How I Instruct

Life with your dog can be

pleasant if you teach your dog

what you

want

from her.

class

actually instructing you.

In turn, you

are

training

your dog. Yo

u need to learn

the

techniques in

order

to train your dog.

YOU

will

learn how to

teach your dog basic

commands

and

manners

through positive

training

I am not

training

your

dog; I

teaching

you how to train

your dog.

You must have a desire to learn about dogs and

how they learn. You must also have the desire

and commitment to work with your dog on a

regular basis. One hour a week in class is NOT

enough.

At home

and out in the world,

you

must practice

and

reinforce

what you learned

class. With

practice,

patience, and

consistency, you

will see

positive

changes in your dog.

Motivation

and Dogs

If your boss did n

t pay you, would

you go to work?

If your boss

constantly

berated you

for your mistakes, but never praised you

for

your

good work,

would you like her very

much?

I doubt it.

you are

that kind

of "boss" to

your dog, you could be ruining your

relationship

with a

beautiful, loving

intelligent friend.

We all

need motivation

whether it be praise, money,

prestige.

Dogs

need

to be

motivated to work just like we do

Food treats

are used to

teach

and reward

new

beha

iors.

Dogs

will work for

food, attention,

and

other life

rewards such as

dinner,

walks,

petting, and

games.

Gradually

you will

wean your dog off food as

a reward and

teach

him/her to work

for

life

rewards.

Principles of Positive Training

		*Dogs repeat behaviors that are rewarding and avoid* *behaviors*
		*that* *are not*. Reward the good; ignore the negative.

		*Your dog already knows everything you are going to* *teach* *him.*
		No, he is not psychic, but he does already know how to sit, lie down, and come. You will teach him English as a second language by teaching him English words for the behaviors and rewarding those behaviors.

		*Be positive! Think in terms of what you want your dog* *to do*
		*instead* *of what you* *don't want him to do.* Such as; "I want my dog to sit to greet people." rather than, "I want him to stop jumping all over people."

		*Be consistent. Dogs can only learn one behavior for* *each* *cue*
		or *word.* If you teach him that Down means lie on the floor, then don't expect him to understand if you say Down when he is jumping.

How Long Does It Take to Train a Dog?

To be honest, i

t takes a lifetime.

Training a dog isn't just a matter of taking a class and

doing

minutes

homework

each day.

Yes, y

ou can

teach your dog

sit,

down, and stay

and

other

positive

behaviors in class

and

through

doing

your

homework.

However, t

aining continues throughout the life of

the dog.

Every

day

your

dog

learning. Your job is

to make sure that

the dog is

learning

the

behaviors

you want, not

the behaviors

you don't

want.

Make

sure

that

you

are training the dog

instead of the dog

training

you.

Every day is an opportunity to train your dog and to

continue to

build

and maintain a

positive relationship.

Start working on that relationship today by enrolling in a class!

How I Instruct by Karen

"Do you subscribe to the philosophy of Cesar Millan?"

is a question dog trainers

are often asked.

My simple answer is "No". For reasons why many trainers

and even the American Humane

Society are saying 'Dog Whisperer' Training

Approach More Harmful Than Helpful, go here

Is Cesar's Way Really the Right

Way?: The Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan

updated 11/18/2007