Do you sometimes regret buying your dog? Do you find yourself embarrassed by his actions, his “accidents” or his lack of obedience?  Are you tired of your carpets and flooring emitting that telltale stench that you have a dog which has not been housebroken or trained? Are you fed up with trying and failing to train your pup? Are you about at the end of your “leash”?

Let me encourage you not to give up and kick your canine buddy out of house and home quite yet.  Many people have been where you are and have since discovered the most effective method of dog training, using positive reinforcement techniques.

The majority of professional dog trainers agree that positive reinforcement training is the most humane and most effective training method available. Don’t let the fancy name fool you.  It simply means that you reward your pooch for good behavior that you wish for him to repeat and you ignore the bad behaviors which you want to see stop.

Your dog should obey you out of love, not fear!

Improper and harsh training methods that have been used in the past and are still employed by some today can break your canine’s spirit. Intimidation and physical pain only act to instill fear into your dog.  While it is true that fear can be used as a motivator, do you really want your pet to fear you? Respect…yes. Fear…no.  Aversion therapy techniques such as the use of shock collars are also unnecessary and inhumane. Dogs learn easier when the training is fun, positive and motivational.  Remember, it is a dog’s natural instinct to want to please their master.

When you employ positive training techniques with your canine you are allowing them the opportunity to learn the lesson in a more meaningful way using their very capable brain and the power of association.  When the animal does what you want them to do and you immediately follow that action up with a hearty praise, physical attention and a tasty treat, they will quickly begin to associate their action with a desirable reward from you.  Repetition then reinforces the process in their brain.  They quickly realize “when I do this I get love, attention and a treat, so I want to do this again!”

Timing is very important to the process so you must decide on how you are going to mark a desired action so that it is clear to your dog exactly what they are being rewarded for.  Some people use a clicker as a tool to mark good behavior.  A clicker is just a small plastic box that you hold in your hand which makes a loud “click” sound when you press on a button or tab.  Optionally, you can use your voice as the marker.  The key is to 1) make the marker simple for your dog to understand (an emphatic “Yes” will do), 2) use the marker immediately when your dog performs the desired action and 3) you must be consistent with whatever method you decide on.  Don’t try to mix markers or only use them occasionally.  This will tend to confuse your pet and leave you frustrated when they don’t respond to your commands as desired.

Just to clarify:

1)    You give the command

2)    Your dog performs the desired action

3)    You immediately mark the action using a clicker or your voice.

4)    You give verbal and physical praise and attention.

5)    You reward your dog with a small treat.  (see note below)

Maintain consistency in your commands also.  Decide ahead of time what phrases you want to teach your dog and stick with those phrases.  Choosing simple one or two word phrases usually work best.  “No jump” or “No bark” will be easier and less confusing for your dog to learn than “stop jumping on me”, “get off of there” or “quit your barking!”  Through repetition dogs can quickly learn to associate your words with desirable actions.

Rewards and Treats

Just as we humans have our own favorite treats and rewards, so likewise does your canine companion.  You know your dog’s likes and dislikes better than anyone, so you get to decide on the best treat or reward for your pup’s training.  If you are choosing a treat of some sort just choose something that can be broken up into small morsels and carried in your pocket without making a mess.  They will appreciate even small bites and will soon recognize them as a treat for doing a good action.  Alternatively, some dogs are not big eaters but crave attention and therefore you can reward them by lavishing them with praise and attention.

One item of note when it comes to treats for your dog.  Many reputable trainers have found that intermittent or sporadic treats can have an advantage over consistent and expected treating.  As funny as it may sound, some dogs may become indifferent or bored with the same old routine and may actually opt to disregard your command if they are not really excited about getting a treat.  Sporadic treating can help in keeping the dog’s interest piqued. I personally have never had that problem with my dogs, but it is something that you should keep in mind and even try to see how your dog responds best.

Your Dog’s Weak Spot

All dogs love attention.  It is just in their nature and one of the reasons they are man’s best friend.  Most people automatically reach toward the top of the head when they go to pet a dog, but many dogs do not like being petted on their head.  That is why a dog will sometimes shy away when you move your hand toward their head.  There are a few spots though where most all dogs enjoy being petted.  Gently massaging the ears between the thumb and forefinger is a soft spot for most canines and they will love it.  Just remember that the ears are thin and too much pressure can cause the dog to react negatively.  The bottom part of the back just above the base of the tail is another spot that Rover will love to be scratched.  Gently scratching under the chin will usually be met with approval and of course in the chest area between the front legs is probably the ultimate soft spot for any dog.

Just remember if you are a stranger to the dog, let the dog sniff your hand first before trying to pet them.  Only after they accept your scent should you try to move on to petting.

Positive Reinforcement Training

Positive reinforcement training may be a new concept for you, but just because something is new doesn’t mean that you should ignore the benefits.  One of the key components to success using positive reinforcement techniques is the amount of enthusiasm you exhibit when praising good behavior and the control you exhibit in the face of negative behaviors.  It can fly in the face of conventional training methods to ignore unwanted behaviors, but for some dogs, even negative attention is still attention.

A simple “no” command along with you ignoring the dog is often enough to make the dog want to stop the behavior on their own.  Think about how you feel when someone you love and are totally committed to chooses to totally ignore you.  Remember, your dog loves you and craves your attention.  They want to please you and make you happy because when they do so they get the love and attention back that they need and want so desperately.

Hopefully this short article will open your eyes to new possibilities when it comes to dog training and if you have had little luck in training your dog perhaps you will try positive reinforcement training before giving up on having a well-mannered dog.

Your dog can learn to behave in the manner that you want him or her to.  No doubt you have seen hundreds of dogs on TV that have been trained to perform flawlessly for their owners.  While some breeds have a higher dog IQ and often learn more easily, the truth is any dog can learn mannerisms, behaviors and tricks to please their master and you can teach them when you discover the secrets to dog training.

Do You Need Help With These Common Dog Behaviors?

• Housebreaking
• Barking
• Whining
• Biting
• Chewing
• Aggression
• Jumping
• Pulling On A Leash
• Getting On Furniture

An excellent resource for dog training and the only one I would recommend is “Secrets To Dog Training.”  In it you will find minutely detailed information on the prevention and treatment of specific dog behavior problems, obedience lessons and on teaching your canine pal plenty of tricks to impress your friends and family.  A well trained dog is a happy dog and I know you will be happier too for having invested the time into your loving and faithful best friend.