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Why Bother With Dog Training

8/30/2019

At Starbucks the other day I ordered a vente, non-fat, decaf late, and the barista said "Oh you want what we call a why bother"

I thought how… appropriate. It also started me thinking about what I do, dog training. What would say if someone ask me "Hey why bother"? Don't we all know how to have a dog in our lives? Isn't it really pretty simple? For some people that may in fact be true. So I started making a list of possible reasons to go ahead and Bother. Possible benefits of some formal dog training.

We don't naturally know how to communicate with dogs, they are another species
Some dogs really need some guidance, like high drive dogs....you know who I am talking about
We expect our dogs to adapt to our lives....but they don't automatically know how
They seem to like some things we don't like
- Digging
- Barking
- Peeing, anywhere, anytime
- Chewing, everything
- Pulling on the leash
- You get the idea
Might be good to know how to
- Meet and greet other people and dogs
- Not jump on us
- Not dash out the door or in for that matter
- Calm down a little
- Be OK with being home alone...yuck
Might be good for us to
- Be able to read their body language to understand what they are feeling
- Know how to properly meet dogs
- Know how to introduce our dog to others
- Know how to "ask" for what we want....."commands" to an illiterate species doesn't work well
- Be aware of what our body language is saying to the dog
- Know how to humanely and successfully correct problems
- Know how to recognize and help with issues like fear and separation anxiety
- Learn how to be a little more patient with this critter we invited into our lives
- Give our companion dog a real Companion, one who knows what they are doing
A good trainer will also give you
- Give you a plan, based on science not TV reality folks
- A ton of resources and answers to the multitude of issues that invariably come up
- A valuable new skill to learn and put to use
- Solutions
- A patient friend for you and your dog

So there you go, based on what my clients tell me, it’s worth the bother.

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Resources I recommend

8/26/2019

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Resources I recommend : 4 books , 1 online magazine and 2 newsletters.

Book #1
The power of positive dog training by Pat Miller.A renowned dog trainer gives you the positive training tools you need to share a lifetime of fun, companionship, and respect with your dog. Plus, you'll get: information on the importance of observing, understanding, and reacting appropriately to your dog's body language; instructions on how to phase out the use of a clicker and treats to introduce more advanced training concepts; a diary to track progress; suggestions for treats your dog will respond to; and a glossary of training terms.
Updated with the latest tools and techniques—including the clicker method
Renowned dog trainer Pat Miller gives you the positive training tools you need to ensure that you and your dog share a lifetime of fun, companionship, and respect. Following her step-by-step, six-week basic training program, you'll learn how to develop a relationship with your dog based on friendship and positive reinforcement, not fear and punishment. Plus, you'll get:

Information on the importance of observing, understanding, and reacting appropriately to your dog's body language
Instructions on how to phase out the use of a clicker and treats to introduce more advanced training concepts
A helpful diary to track progress, suggestions for delicious treats your dog will respond to, and a glossary of training terms

Two Other Books
For the Love of a Dog and The Other End of the Leash both by Patricia McConnell

Patricia is a certified animal behavior asst and the highly recommend everything she has done. Click here to subscribe to her newsletter which is very informative.

https://www.patriciamcconnell.com/join-the-pack

Book # 4
The Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson
A revolutionary new way of understanding the relationship between humans and domestic dogs

Online magazine:
thewholedogjournal.com
$20 yr.
Access to past issues.
Excellent search function.
In depth articles.
Outstanding contributing authors like Pat miller.

Also good web site
Companion animal psychology

https://www.companionanimalpsychology.com/?m=1

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What do you want your dog to "be" rather than what do you want your dog to "do"

8/24/2019

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If you've decided to get some training for your dog, what goals might you have in mind? Most people think in terms of gaining control and getting an obedient dog. I would like to suggest that you think about what you would like your dog to "be"as opposed to what your would like your dog to "do".

While these things go together, one causes the other to happen. When we look at what a dog can "do", it puts the focus on the dog and his behavior. When we look at what a dog can "be", it puts the focus on what we humans need to do to set things up for success. This puts our overall goals in a very positive manner. The more we look at our behavior and how to make it easy and fun for our dogs to succeed, the better results we will get.

Let's look at a possible list of under each category, "doing and being".

What are some things we would like our dogs to "do and not do"?

After making a request ( old school would say 'command' ) the dog would
- Sit
- Stay
- Come
- Lay Down
- Get Off

Some possible Don'ts

Jump up on people
Bark, at the wrong time
Pee, in the wrong places
Growl, at the wrong times
Bite anybody, except maybe the badguy
Get up on the furniture
Chew, the things I don't want you to chew

You get the idea

So then what are some of the things we would like our dog to "be"?

Attentive to us
Calm, most of the time
Unafraid of
- People
- Noises
- Other dogs
- New experiences
- Etc.
Interested in and able to learn about
- Training
- How to live with us
- To be OK with being home alone, sometimes
- How to play appropriately
- How to meet and greet people, children and other dogs
- Human words and what they mean to him
Healthy
Fulfilled
- An interesting and happy life from the dog's viewpoint
  - Exploring
  - Sniffing
  - Meeting other dogs, maybe
  - Making independent choices, autonomy
  - Deciding who to interact with and how to go about that
  - Able to move about unrestrained
Feel and be Safe
- Able to move away from frightening things
- Not forced to do things when fearful or uncomfortable
Have human companionship
- Not left alone for hours on end
- Be engaged with my human companions, do stuff with me

So what might be the impact of an approach like this?

Our expectations of ourselves and out dogs would change
We would have increased patience as getting the behavior becomes more about our role in making it clear and worth the effort for the dog
It prompts us to create opportunities for enrichment not just training
It will sharpen your observation skills as you value "reading" your dog
It will prompt you to learn more about dog behavior
The more educated you are the better
The benefits to your dog are enormous
- No fear / No pain training approach
- The dog gets to choose to engage
- They enjoy learning
- Their "doggie" needs are met
- They are more confident and secure as they navigate our "human world"

I would suggest that we start with what we want our dogs to be, confident, secure and ready to engage in a life with you. I think this sets us up for success. If your dog feels good he will be a natural learner. This will also sharpen your observational skills as you progress through your training.

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Dog Training Insights

Why Bother With Dog Training

Resources I recommend

What do you want your dog to "be" rather than what do you want your dog to "do"

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