Resources
Recommended Reading
Parenting your dog - Develop Dog-Rearing Skills for a well-trained companion
by Trish King
Succesful Dog Adoption
by Sue Sternberg
Don't Shoot the Dog
by Karen Pryor
Clicker Traning for Dogs
by Karen Pryor
The Other End of the Leash - Why we do what we do around dogs
by Patricia McConnell
For the Love of a Dog - Understanding Emotion in you and your Best Friend
by Patricia McConnell
Power of Positive Training, 2nd. Edition
by Pat Miller
Recommended Links
Shop at Amazon.com!
www.dogwise.com
Cathy's Articles Educating Puppy
by Cathy Hughes
Adding a new puppy to your family is an exciting event. It may have followed long research or it may have been an impulse adoption. In any event, it doesn’t take long before the romance period of puppy ownership is tested. Let’s take a look at how we may extend that honeymoon for the life of your new family member.
Management, management, management
The importance of managing the puppy’s access to everything cannot be overstressed. Exercise, supervised play periods with children or other animals, safe confinement indoors and out, training basic obedience commands, regular feeding schedule of a proper diet — all of these aspects and more fall under the heading of proper puppy management. These issues should be addressed from the time you put your new pup in the car to bring her home (some of them, like appropriate fencing, before you go pick her up). You will then be on your way to one of the most rewarding relationships in your life. So how do you find out the particulars regarding each of these management issues? You can start by doing some research on your own. Read books and talk to breeders of the dog you are interested in adopting. There are even a few good books written about adopting shelter dogs. Talk to your veterinarian and a local groomer to find out what health issues and grooming recommendations are associated with your type of pup. Make an appointment with trainer who specializes in behavior modification regarding how a particular type of puppy will fit into your lifestyle.
School Time
Once you have everything headed in the right direction at home, you should consider looking for a puppy class to enter. Puppies should start socialization and a certain amount of conditioning prior to leaving the whelping box. Some breeders are better at this than others so it is imperative that you lose no time once you get your puppy home. Most puppies are ready for structured training by the time they are seven weeks of age, as long as the training sessions are short and positive methods are used. Get your veterinarian’s recommendation for the safe age to enter a puppy class. Also, ask your trainer what behaviors you can be training at home prior to attending class.
Choosing an Instructor
Before you can consult a trainer you need to choose one! (Are you getting the idea that this puppy ownership thing isn’t as simple as you’d thought?) Your veterinarian, breeder, friends, or local animal shelter can give you a list of dog trainers in your area. Your job as a prospective student is to find a class that best suits your needs and personality. Talk to the instructors about the methods they use, how many students are in each class, what kind of dogs they have trained, how long they have taught classes, and what is covered in the class. Try to visit a class already in session if possible. Puppy classes should cover management issues, basic manners, rules of play, handling (for grooming and vet exams), as well as basic commands and introduction to leash work. If you are unable to attend regularly scheduled classes, some trainers offer private instruction or may be able to recommend books or videos that may be of assistance. However, the class environment is a much better situation for puppy and owner if possible. Addressing the issues discussed in this article will help in setting up a rewarding relationship between you and your new puppy.
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House Training
by Cathy Hughes
Humans have been teaching dogs to “go potty” since we lived in caves and the basic concept is still confusing to canine and human alike! Perhaps the confusion starts with the name–“house training.” From the numerous calls trainers receive concerning this process, it seems that owners house train dogs quite well! That is to say, many dogs wait until they are safe inside the house before relieving themselves! This is not what the owner intended… what they were shooting for is a dog that is “yard trained.” Let’s look at a few simple rules that would apply to yard training an adult dog as well as a puppy. Feed the pup at regular intervals and on the same good quality food while in the learning stages. Remove any food that has not been eaten within 15 minutes after offering it. Water should be available until the same time every evening…around 8:00PM is good. The pup should be taken outside immediately following each meal and again about 30 minutes later. The owner must accompany the pup so you can praise her when she performs the appropriate behavior. As she is “going”, calmly give a cue such as “go potty” or “do business”. You can then use this cue to let the dog know what is expected of her when you take her out to relieve herself in the future. When she has completed voiding, calmly praise her and give her a treat.
- The dog should be taken out first thing in the morning and after naps.
- The dog should be taken outside prior to and after indoor play periods (or any other excitement such as the arrival of guests or your return from an outing) and make sure she relieves herself before she comes back into the house after outdoor play periods or unsupervised periods outside.
- The untrained dog must not be given free range of the house. She should be in the same room you are in or confined in a crate or outside area when you cannot supervise her. Do not scold your dog when you come upon an accident in the house. This will only confuse the dog and make you unpredictable in her eyes. This can actually lead to aggression problems later. At the very least it will make her reluctant to come to you when you call her!
- If you catch your pup in the process of voiding in the house, act shocked and hurry her outside. Take any of the material, via paper towel, out to the area of the yard you wish her to use. The next time you take her out, take her to that area and let her sniff those items. Once she is going in that area, you can remove the toweling.
Some trainers recommend “scruffing” the pup when you catch them “in the act” in the house. That seems to have worked with some dogs; however I have seen dogs that have learned not to void in their owner’s presence when subjected to this method. Those are the cases where the owner calls me and states that their dog went into a different room of the house and voided following a 45 minute uneventful session in the yard! These owners have actually trained their dogs so well not to void in their presence that the poor dears cannot bring themselves to void outdoors with their owners in attendance.
If you follow these guidelines and see no improvement after 10 days, a veterinary exam may be in order. Young puppies can have urinary tract infections or parasites that may interfere with the progress of yard training. If the vet exam is negative, then you may need to enlist the services of a behaviorist. Some yard training problems are only a symptom of other problems in the canine/human relationship.
Ask your trainer for help in teaching your dog to indicate her desire to go outside. Some dogs do this naturally, but some need to be coached to speak or ring a bell hung on a doorknob when they need to be let out. Your trainer can also give you advice on crate training your puppy/dog.
Dogs are not perfect and may have an accident once in a while. Cleaning the area to discourage repeat visits can be accomplished by first saturating the area several times with plain soda water, blotting up with towels in between applications. Finally dab rubbing alcohol on the area. This will not leave a residue that attracts dirt and dust–and it smells awful to the dog long after humans are unable to detect the odor. There are also enzyme-based cleaners on the market that report good results.
As you can see, good management is the most important tool when yard training your dog. Practice it and you should see improvement soon. GOOD LUCK!
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Dog Training: Today’s Options
by Cathy Hughes
Obedience classes have gone through an amazing metamorphosis in the past two decades. Methods well grounded in the science of operant conditioning in general and positive reinforcement in particular are being used routinely in the training of service dogs and other “dogs with jobs.” A great number of obedience class instructors have embraced these methods and offer them to their students in all levels of training. The pet dog obedience programs may be where these changes are met with the most astonishment because many pet owners have not taken a basic dog obedience instruction since they adopted their last pup. In some cases this could be over 15 years ago. The leap from “traditional” forceful methods to positive reinforcement may be a bit much to swallow for these pet dog owners at first. The good news is that these changes are effective, safe and fun! The pet owner who is considering enrollment in such a program can do much to enhance the benefits of the new knowledge they are about to receive by doing some pre-class preparation.
There are many training formats available. In addition to traditional classes, private sessions, behavior counseling, and seminars may be options a dog owner may want to consider. Discussing these options with trainers will provide the information that will help the student decide which is best for them and their dog
One of the most underrated tools an owner can use when searching for a class is curiosity. While seeking recommendations and tabulating years of training experience of local obedience class instructors are important, part of the shopping-around process for an obedience class should include researching the methods taught in the classes under consideration. Ask what exercises will be taught in class. Arrange to observe some classes or meet the instructor. Request a recommended reading list. Go to the library or search the net for more information about the techniques you will be exposed to, making certain the class you enroll in is the best one for you! Doing some research before attending the first class session can save you some time and confusion. The successes of many of the training methods currently used by obedience schools depend on knowing what motivates the individual dog to work with its owner. It follows that the more an owner knows about what makes his dog tick prior to initiating a training regime, the more successful the dog-owner team will be in class. Owners will be better prepared for any obedience class if they observe their dogs and interact with them often under different circumstances and in various locations. What are the dog’s likes, dislikes and fears? What foods does he like? Does he like to play with toys on his own, with other dogs or with people? Is he a wild and crazy guy, or a couch potato at heart? Getting to know your dog can be time consuming, but it is a must to be an effective trainer.
One goal of obedience instructors today is to give dog owners the knowledge to train their dogs to be well-behaved using methods that are safe for the dog and all family members. Since most effective training methods are based on positive motivation, gone are the days of a leash, collar and dog being the only items needed to attend obedience school. Most current methods use food, play drive, praise, or a combination of all of these as a base for initial training. Today’s beginning obedience class equipment list may include various types of treats, a toy or two, a fanny pack (if you do not relish putting treats in your pocket), a clicker (in the case of a Clicker Class), some type of target (if targeting is to be introduced in your class), a notebook (to take notes augmenting any handouts given in class), a 15-20' long line and a bag to carry all of the dog’s training stuff in. Your instructor will supply you with a list tailor-made for her/his class upon enrolling or during the first class session.
Finally, add to all that has been covered current shot records, comfortable clothing, a healthy dog, and an open mind. Many new ideas about teaching in general and dog training in particular are about to come your way. Take advantage of this knowledge by attending every class and asking questions. In order to train your dog successfully, daily implementation of your newly learned skills is a must. So is FUN.
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Clicker Training FAQ’s
by Cathy Hughes
Operant conditioning made its major scientific debut in the 1920s, and clicker training was used for training many species of animals for commercial purposes as early as the 1940s. This thing called Click & Treat (C&T) is not a new concept.
I have been using and teaching a C&T based method of dog training for over 15 years. This type of training meets the criteria for following sound operant conditioning theory with the emphasis on positive reinforcement. It is safe for both handler and dog. It is fun.
There is some confusion for new students of C&T, especially if they have been exposed to other methods of dog training in the past. Here are some common questions that I have fielded since including C&T in my lessons:
What is Clicker Training?
Clicker Training is a common term used for a type of training that is based on the positive reinforcement aspects of operant and classical conditioning. Simply put, it involves using a clicker to mark a desired behavior, followed by rewarding the dog for that behavior. Of course, that is a bare bones definition for a process that can be built upon and tailored for your individual dog training and behavior modification needs.
Is Clicker Training difficult?
Not physically. But it can seem more difficult than the more “traditional” training methods because the pressure is on you to teach and not on the dog to perform. To succeed, you need to know what makes your dog tic. If you know what motivates your dog, can predict how he will react in a given situation, are aware of his strengths and weaknesses, and are willing to adapt your training to all of those variables, then you will be well prepared for this type of training.
Can all dogs be clicker trained?
Barring any serious physical or psychological conditions, all dogs can benefit from this type of training.
Where can I get a clicker?
Most pet stores, pet supply websites, and dog training facilities offer clickers for sale.
Will I have to carry a clicker and treats around for the rest of my dog's life?
The clicker is a training tool. Once a behavior is taught, the clicker is no longer used for it. Treats can be continued periodically but other reinforcers, such as a game of fetch or a belly rub or a smile, eventually become the reward for a behavior that has been taught. Often the behavior itself becomes the reinforcer!
Have more questions? There are several good resources listed on this page for clicker training information and supplies, or you can contact Cathy’s Canine Counseling.
ALERT for Parents PLEASE do not leave children alone with ANY pet...for the sake of the child and that of the animal. Parents must be diligent. Children should not be left alone with pets and pets must be confined when children are left in the care of someone else. Using due caution and good management, all of the memories of your children and devoted pets will be happy ones. For more information about creating a safe environment for your kids and dogs, contact http://www.dogsandstorks.com/.
by Cathy Hughes
While catching up on my reading, I came across another report of an avoidable tragedy involving an infant and a family pet dog.