Training

It's common to see lack of impulse control for dogs and small children. We all know an adult or two that suffers from it from time to time, too! It is lack of impulse control that makes dogs rush headfirst into danger. Uncontrolled dogs bowl people over in their enthusiasm to say hello. And they also display thoroughly bad manners in the presence of food. All this is perfectly natural. … [Read more...] about Impulse Control For Dogs – Teaching Your Pup To Keep His Cool

People often disagree as to whether or not we should be dog training using the word NO. We communicate with our dogs through signals. Some of these are visual signals, a raised hand, a swing of the arm, a pointing finger. Most are verbal signals. All have one thing in common.  They tell the dog what we want him to do. With one exception. And that is the word NO. An important word … [Read more...] about Should We Be Using The Word NO In Dog Training?

Why are fruit machines so addictive? Why do people sometimes get hooked on placing 'bets' when they lose more often than they win? The answer is a phenomenon called 'The Gambling Effect', and it's very relevant to dog training. Not only is the gambling effect responsible for a number of human addictions, but it is also a very useful tool for animal trainers. But how does the gambling … [Read more...] about The Gambling Effect in Dog Training

If you want to teach your dog English, you'll love Stage 2 in dog training. This is the part where we build a bridge over the language barrier that exists between us. It's the second stage in training a dog or puppy to carry out any new skill (the first stage is where we teach the dog what actions we are looking for). This is the ‘Pair It’ stage of my: ‘Get It’, ‘Pair It’, ‘Teach … [Read more...] about Teach Your Dog English

There is a little word, made up of three letters, that has crept into dog training in the last few years. It’s the word ‘cue.’ A cue is a signal that is intended to trigger or initiate a response. When I was a teenager, the only ‘cue’ I had come across was on a snooker table. Instead, we used something called ‘commands’ to tell dogs what to do. And the reliable behaviour expected from … [Read more...] about How Three Letters Can Help You Train Your Dog

Welcome to our article on over friendly dogs! In this article professional dog trainer Jo Laurens shares her thoughts on dealing with an over friendly dog. If your pushy dog is accidentally upsetting the dogs he meets on walks, this guide is for you. There is a behavior problem lurking in the dog world, which may not have a name. We'll refer to it as the problem of over friendly dogs. I’m … [Read more...] about Over Friendly Dogs – How To Cope With And Train Your Pup

Welcome to one of many popular dog games: "4 Paws in a Box." Like most tricks, this game doesn't just entertain your dog. The purpose of this trick is twofold. It is aimed at teaching the trainer how to shape new behavior. It is also aimed at teaching the dog how to earn rewards by offering small changes in behavior. Shaping New Behavior If you haven’t read our article on shaping, … [Read more...] about Dog Games

People often get confused about the concept of "fading rewards" in dog training. When we begin teaching a new skill, we reward the dog each and every time he gets it right. But, over time, to ensure that the new skill is maintained, many trainers make rewards more intermittent or occasional. We often refer to this as "fading" rewards. People usually direct their enthusiasm for fading … [Read more...] about Fading Rewards in Dog Training