Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Attitude Is Important When Dog Training


There is nothing more critical to the success of dog training than the owner's attitude. The mindset of the trainer is more important than the equipment purchased, the exact system used, or the breed of dog involved. Nothing can destroy the likelihood of effective training more quickly than an owner with the wrong outlook on the training process.

Dogs naturally crave and enjoy human companionship. When their human companions approach them in the right way, they are particularly receptive to learning and develop a strong desire to act in a manner that will please their master. This is why a proper attitude is exceedingly important with respect to training dogs. When the owner is pleasant, the dog will be pleasant. When the owner is excited about teaching, the dog will most likely be excited about learning. Dogs can often reflect the attitudes and dispositions of their owners, a fact that must be kept in mind while undertaking dog training.

Additionally, the proper outlook on dog training can make the experience infinitely more enjoyable for the owner. A pleasant training experience will naturally produce better instruction on the part of the trainer. Again, proper attitude will pay training dividends.

So, what is the right attitude to bring to dog training? Owners should strive to maintain a positive perspective at all times and should strive for a mood that makes the process fun for both the dog and the trainer. Failure to approach training with such an attitude risks disaster. The proper attitude and perspective truly is the prerequisite to training success.

The owner should be positive. A positive perspective, of course, works in conjunction with any quality training method. Effective training requires positive reinforcement, and that kind of praise and affection is best administered by someone who generally presents a positive attitude. Training will be filled with compliments, encouragement and praise. Those rewards, which are the key component to training, are more likely to be appropriately and effectively administered by a trainer with a positive disposition.

Trainers should recognize that they can manage to be both firm and friendly at the same time. It is not necessary to affect an angry or severe tone during the training process. These caricatures of displeasure do not offer any more training value than utilization of a simple serious tone. A lower tone with a serious "bite" is more than enough. When praising and instructing, the owner must remember to use a very friendly and happy voice. The dog will thrive knowing his owner enjoys their interaction so much and will be very motivated to learn as a result.

Most importantly the trainer must always remember that dog training is supposed to be fun. It should be fun for the trainer and just as fun for the pet. The idea is to make the training process exciting and enjoyable for the pet as is possible. By making the process a treat, the dog is especially motivated to perform.

Too often training becomes nothing more than a mandatory task. The owner does not relish the opportunity to spend time with his or her dog. The dog understands this and does not get excited at the prospect, either. In worse cases, training becomes an undesirable chore. The negative disposition and attitude of the owner is sensed clearly by the dog and mirrored. Training progress stalls, frustration sets in, and the whole process becomes further crippled.

The clich that "attitude is everything" really does describe dog training. A negative or harsh attitude will crush hopes of success. A positive perspective coupled with friendliness and a sense of fun will make training a treat.

A fun disposition also makes training more enjoyable for the dog owner. The trainer's positive attitude creates a more positive disposition for the pet, which in turn improves the trainer's outlook even more. By starting the training process with a solid positive attitude, the owner gets the ball rolling, so to speak. The end result can be a training experience that is enjoyed by both pet and owner, which is sure to create amazing results. By approaching training with a positive disposition, a dog owner can prod

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A Successful Dog Training Strategy


Man and dog have been seemingly inseparable for centuries. The unique relationship between the two animals has been studied extensively as people have sought to better train their dogs as work partners and companions.

There are virtually as many training strategies as there are dog owners. Almost everyone approaches the process of training his or her dog or dogs differently. There is no single method that works perfectly for all dogs and any variety of systems can produce the kinds of results an owner wants.

However, there are some common traits that seem to be apparent in all successful dog training strategies. Any approach that ignores these commonalities is likely to fall far short of expectations and will not produce desired outcomes. When contemplating a plan for training your dog, make sure the system you will use is consistent with these four critical underpinnings of all successful programs.

Training Should be Based on Positive Reinforcement

Any successful strategy must rely upon positive reinforcement for optimal results. Operant conditioning of this sort, whether done via clicker training or any other means has been consistently demonstrated to be more successful techniques relying on punishment and negative reinforcement. Dogs perform better when their behavior is rewarded. Some dogs may avoid inappropriate behavior out of fear, but making gains through such negative techniques brings with it a host of other problems and is widely understood to be less efficient than relying on positive reinforcement.

Exercise is a Critical Element of Successful Training

Any program is likely to be far less successful unless attention is paid to a dog's need for extensive physical activity. Not only is exercise good for a pet's health in a general sense. It also creates a mindset for the pet which leaves him more open and receptive to learning. With regular outlets to expend physical energy available, a dog will be more satisfied and comfortable, effectively positioning them for learning. Make sure any training regimen you adopt includes regular significant exercise for your dog. Failure to do so will limit the effectiveness of any strategies chosen.

Enjoyable Interaction is Essential to the Training Process

One reason why the relationship between man and dog has flourished over time is the social nature of both creatures. Dogs enjoy the company of their owners and training systems should be devised with this in mind. The training process should not become a "doggy boot camp," but instead should be offered as an enjoyable opportunity for interaction. This does not mean that training should be unorganized or undisciplined. It does mean that it should be approached with love and smile instead of with a rigid and wholly serious attitude. Effective training techniques recognize that dogs will respond better to lessons taught in a social, enjoyable context. Training is an important part of a dog's life. That does not, however, mean it must be a cold or otherwise un-enjoyable experience.

Training is an Ongoing Process

Training is not merely a collection of isolated sessions. Dog training is an ongoing process that occurs during specified training sessions and through the rest of every dog's day. The lessons taught during training times should be reinforced at all times. Additionally, an owner should recognize that there is no particular time frame for training. It is a process that literally lasts the lifetime of the dog/owner relationship. Those who see training as a discrete step or defined moment in a dog's life are likely not to get the results they desire from their training regimen. Training not only lasts a lifetime-it occurs over the course of a lifetime.

If a dog owner adopts a training strategy based on positive reinforcement, which includes plenty of opportunity for exercise and a commitment to enjoyable owner/dog interactions while being mindful that training will be an ongoing process, they will undoubtedly produce a well-trained dog. Losing sight of this foundation for success, however, will cripple an otherwise well-intended method of dog training.

The specifics of dog training strategies may vary greatly, but as long as the program you choose remains consistent with these critical aspects of proven training programs, it is likely to help you and your dog enjoy a very meaningful and pleasant relationship for years to come.

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Learn From Training Your Dog


We think of dog training in pretty simple terms most of the time. The trainer teaches, the dog learns and that's it. We see dog training as a one-way street upon which a trainer imparts guidance to a dog. That, however, is a great oversimplification. Though it does describe the way a dog's life can be improved through good training, it doesn't remind us of another wonderful benefit of training.

You see, in reality dog training is an interaction. And in any interaction, all parties involved take something away from the experience. In the case of dog training, the dog does learn appropriate behaviors. He, however, is not the only learner in the process. The dog trainer also gains from the interaction.

The advantages to the canine half of the training duo are clear. There are advantages for the human, too, which are pretty obvious. In the end, he has a fine companion with whom he can develop a great relationship. The owner also benefits from having a "good" dog, one who doesn't destroy his property or try his patience at every turn. These are very real benefits and should not be disregarded or trivialized. However, when one closely examines dog training, they find that the teacher gains even more from his interaction with the canine pupil.

Owners gain insight into their own personality during the training process. They find their weaknesses amplified by their pet and their personality strengths underlined. They may learn that patience is not their natural strength and that training forced them to be more considerate and calm. Alternatively, they may learn their threshold for frustration was actually higher than they had imagined. These lessons, learned through interaction with a dog, are transferable into other segments of one's life.

For example, the trainer who has successfully worked with a problem dog may find it easier to deal with a difficult client or employee-they have learned that they can be patient and see a situation through without "losing it."

Owners also gain insight into what they really want from their life. There was a reason they sought a dog as a companion and a reason why they spent the time and energy necessary to train that dog. Their interactions throughout training can inform their perspective on self and personal motivation. They may find a new realization of how much they appreciate life and can learn a great deal about friendship building, as well.

There is of course, the tremendous sense of satisfaction that comes from training a dog to consider, too. Training requires a commitment over time and a willingness to give of oneself a great deal. A trainer may reflect on that experience and discover a selfless aspect to their personality of which they had previously been unaware. Tapping into that component of the personality might spur them to undertake other positive activities.

When one realizes they have successfully completed a long-term task, they may better understand their innate ability to set goals and to achieve them by acting consistently with those goals in mind. Dog training can become a great example of what one can accomplish with clear goals in mind.

Training dogs is not just about teaching "sit, heel, and rollover." It is about working with and interacting with another living being over an extended period of time. It is about giving instruction, of course, but it is also about receiving wisdom.

Thinking of dog training as merely the enforcement of rules and expectations simply does not do justice to the wonderful process. There is much more to it, and there is a great deal a trainer can learn from both his dog and the training process itself.

Dog training is more than an exercise in learning and understanding for a dog. It is an exercise in learning and understanding for the master, too. There is a lot we can learn from our experiences with dog training if we expand our perspective on the matter to include all of the wisdom and understanding acquired throughout the training process. A broad perspective on dog training shows it to be a remarkably valuable enterprise for both the pet and the owner.

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