Dog Training Methods And Their Uses
An obedient dog is a good dog, but they do not get this way naturally. In order to get a well-trained dog, one must begin the dog’s training and conditioning while the dog is still very young. For the most part, people attempt dog training on their own, however there are a few who may turn to an obedience school for very thorough dog training.
The first and most common form of training for dogs is positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement simply means doing something positive for the dog to reward correct behavior. This can come in the form of physical or audible praise, or more effectively, in the form of a doggie treat. Pet owners often give dogs a treat to reward good behavior, as this is one of the surest ways to ensure the dog repeats those good behaviors in the future.
On the other side of the coin, many pet owners use negative reinforcement to combat bad behavior. This can be as simple as the classic “bad dog” or a tap on their behind to let them know that they were bad. Many advanced forms of negative reinforcement use some sort of electric collar.
A bark collar is a common device used in dog training for dogs that bark too frequently. A bark collar can be fitted around the dog’s neck and will send out a mild electric shock every time the dog barks. By doing so, the dog will eventually learn not to bark.
An invisible fence uses the same basic collar along with a wire buried around the perimeter of the yard or section of property that achieves the same basic effect as a bark collar. Each time the dog attempts to cross over the barrier, he receives a shock, letting him know he has wandered too far. After repeated attempts, the dog learns what her boundaries are.
Housebreaking a dog is possibly the most important piece of dog training. Utilizing a bit of both reinforcement methods with the negative reinforcement being kept to a minimum will accomplish this. Reward the dog when he has alerted you to the need to go outside or discipline him when an accident indoors occurs. One should not shout the dog’s name by itself when disciplining the dog as the dog will not know the difference between discipline and a simple call.
Training a dog is not often a very easy task, but it can be very rewarding. Dog training takes a lot of patience and love and laziness will often yield poor results. A disciplined dog will be a joy to have around the home, but only if the master has the discipline to train them properly.
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Tags: dog training
Uncategorized | Kurt Dorey | 05 March 2010 |
