Dog Training and Dogs Behavior Problem

Dog Training does not have to be headache. It is simply not necessary to break an animals spirit in order to live together in harmony.

Non-Violent Approach To Dog Training

The old methods of dog training and other animals by controlling them through domination-in a misguided desire for “absolute obedience”-foster an attitude of human superiority and justified violence, rather than kinship and mutual respect. I believe it is harmful for all of us, and especially for children, to observe and take part in those forms of Dog training. Fortunately, these ways are becoming a thing of the past as they are now being challenged by less harmful methods of establishing control.

We are entering a more empathic age and compassionate stage. As people mature, they desire a mutually enhancing relationship with their partners, one of kindness and respect. Likewise, we look for ways to educate our animals with compassion and love, in order to establish a relationship and bond based on mutual affection, understanding, and trust. Much skill, patience, and understanding are needed with animals to establish this bond, this will make dog training much easier and less stressful.

Reward based training is the most popular form of training. Reward based training involves the manipulation of what the dog wants to have. It is easier for the average owner and dog to understand. The dog is learning how to ge what he wants and because of that, he wants to learn.

Correction

Basically there are two ways to train and animal, with physical force and coercion, which is often aversive, or with rewards, which personifies kindness. It is the age-old idea of getting an animal to do something by using a stick or giving her a carrot. The process you use to teach your dogs to sit is as important as the result. The training methods you use are important not only because of what you are doing to your dogs, but also because of what you are doing to your selves as human beings.

Dog training, as it is currently practiced by many, is turned upside down. The primary reason people train dogs is to keep them from doing things that come naturally. They want to keep their dogs from using their teeth. They want to keep them from running. They want to keep them from eliminating. They want to keep them from jumping, digging, and barking. It is like putting them in behavioral straitjackets. So what can we do? The goal is to create an environment to let our dogs simply be themselves within the framework of our lifestyle.

Nonviolent dog training allows you to create a partnership with your dog using gentle persuasion based in kindness, respect, and compassion. This gentle persuasion is what nonviolent dog training is all about. In this method you use a gentleness with a flexible yet noncompromising attitude. The spoken word is actually full of power-and part of this power is based in the silence before, after, and between the spoken words.

• Simply wait for the behavior to occur, then let the dog know that what she just did thrilled you to no end by rewarding her with praise, a scratch behind the ear, and treats.
• Use a visual prompt such as food, a favorite toy, or other object to lure the dog to do what you want, then praise and reward.
• Use a physical prompt like gently pushing the dog’s behind on the floor to get her to sit, then praise and reward her.

In nonviolent training, we use three ways to shape behavior: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment. Scientifically speaking, a reinforcement, whether positive or negative, increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated and punishment decreases the likelihood. Positive reinforcement is used the most in nonviolent training. Occasionally some negatives are used in nonviolent training, but only when they do not harm the dog or the human physically, emotionally, or mentally.

Positive reinforcement means rewarding behaviors you want your dog to repeat. When your dog performs the sit behavior, reward her for it. Give her a treat ever time she puts her behind on the floor, and there is a good chance she will keep putting her behind on the floor.

The Steps to Shaping A Behavior

• Get a picture firmly planted in your mind of the behavior you want from your dog. Remember, if you do not know what you want your dog to do, she can not figure it out either.
• Get your dogs attention by using a sound, a motion, or some other lure such as a food treat or your dog’s favorite squeaky toy.
• Add steps to the behavior one at a time. Reward even the smallest parts of the behavior that you think will lead to the final goal. Do not go too fast or too slowly. If your dog is losing interest or getting distressed, you have gone too far too fast. Back up and get her attention again and set it up so she is successful.

Reinforcement Schedules

Step 1: A continuous reinforcement schedule. When you begin training for any behavior, it is important to reward you dog each and every time she responds to your signal, e.g., sit, treat, sit, treat, sit, treat, etc. For simple behaviors in a no distracting environment, a few hundred repetitions spread out over several days or weeks may be all that is necessary for you dog to grasp what is going on. You will also revert to this schedule whenever you add duration, distance, or distraction to each behavior.

Step 2: A variable reinforcement schedule. At the next stage of training, instead of rewarding the dog after every response, he is rewarded on a predetermined schedule, such as after every second, third, or fourth response (sit, sit, treat,-or sit, sit, sit, sit, treat), or after two, three, or more different behaviors, e.g., sit, down, sit, treat, etc.

Step 3: An intermittent or random reinforcement schedule. In this stage, you progress to rewarding every so often, like the occasional win in Las Vegas. Once the dog know that a payoff is coming sooner or later, she will remain motivated.

Reference: The Dog Whisperer by: Paul Owens

Trainer Abbreviations and There Meanings

ABCDT-Animal Behavior College Certified Dog Trainer, Certified by and graduated from Animal Behavior Collage, a dog training program that includes home study and an externship.

CAAB-Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist by the Animal Behavior Society. This certification requires supervised graduate training in animal behavioral science from an accredited university.

CABC-Certified Animal Behavior Consultant through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. Certified members must pass a review process that includes detailed case studies.

CDT-Certified Dog Trainer through the International Association of Canine Professionals Any member of the IACP can take the CDT exam to earn the title, as long as her or she remains a member.

DPDT-KA-Certified Pet Dog Trainer, Knowledge Assessed through the Certification Council for Pet Dog Trainers. This independent organization offers proctored exams for dog trainers form any school or program after they achieve at least 300 hours of teaching.

KPACTP-A Karen Pryon Academy Certified Training Partner has completed the Academy’s Curriculum. It consists of online study, hands on workshops, and a written examination based on Pryor’s clicker-training method.

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