Man and wolf hunted in much the same way; stalking in packs and cooperating between hunters to bring down large game.

It is easier to accept if you think of man hunting large herds of bison, deer and elk with wolves quickly learning that by following closely behind there would be leavings from butchering. The cunning of the canine is understood when we realize that meat equals life and man equals meat. I can visualize a campfire where hunters roast the results from their days hunt and outside the circle is the reflected glow of multiple eyes.

It is conceivable to me that man would have thrown his scrapes away from his fire and the waiting wolves would avail themselves of the leftovers. As time passed this became a way of coexisting, with man accepting the closeness of the wolf and the wolf relying on man’s generosity; thus evolved a relationship that is today known as man and dog.

I have thought as I returned from a trip to the local grocery store that my modern dog, if he thinks about it at all, must marvel that I return home with beef, chicken and pork in abundance and after only a brief time ‘hunting.’

Wolves gradually became domesticated and worked with man. Man made use of the canine’s ability to carry loads, sniff out elusive trails and pull sleds and travois, among other things. As time passed, the pairing became dependent and each benefited from the relationship. It became easier to find elusive game and bring it down for man and a more regular food source developed for the dog.

Do dogs love people? Many feel this is an anthropomorphic attitude. I don’t know if that is the case but there is a loyalty and steadfastness that is obvious and common between man and dog. I know mankind loves dogs in that there is a deep and prevalent emotional attachment. All of us have heard tales of a man who died and his dog would visit the grave for years. I know of many people who have had their dogs cremated and in their wills state the dog’s ashes are to be mixed with the human’s remains upon interment. It is much rarer for a man to declare this about his wife or she about him.

Books are written, poems recited, tears shed and laughter emitted when tales are told about man and dog. Stories prevail about lives being saved by “man’s best friend.” Dogs make us laugh, swell our hearts and cause us to cry copious tears, sometimes all within a span of a few minutes. Some of my fondest memories are mixed in with one or another of my dogs. They calm me in moments of stress and share my burden of sadness, content to be next to me when I grieve and always making the moment more bearable.

A fitting ending to this piece is about Lance Corporal Liam Tasker and his dog Theo. The two made their final journey together from Afghanistan. LCPL Tasker was shot and killed and a few hours later Theo had a fatal seizure. Theo’s ashes were sent back home with his human’s remains and they were buried together.

Want to find out more about Dog Training, then visit therapy dog training tips.com on how to choose the best A Man and His Dog for your needs.

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Positive Reinforcement is vital to good dog training. Giving a command and then knowing when and how to reward your dog makes a huge difference in his willingness to comply. Positive reinforcement is effective for any kind of training and dogs have the capacity to respond well to this system. A dog quickly realizes there is a connection between “good” behavior and tasty results. This form of positive reinforcement, especially when it is a tasty treat, contributes highly to getting the results you want in dog training.

This is the way to do it: Give your dog a command, either spoken or signaled or both at the same time. When your dog does what you ask, you praise/reward at the same time and you create a link in the dog’s brain between the command and the action. You Command + He Acts = Delicious Treat. Your dog will be eager to carry out the command, knowing that the results are in his favor. Timing is crucial. A well executed reward for a spoken or signaled command results in willingness to get the treat, pet or verbalized praise. For what it’s worth, I have found a liver treat gets a much faster response – at least in the beginning phases of training – than a mere “good boy.”

It takes time to make this connection stick. Some dogs are less agreeable to training than others. Food doesn’t motivate some dogs but a toy given when the command is obeyed may be the perfect reward for a lively dog.

Do the training in three phases. Step one – show the dog what you want. This is done by moving your dog into the position you want. As an example, if you want your dog to ‘sit,’ move the motivator (treat, for instance) above his nose and lift it a little bit. When you do this, the dog’s head lifts, nose first. This causes the weight to shift from the dog’s front legs to his rear and this moves his rear end toward the ground.

Step two – teach the dog what you want. This means repeating the command with and without the motivator but still rewarding every time your dog does what you ask. If you are always facing your dog when you show him to sit, during the teaching phase you change the circumstances of the command; give the command from beside him, behind him or at a distance.

Three is to proof the action. When you proof you add in distractions when you give the command. If you normally train where it is quiet with no other dogs or people, then when proofing, you might have another dog in the area. Or, as someone walks close to you, tell your dog to sit. When he does, praise him but if he doesn’t, go back to the teaching phase.

This style of dog training will result in amazing benefits. Remember to be patient, persistent, and consistent; and strive for great timing!

Want to find out more about Dog Training, then visit Paulette Bethel’s site on how to choose the best Dog Training With Positive Reinforcement for your needs.

categories: Positive Reinforcement Dog Training, dog training, obedience training

Positive Reinforcement is an important part of dog training. Knowing when and how to reward your dog makes a huge difference in his willingness to comply. Positive reinforcement is an important element for training any animal and dogs have the capacity to respond well to this type of prompting. A dog quickly figures out there is a connection between “good” behavior and tasty results. This is why positive reinforcement, especially in the form of a tasty treat, is highly contributory to getting the results you want in dog training.

This is how you do it: You give your dog a command and when your dog performs the action you praise/reward simultaneously; done right, you create a link in the dog’s brain between the command and the action. Your Command + His Action = Yummy Treat. The dog is happy to carry out the command, knowing the results are to his liking. Timing is crucial. A well executed reward for a spoken or signaled command results in eagerness to get the treat, pet or verbalized praise. (FYI, I have found a liver treat gets a much faster response – at least in the beginning phases of training – than merely a “good boy.”)

It takes time to make this message stick. Some dogs are less amenable to training than others. Some won’t care about a treat but a ball tossed when a command is obeyed may send your dog over the moon.

Do the training in three phases. Step one – show the dog what you want. This is done by moving your dog into the position you want. As an example, if you want your dog to ‘sit,’ move the motivator (treat, for instance) above his nose and lift it a little bit. When you do this, the dog’s head lifts, nose first. This causes the weight to shift from the dog’s front legs to his rear and this moves his rear end toward the ground.

Two – teach the dog what you want. This means repeating the command without rewarding every time the action is done. After the dog has done the command then give the reward. If you are always facing your dog when you are showing him to sit, in the teaching phase you change your position; give the command from beside him, behind him or at a distance.

Step three – proof the action. Proofing means to introduce distractions and vary the training situation. If you normally train where it is quiet with no one else around, when you proof you might ask a friend to approach you. Or there may be another dog in the area. As the person or the other animal gets close ask for your dog to do the action. If he doesn’t, then you’re not ready for proofing; go back to the teaching phase for awhile. Test the command by proofing later.

This is the way to get perfect results in dog training. It takes patience, persistence, consistency and great timing.

Want to find out more about Dog Training, then visit Paulette Bethel’s site on how to choose the best Dog Training With Positive Reinforcement for your needs.

Positive Reinforcement is an important part of dog training. Knowing when and how to reward your dog makes a huge difference in his willingness to comply. Positive reinforcement is an important element for training any animal and dogs have the capacity to respond well to this type of prompting. A dog quickly figures out there is a connection between “good” behavior and tasty results. This is why positive reinforcement, especially in the form of a tasty treat, is highly contributory to getting the results you want in dog training.

This is how it works: You give your dog a command, either spoken or signaled or both at the same time. When your dog performs the action and you praise/reward simultaneously, you create a link in the dog’s brain between the command and the action. Command + Action = Treat. The dog becomes eager to carry out the command, knowing that the results are in his favor. Timing is crucial. A well executed reward for a spoken or signaled command results in willingness to get the treat, pet or verbalized praise. Although, I have found a liver treat gets a much faster response – at least in the beginning phases of training – than a “good boy.”

It takes time to make this connection stick. Some dogs are less agreeable to training than others. Food doesn’t motivate some dogs but a toy given when the command is obeyed may be the perfect reward for a lively dog.

There are three phases to successful dog training: One – show the dog what you want. This is done by moving your dog into the desired position. In other words, if you are teaching your dog to ‘sit,’ have the motivator (treat, for instance) above his nose and lift it slightly so his nose moves upward. This will shift the dog’s weight from his front to his rear legs and has a tendency to lower his rear toward the ground.

Two – teach the dog what you want. This means repeating the command without rewarding every time the action is done. After the dog has done the command then give the reward. If you are always facing your dog when you are showing him to sit, in the teaching phase you change your position; give the command from beside him, behind him or at a distance.

Three is to proof the action. When you proof you add in distractions when you give the command. If you normally train where it is quiet with no other dogs or people, then when proofing, you might have another dog in the area. Or, as someone walks close to you, tell your dog to sit. When he does, praise him but if he doesn’t, go back to the teaching phase.

This style of dog training will result in amazing benefits. Remember to be patient, persistent, and consistent; and strive for great timing!

Learn more about Dog Training. Stop by Paulette Bethel’s site where you can find out all about Dog Training With Positive Reinforcement and what it can do for you.