Posts Tagged ‘Dog Training’
Positive dog training was developed under the principles of Skinner's operant conditioning. While it's not a new technique, it didn't get enough popularity until the nineties.
Former students of Skinner, psychologists Keller and Marian Breland, pioneered commercial applications of operant conditioning when they created Animal Behavior Enterprises (ABE) on 1942. ABE was the first company that offered positive training services.
The huge popularity of traditional training prevented ABE to succeed in dog training. So, the Breland's company was forced to look for new niches and ABE got focused on training animals for TV shows and commercials. Keller and Marian also pioneered dolphin training for aquaria and US navy.
Positive reinforcement is the main teaching way of these techniques. Positive reinforcement is not the same as reward, though this is a common misconception.
Positive reinforcement is the process that strengthens a behavior because a pleasant situation occurs as a consequence of that particular behavior. For instance, if you give a food treat to your dog when he lies down, he will tend to lie down more frequently to get that delicious treat. Thus, your dog will be learning to lie down through positive reinforcement.
On the other hand, if your dog lies down and you reward him after 10 seconds, he may not associate the action of lying down with the reward. He may think you gave him the treat because he was looking up, or moving his ears. So, you rewarded your dog but you didn't reinforce the desired behavior.
Some people think that positive trainers never teach to the dog that a particular behavior is unacceptable. This is a common and big misinterpretation. Practitioners of positive training do teach this to dogs, but they don't use punishment or negative reinforcement for that.
Clicker training is the most popular of these techniques in many countries. It is the same technique used by Keller and Marian Breland, and was popularized by the biologist and dolphin trainer Karen Pryor.
The main difference between clicker training and other positive techniques is the use of a clicker in the former. A clicker is just a small device that emits a click-click sound when squeezed. It is used to mark the exact moment in which the dog performed a desired behavior.
The absolute absence of negative reinforcement, punishment and training collars (choke, prong or shock) make of positive dog training a very friendly technique to both dogs and owners. This could be the main advantage of this kind of training.
Other advantages are that positive dog training is easy to understand and fun to carry out. Besides, these techniques are not only focused on obedience exercises. Instead, they are widely used to solve behavioral problems.
Detractors of these techniques claim that dogs trained in a positive way won't be able to respond properly unless they can see (or scent) a food treat. These people also claim that positive trained behaviors are not reliable under variable circumstances.
Although very common, those claims are not true. The efficacy of positive training is demonstrated each day by hundreds of service dogs for disabled people, police dogs, competition dogs and performing dogs.
About The Author
Rodrigo Trigosso is a biologist and professional dog trainer. His website http://www.dog-training-tutorial.com provides great info on canine training and behavior.
If you want your dog not to develop the habit of jumping on people, it is advisable that it is subjected to puppy training. A puppy as young as a week old can already be subjected to training. A pet owner should make an outline of a dog behavior program to stop from constantly jumping on people. Try to determine if the dog is getting mixed signals from its behaviour. If the dog jumps and it is given a pat, hug or even a treat, the animal will get the idea that this action is good and will always lead to rewards.
The first thing to do is stop giving rewards or show positive gestures when the dog is jumping. The training program should make sure that the dog would not get confused on what it needs to learn. The basic command in addressing jumping behaviour is teaching the dog to sit and stay. In this early part of the program, walk towards the back door from the front door. Order the dog to sit-stay when you do this in order for it to get the idea it should be behaved when you enter or exit the doors. Get other family members to participate in the program.
Read the rest of this entry »
Dog barking is the most aggravating dog problem owners will face. Being awakened because your dog thought he heard something outside in the middle of the night does not make a dog owner happy. As annoying as it is, however, barking is an important communication tool for your dog. Different tones mean different things: the high pitched yap of play to the low, menacing bark of barely disguised aggression, they all mean something. We think of barking as an early warning system for impending danger. However, some dog barking isn’t useful but is only annoying and aggravating. Sometimes dogs bark for no discernible reason at all. This can lead to unhappy neighbors and even eviction notices.
Curing the cause can usually alleviate this type of annoyance barking. As with most dog problems the easiest and most effective cure is exercise. The dog is probably barking continuously because he’s bored, or is trying to burn off extra energy in any way he can. Simply throwing a ball for your dog can sometimes cure annoyance barking. Play and exercise do wonders for all involved. Remember: a tired dog is a quiet and happy dog.
Be careful though, if you hear your dog barking for no apparent reason, don’t run out and start playing with him. This will only tell him that barking caused you to come out and give him positive attention. He will associate barking with a good outcome and he will do it when he feels the need to interact with you, which will be most of the time. Instead, go out when he’s being a nice quiet dog and play with him. Read the rest of this entry »
When most people see a puppy, their heart melts and they start yearning to get one. They see how cute the puppy is, how playful and how affectionate it is but what about the basic dog training that it requires? What am I talking about? Well, for starters, your new puppy will need to learn a few things such as: becoming potty trained, to walk on a leash, to go to sleep at night without howling and certainly not to chew everything in site, including you.
Like a baby, a puppy has a lot to learn and limits are one these things. First of all, your puppy has no intention to displease you so when you see it has an accident on your carpet or on the floor; it is not its fault. Why? Simply because its bladder is so small and the muscles responsible for helping to control it or his bowels are not strong enough to do it yet. As it grows bigger and older, you will see the difference.
As for howling at night don’t forget that your puppy is missing the presence of its mother, it feels lonely and needs to cuddle up. As it will grow up, and that he starts feeling comfortable and at home, this behavior will come to an end.
And what about chewing? Well, he is basically teething. Also don’t forget that it is how it learned to play with its mother and siblings. Humans are more sensitive and so are their belongings so once again, basic dog training is required.
What can you do to train your dog in the best and most efficient way possible? Well, ask any veterinarian, dog breeders or experienced dog owners, using a crate is the solution. Several people think that putting a dog in a cage is cruel and selfish but what they do not know is that later on, even the dog itself will enjoy it. It will become a safe and comfortable place where it can relax and sleep just like a doghouse. Also, your puppy will not always be in its crate as it will be only at night and when you are gone to work or any other event where your dog will be left alone. At first your puppy may not like it, but believe me only time and patience will prove you the opposite. Before purchasing a crate, you should consider a few things. For example, some crates are made of metal and are foldable and others are made of plastic and have a handle to carry it around if small enough.
Posted in Dog Training, Puppy Care | 
Tags: crate training, Dog Training, Puppy Care | 
Comments Closed
The best method of how to train Labrador retriever puppies is to apply positive reinforcement, that's combined with unrestricted praise and treats.
In order to establish an immediate bond, play with your pup on a frequent basic and if possible get down on the floor with her – this bond will later be strengthen through training. Labrador retriever puppy training can start almost as soon as she arrives home. In a similar way to a small child, she will learn best through activities and games.
At approximately eight weeks of age your Labrador retriever pup can start to learn about retrieving objects. This is the "fetch" activity that she will enjoy all of her life.
Learning how to train Labrador retriever pup's is not difficult. To teach this fun exercise, it's often ideal to have her on a ten foot lead or so. Don't be tempted to use a stick for this activity (this could cause an injury) but take a toy that she recognizes or a soft-ball. Make certain that it's too big to be swallowed.
Gently wave the toy near her head to draw attention to it and then throw it approximately five feet in front. There's no need to throw it too far as she's just starting out. If she arrives at the end of the leach all of a sudden, she could be hurt. Use her name, so the command is "Boots, fetch!" Follow as she runs to the soft-ball and if she picks it up; offer some encouragement – but not too much praise yet, as she isn't finished. If your Labrador retriever pup does not take it in her mouth, wave it in front of her until she does. Then walk slowing back to the starting point, and encourage her to follow. If she does drop the soft toy, be certain to get her pick it back up. Once she arrives back, remove the ball out of her mouth and at the same moment say the command "Out", or similar command. Now you may offer her lots of praise.
Read the rest of this entry »
One of the first lessons that needed to be taught to a dog is how to sit. Teaching a dog to sit will take both practice and patience until the dog will be able to get this right.
The owner should stand in front of the dog and perhaps pat it on the head. The animal will think this is a game but the person should make the pet understand that this is a lesson.
The individual should tell the dog to sit. If there is no response, one should gently push the lower body downward into a sitting position.
It will be a good idea to have some food around which will be given only when the pet accomplishes the task. A good pat and saying "good job" will also make this happen. This is called reinforcement theory that can be used to let the dog follow any command.
The same instructions can be given even without saying a word. The dog lover can carry the food bowl and this should only be given when the animal has sat down properly.
People will notice that some dogs are able to see better than hear instructions. If listening to commands is a problem, the same thing can be taught using hand signals.
In both, the owner must not forget to praise the dog for the accomplishment. This is the only way animals can be trained to do just about anything.
Should the animal fail to get this lesson in the first 5 or 10 minutes, this should be repeated on a few hours later or the following day. The pet may be exhausted and will slowly get used to this once a program has been made.
Teaching the dog to sit is just one of many other commands that can be taught to the animal. The owner must not move on to other things to avoid confusing the pet. This is very similar to children who can’t move to the next grade without satisfying the necessary requirements at the current level.
Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com
To learn more tricks on dog training, please visit www.dog-training-techniques.info/
