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I often wonder when people will learn that admonishing a dog for doing the right thing is a serious step in the wrong direction.
Think about it, you dog takes off to play with a friend, of chase a brid, you know, the normal things a dog does… You call and call and eventually the dog returns, having had a terrific time only to get walloped for their sins. What sort of message does this send?
To a dog, it’s very simple: I come back and all I feel is PAIN! So why do I came back if I know this is going to happen? Who is the Dumb one??? The dog or the Owner?
The issue is not what the dog got up to, that is irrelevant, the dog needs to have a reason to do something. In this case return to their owner, AND have their owner PLEASED they returned, not vent their frustration on the dog’s backside! Is it any wonder some owners have trouble training their dog?
All training must be based on positive reinforcement of the correct actions undertaken by the dog. the dog MUST recognise they have done good, done what their owner asked them to do, it is so simple, yet many dog owners just don’t get it. If you develop fear in a dog, no matter how much they love you, it will establish a mental barrier to any action request, because the dog does not know what the consequences will be, so they are understandably reluctant to do what is asked.
If on the other hand a dog realises that if it responds the correct way, it is congratulated for it’s actions, the dog is much more likely to comply. Yes commands MUST be simple, ‘Sit’, ‘Stay’, ‘Come’ and so on, 1 word commands preceded by the dogs name in order to attract the dog’s attention before the request is given. If the command is long and complex, you may as well be talking gibberish, your dog won’t understand.
So training is really pretty simple, ignore what goes wrong and reinforce what goes right. When I say reinforce, I mean put some effort into it, small special food rewards, a good rub and congratulatory pat, a quick game with a ball, anything that means something special.
Have you ever seen the TV docos on Customs or Drug searches where a dog finds a drug concealment. What does the dog handler do afterwards? Yes, they give their dog a special toy or a big pat and play, they are telling their dog they have done well. This is behavioural reinforcement and is the most powerful training tool, bar none.
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