Good Dog Bad Dog's Daniel Rodger's tips on dog training
Everything with dog training is related and almost all bad behaviour can be eliminated with consistent training.
Dog training and behaviour modification can be successful in just five minutes a day. All you need to do is decide what to improve on, make a list, and ‘attack’ three issues per week.
If your dog jumps up, practice your dog’s ‘sit’. When he/she jumps, give a ‘sit’ command. He/she cannot do both at the same time. This is called giving your dog an incompatible command or action.
Make a habit to sit your dog before feeding - it’s good manners but you are also training ‘sit’ as a positive position with a very high reward – dinner.
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Let’s look at barking.
Do you want to stop your dog barking? Really? What if there’s an intruder? Still want your dog to stop barking?
When a dog barks constantly, we ignore it. Therefore we, through lack of training, have negated a positive asset and turned it into a nuisance.
What is really needed is teaching ‘discriminate barking’, meaning ‘bark at things inside the boundary and do not nuisance-bark’.
If your dog doesn’t come to you when called, it is potentially serious – perhaps even fatal if a snake or car is involved. Each time you call your dog and he/she doesn’t come, you have proven to your dog that ‘coming is optional’.
Most people take their dog off the lead far too soon. You need your lead to ensure the ‘come’ command is obeyed.
Practise and praise your dog enthusiastically for almost every step your dog takes towards you – ‘praise for the journey not the destination’.
When making your ‘wish list’ of improving your dog’s behaviour, choose things relevant to you, your family, and your lifestyle.
It’s pointless ‘heeling’ for hours if you never want to compete in obedience trials. If you want to achieve manners and control, focus on those issues.
Practice loose-leash walking so you and your family can take your dog for a walk without your arms being dragged out of their sockets.
This should be first on your list of required training. One last thing – if your lead is tight you have lost control.
