Comments on: Dog Owner’s Guide: Introduction to Obedience Training http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/ Tue, 06 Jan 2009 11:32:48 -0500 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: House of Treasures http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-545 House of Treasures Mon, 28 Jan 2008 22:03:33 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-545 I completely agree, terrific article. They definitely know more about what's going on than what a lot of people give them credit for. If you're down - they know it. If you're mad, then definitely know it... Jeff W. I completely agree, terrific article. They definitely know more about what’s going on than what a lot of people give them credit for. If you’re down – they know it. If you’re mad, then definitely know it…

Jeff W.

]]> By: John http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-452 John Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:30:21 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-452 I agree completely. Dogs pick up on vibes, and if theres yelling, and very uniform, they don't enjoy it, and that carrys into the home. Pets should be fun! And training is an important part of making them that special part of the family. I agree completely.
Dogs pick up on vibes, and if theres yelling, and very uniform, they don’t enjoy it, and that carrys into the home.
Pets should be fun! And training is an important part of making them that special part of the family.

]]> By: Deena http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-451 Deena Mon, 14 Jan 2008 07:07:11 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-451 Paul; good and fair question! Whatever technique you are using, one must know their dog, and what the DOG considers rewarding. If they aren't food motivated, sometimes a special favored toy can be used only as a reward (not left about the house). Activities can be used as rewards. Going for a walk, playing together, etc. Know your dog, know (or discover) what really turns them on, & use that as a reward. But since for so many things a food treat can be very handy, I personally continue to experiment with different treats to see if I can find one the dog likes, just to have another option. The more unpredictable & varied the rewards, the better. The other big thing as far as I'm concerned is that you don't punish until you have carefully taught the dog what you WANT - how to be RIGHT. That's not to say you can't tell your dog "no"-stop that behavior; but if you're trying to teach something, you've got to get lots of repetitions rewarded so the dog understands what to do to get the reward before you start getting on them about being "wrong". Justin: no reason you can't experiment with the clicker with your present dog. Can be a fantastic learning experience, and many times it works super for independent/"stubborn" dogs; learn to work with them rather than pushing them (to which they just push back). It is such a CLEAR way of communicating, which makes sense to dogs, who think so black & white. Hallsey: Keep the treats out of sight until your dog has come, & you have a hold of her collar. THEN, while you are praising, give a treat. You have to remember the dog's history, & what you may have inadvertently taught. Dogs get better at what they practice, so you don't want to practice calling & having them ignore you. Get a new word/cue & start at square 1. Many dogs learn that even if they don't get punished for coming, at the very least their fun is over. So call, reward, release, & do it LOTS. There are good booklets/DVD's for teaching reliable recalls-check out dogwise.com Paul; good and fair question! Whatever technique you are using, one must know their dog, and what the DOG considers rewarding. If they aren’t food motivated, sometimes a special favored toy can be used only as a reward (not left about the house). Activities can be used as rewards. Going for a walk, playing together, etc. Know your dog, know (or discover) what really turns them on, & use that as a reward. But since for so many things a food treat can be very handy, I personally continue to experiment with different treats to see if I can find one the dog likes, just to have another option. The more unpredictable & varied the rewards, the better.

The other big thing as far as I’m concerned is that you don’t punish until you have carefully taught the dog what you WANT – how to be RIGHT. That’s not to say you can’t tell your dog “no”-stop that behavior; but if you’re trying to teach something, you’ve got to get lots of repetitions rewarded so the dog understands what to do to get the reward before you start getting on them about being “wrong”.

Justin:
no reason you can’t experiment with the clicker with your present dog. Can be a fantastic learning experience, and many times it works super for independent/”stubborn” dogs; learn to work with them rather than pushing them (to which they just push back). It is such a CLEAR way of communicating, which makes sense to dogs, who think so black & white.

Hallsey:
Keep the treats out of sight until your dog has come, & you have a hold of her collar. THEN, while you are praising, give a treat. You have to remember the dog’s history, & what you may have inadvertently taught. Dogs get better at what they practice, so you don’t want to practice calling & having them ignore you. Get a new word/cue & start at square 1. Many dogs learn that even if they don’t get punished for coming, at the very least their fun is over. So call, reward, release, & do it LOTS. There are good booklets/DVD’s for teaching reliable recalls-check out dogwise.com

]]> By: Bob http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-288 Bob Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:25:02 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-288 Paul, We have found that small pieces of dried mango are irresistible to our miniature poodle. Paul, We have found that small pieces of dried mango are irresistible to our miniature poodle.

]]> By: paul http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-287 paul Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:54:59 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-287 How do you train a dog that isn't food driven? How do you train a dog that isn’t food driven?

]]> By: Justin http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-284 Justin Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:28:30 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-284 I've always trained in an enclosed environment, especially for stubborn dogs. This way you can reward good behavior (coming on command) with a treat, and punish bad behavior without having to chase, (a small slap). I would avoid punishment for a young animal though and only reserve it for an older puppy if a reward system alone doesn't work. I've never tried a clicker before and would like to do that with my next dog but that will be many many years from now. Unfortunately I have an extremely stubborn dog, while she associated coming to me with a treat and being a positive experience sometimes she felt that biting the cat was more important. I’ve always trained in an enclosed environment, especially for stubborn dogs. This way you can reward good behavior (coming on command) with a treat, and punish bad behavior without having to chase, (a small slap). I would avoid punishment for a young animal though and only reserve it for an older puppy if a reward system alone doesn’t work.

I’ve never tried a clicker before and would like to do that with my next dog but that will be many many years from now. Unfortunately I have an extremely stubborn dog, while she associated coming to me with a treat and being a positive experience sometimes she felt that biting the cat was more important.

]]> By: Hallsey http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-280 Hallsey Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:36:02 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-280 Ok so here's what I've never understood. You first tell me not to call the name of the dog more than once, don't punish the dog for coming to you and do not chase after the dog or it will think this is a game. So then what the hell are you supposed to do when you call the dog's name ONCE and she doesn't respond? That's the biggest problem I've ran into with my dog is that she doesn't follow the book as far as her part in the training. If I use treats then she gets over excited and trying to train her anything is futile. If there are no treats then it's not worth her time. I hate dog training. Ok so here’s what I’ve never understood. You first tell me not to call the name of the dog more than once, don’t punish the dog for coming to you and do not chase after the dog or it will think this is a game. So then what the hell are you supposed to do when you call the dog’s name ONCE and she doesn’t respond?

That’s the biggest problem I’ve ran into with my dog is that she doesn’t follow the book as far as her part in the training. If I use treats then she gets over excited and trying to train her anything is futile. If there are no treats then it’s not worth her time.

I hate dog training.

]]> By: Web 2.0 Announcer http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-277 Web 2.0 Announcer Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:27:17 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-277 <strong>Dog Owner?s Guide: Introduction to Obedience Training...</strong> [...]There are a few essential commands that you should make an effort to teach your dog. Even if you teach him nothing else, he should return to you as soon as you call his name, be able to sit on command, lie down, walk to heel and be able to walk on... Dog Owner?s Guide: Introduction to Obedience Training…

[...]There are a few essential commands that you should make an effort to teach your dog. Even if you teach him nothing else, he should return to you as soon as you call his name, be able to sit on command, lie down, walk to heel and be able to walk on…

]]> By: Ross http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-276 Ross Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:45:13 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-276 The last point is really important, and something a lot of people don't get. If your dog takes a while to come to you, but eventually does and gets hit for it (for taking too long...), it's going to associate coming to you with being hit. Not clever. The last point is really important, and something a lot of people don’t get.

If your dog takes a while to come to you, but eventually does and gets hit for it (for taking too long…), it’s going to associate coming to you with being hit. Not clever.

]]> By: Dog Owner’s Guide: Introduction to Obedience Training | Dog Training Advice http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Dog Owner’s Guide: Introduction to Obedience Training | Dog Training Advice Thu, 20 Dec 2007 07:55:21 +0000 http://www.havehappydogs.com/dog-owners-guide-introduction-to-obedience-training/#comment-260 [...] Bloglines Search: "Dog Obedience" wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHappy Dog Tip If you have a toy breed, don’t think he is too cute to bother with obedience training. [...] [...] Bloglines Search: "Dog Obedience" wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptHappy Dog Tip If you have a toy breed, don’t think he is too cute to bother with obedience training. [...]

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