Dog Obedience Training School: 4 Things Your Pet Will Learn
What They Learn at Dog Obedience Training School
Good dog training schools should have a variety of programs to suit different skill levels, and should be aimed more at giving owners the skills they need to train their pets rather than the school doing the training for them.
There are some basic ‘good manners’ that dogs will learn at schools. They will be taught the self-control needed for them to not jump over visitors to your home, to settle at your feet or in a chosen spot, to come when called, and to walk nicely on a leash. Learning to socialise with other dogs, on and off a leash, should also form part of the dog training school’s curriculum.
They should also be taught:
• not to chew and dig
• to not be a recreational barker
• how to accept veterinary examinations
• to accept nail clippings and brushing
Good dog training schools will also equip the dog with the confidence and willingness to take instruction. Because the dog has to concentrate on a given task, it learns how to think and cooperate, and to not fear the unknown.
It is widely believed that training in the first 15 weeks of life will determine whether the cute puppy will grow into a well socialised, well mannered adult dog. For puppies, dog training school focuses on temperament, behaviour and good manners. This is aimed at stopping bad behaviour before it starts.
Dogs will then learn how to walk nicely on a leash, to sit, stay and lay down when asked. With the basics learned, they can then graduate to precision walking, emergency sit and some agility training, including tricks.
When deciding on the right dog training school for your pet, don’t be afraid to ask them what they provide, and what qualifications the trainers have. Check that there are classes for different skill levels, and to what extent the training covers. Always confirm that they only allow vaccinated dogs into courses (they should ask for your vaccination certificate when you enroll).
The stimulation dog training schools provide is loved by the pets, and will lead to a very rewarding relationship with their best friends – you.
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Dog and Training Collars
Do Dog Training Collars Work?
Debate is inevitable when the subject of whether the use of electronic dog training collars is a humane way of canine obedience training. But it is useful to gain an understanding of what electronic dog training collars are, and how they function, before taking sides.
There are several different types of dog training collars. Most people are familiar with those that contain a sensor or probe that connects to the dogs skin. When the dog handler presses a button on his control unit, a signal is transmitted to a receiver unit on the collar, and an electric sensation is felt by the dog.
A second type of electronic dog collar emits a high pitched sound that dogs dislike; the third is a citronella collar which squirts citronella (which dogs don’t like) in front of their noses.
The type of dog training collar that is chosen is really irrelevant. They all have the same objective, to make the dog associate improper behaviour or response, with an unpleasant sensation, be it an electronic buzz, a sound or an unpleasant smell.
Those who don’t approve of electronic dog training collars believe that rewarding a dog for doing the right thing is a better, kinder and more effective training method.
However, there are dogs that are very difficult to train, and electronic dog training collars can be used as an aid to conventional command training. As an example, when you give your dog the “sit” command, a handler would gently push down on the dogs lower back, which makes him sit. After doing this several times, a dog usually catches on, and will sit without the handler touching him. Of course this needs to be repeated often over a period of time to reinforce the lesson.
If at this stage the dog refuses, or ignores the command, the handler might elect to use the electronic dog training collar. Use of the collar will ensure the handler has the dog’s attention, and then the command will be given again, with correct response rewarded with a treat.
A great use for electronic dog collars is to train your dog to stay on your property – for his own safety as well as neighbors. Called an “invisible fence” and requires a thin wire to be run around your property boundary (or the back yard – wherever you want your dog to remain). Whenever the dog approaches the wire, a beeping alarm is triggered. If the dog ignores the alarm a low-grade electric shock is then administered.
Electronic dog training collars are a good method of reinforcing verbal commands for difficult to train dogs. However, their use should remain as a reminder to the dog to respond correctly to commands, and never used as a form of punishment.
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Crate Training Dogs
A Crate Can Be Your Dog’s Safe Haven
There are many reasons for crate training your dog – and using a crate as a form of punishment is not one of them.
When trained correctly a new puppy will come to view the crate as his own safe space. Crates are excellent for transporting your dog in the car or on aircraft, and are very useful when house-training your pet, limiting his access to all rooms in the house until he has learned your house pet rules.
On the first day of crate training a dog, place a soft blanket inside the crate, then put the puppy’s empty food bowl immediately in front of the open door. Let the puppy walk around and sniff the crate, and once it is used to its presence, pop the food bowl containing a little food just inside the open door. After a little while move the bowl to the back of the crate. Once the dog is inside the crate and eating happily, close the door and praise him.
Once the dog has finished eating, let him out, without praise. He should learn that the praise is associated with being IN the crate. Should the puppy start to cry or whine while in the crate, do not let him out until he has stopped or he will associate his release with crying.
Crates should only be used for short-term confinement, and never more than a few hours during the day. If left for longer, it is likely he will soil his special safe place and become unhappy in the crate.
Crates are excellent aids when toilet training your pet. When the puppy is in its cage and you hear it cry, you know its time to take it outside to its special toilet area. Open the crate door and say “outside”. The puppy will usually urinate first then use his bowels. When he does, go to him and lavish praise on him and give him a treat. Don’t call him to you to receive the praise as he will think he is being praised for coming when called. Try not to confuse him.
Follow up on the praise with some play time as further reward.
When crate trained well, a dog will view the crate as their safe haven and even take sanctuary there during storms and fireworks or when noisy visitors arrive.
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Carolin Shadler’s Blog
