TIPS FOR BETTER DOG TRAINING
Jess Feliciano CPDT-KA, Lisa Radosta DVM, DACVB
Behaviors that are rewarded are more likely to be repeated.
If your dog gets a treat for making eye contact with you, he is more likely to do it again. If your dog gets let out of his crate for barking, he is more likely to do it again. Dog owners often inadvertently reinforce (reward) pawing and jumping by interacting with the dog. Ironically, dogs may feel rewarded even by reprimands (i.e. negative attention is often better than none). Many owners only show their dog attention (usually negative) when they are misbehaving, not when they are behaving appropriately. Dogs learn quickly that the only way to get attention from the owners is to “misbehave.” Each time that you interact with your dog, think of what you just rewarded. Sometimes controlling your dog’s behavior is about controlling your own behavior!
Find your dog’s currency.
A reward can be anything that your dog wants at that particular moment (it doesn’t always have to be food). For example, if your dog loves to run in the back yard to chase lizards, stand at the back door and ask her to sit and stay for one minute. When she completes the task, throw the door open and let her run outside to play. Make a list of everything your dog enjoys and use it to your advantage!
Start varying rewards during training by using everything on your list. By varying your rewards, you will keep your dog guessing. This keeps the dog engaged with you and excited about working with you.
Elementary school before high school.
Break down any new behaviors into baby steps. Always make sure your dog is getting rewarded often- that means the behavior should be easy for him to “get it right.” Only when your dog is continually being rewarded and is “getting it right” should you move on to a harder level. Your dog should get a 90% on the exam (9 out of 10 correct) before you move to the next level.
Give a click or pay up quick!
When training, use a clicker (or a specific word) to let your dog know exactly what he is getting a treat for. A clicker is a small device that makes a noise which signals to the dog that the last thing that he did was correct. This tool allows you to mark correct behaviors instantly even if you can’t get a treat to your dog at that very second. You can find out more about clicker training at www.clickertraining.com. If you don’t use a clicker, you should give your dog a reward within half a second of doing his new “trick.”
Focus on the positive.
Get into the habit of participating in passive training. Whenever you notice that your dog is acting relaxed or calm, reward him by praising him softly, petting him or rewarding him with a food treat. By rewarding him when he is calm you are sending a clear message about which behaviors earn attention. Your dog does not always have to wait for you to tell him to do something in order to receive a reward for behaving appropriately.
Don’t get frustrated, go back to kindergarten.
If you find yourself getting frustrated with your dog, make the exercise easier for him. Move farther away from the distraction, use a food lure to get his attention, or ask him to do it for a shorter period of time. When in doubt, assume that your dog is afraid, confused or distracted. Help your dog to make the correct choices and then reward him for those choices.
More rewards, more attention.
The more rewards your dog receives in a period of time, the more he will remain engaged with you. The more you want your dog’s attention, the faster you should be giving out rewards.
Don’t nag.
It’s more effective to ignore annoying, attention seeking behaviors than it is to say, “no no no” over and over again.
Replace unwanted behaviors with new ones.
In place of your, “Don’t do that.” you should use, “Hey, come over here and do this instead.
Be consistent.
Always be consistent with the cues you use, the behaviors you reward, and the behaviors you ignore. Your dog will learn faster and he will know exactly what to expect. All members of the family should participate in the training so that the dog’s life is consistent.
Behaviors that are not rewarded will be extinguished.
Everyone wants to know when they can stop rewarding their dogs for correct behaviors. The answer is simple, never! While you can reduce the amount or the value of the reward, you can not stop rewarding behaviors completely or they will no longer be offered. How long would you continue to go to work if you stopped being paid?
If your dog gets a treat for making eye contact with you, he is more likely to do it again. If your dog gets let out of his crate for barking, he is more likely to do it again. Dog owners often inadvertently reinforce (reward) pawing and jumping by interacting with the dog. Ironically, dogs may feel rewarded even by reprimands (i.e. negative attention is often better than none). Many owners only show their dog attention (usually negative) when they are misbehaving, not when they are behaving appropriately. Dogs learn quickly that the only way to get attention from the owners is to “misbehave.” Each time that you interact with your dog, think of what you just rewarded. Sometimes controlling your dog’s behavior is about controlling your own behavior!
Find your dog’s currency.
A reward can be anything that your dog wants at that particular moment (it doesn’t always have to be food). For example, if your dog loves to run in the back yard to chase lizards, stand at the back door and ask her to sit and stay for one minute. When she completes the task, throw the door open and let her run outside to play. Make a list of everything your dog enjoys and use it to your advantage!
Start varying rewards during training by using everything on your list. By varying your rewards, you will keep your dog guessing. This keeps the dog engaged with you and excited about working with you.
Elementary school before high school.
Break down any new behaviors into baby steps. Always make sure your dog is getting rewarded often- that means the behavior should be easy for him to “get it right.” Only when your dog is continually being rewarded and is “getting it right” should you move on to a harder level. Your dog should get a 90% on the exam (9 out of 10 correct) before you move to the next level.
Give a click or pay up quick!
When training, use a clicker (or a specific word) to let your dog know exactly what he is getting a treat for. A clicker is a small device that makes a noise which signals to the dog that the last thing that he did was correct. This tool allows you to mark correct behaviors instantly even if you can’t get a treat to your dog at that very second. You can find out more about clicker training at www.clickertraining.com. If you don’t use a clicker, you should give your dog a reward within half a second of doing his new “trick.”
Focus on the positive.
Get into the habit of participating in passive training. Whenever you notice that your dog is acting relaxed or calm, reward him by praising him softly, petting him or rewarding him with a food treat. By rewarding him when he is calm you are sending a clear message about which behaviors earn attention. Your dog does not always have to wait for you to tell him to do something in order to receive a reward for behaving appropriately.
Don’t get frustrated, go back to kindergarten.
If you find yourself getting frustrated with your dog, make the exercise easier for him. Move farther away from the distraction, use a food lure to get his attention, or ask him to do it for a shorter period of time. When in doubt, assume that your dog is afraid, confused or distracted. Help your dog to make the correct choices and then reward him for those choices.
More rewards, more attention.
The more rewards your dog receives in a period of time, the more he will remain engaged with you. The more you want your dog’s attention, the faster you should be giving out rewards.
Don’t nag.
It’s more effective to ignore annoying, attention seeking behaviors than it is to say, “no no no” over and over again.
Replace unwanted behaviors with new ones.
In place of your, “Don’t do that.” you should use, “Hey, come over here and do this instead.
Be consistent.
Always be consistent with the cues you use, the behaviors you reward, and the behaviors you ignore. Your dog will learn faster and he will know exactly what to expect. All members of the family should participate in the training so that the dog’s life is consistent.
Behaviors that are not rewarded will be extinguished.
Everyone wants to know when they can stop rewarding their dogs for correct behaviors. The answer is simple, never! While you can reduce the amount or the value of the reward, you can not stop rewarding behaviors completely or they will no longer be offered. How long would you continue to go to work if you stopped being paid?
