Updates
10/29/2010, 10:35 AM GMT -7: Added "Q: Won't feeding my dog "human food" make them sick?"
About The Author
My name is Sarah, I am currently 16 and am the daughter of a dog trainer/pet sitter/dog breeder. I've been working with her since I was nine so I know a lot about dogs, not all but a lot. So much so when I go off rambling on the internet about things people think I'm a child prodigy. When I was young I will admit I used negative methods, like choke chains and spanking, now I'm all positive. I've loved dogs all my life, as my mom has, my first word was "doggie" and I loved to crawl through the doggy door as a baby. Growing up I was completely unaware of new methods as was my mom, and once she tried positive training and had huge success she entered the world of positive dog training, and I followed and observed. I haven't seen a dog yet that has not felt the all mighty power of that yummy treat.
Now that you know a bit about me, lets move on~
Contents
Use ctrl+f (hold the ctrl key, press the f key, release ctrl key) to find things quickly.
1. Updates
2. About The Author
3. Contents (You are here)
4. The Pet Training Dictionary
5. General Process Of Training
6. What You'll Need
7. Lets Begin!
10/29/2010, 10:35 AM GMT -7: Added "Q: Won't feeding my dog "human food" make them sick?"
About The Author
My name is Sarah, I am currently 16 and am the daughter of a dog trainer/pet sitter/dog breeder. I've been working with her since I was nine so I know a lot about dogs, not all but a lot. So much so when I go off rambling on the internet about things people think I'm a child prodigy. When I was young I will admit I used negative methods, like choke chains and spanking, now I'm all positive. I've loved dogs all my life, as my mom has, my first word was "doggie" and I loved to crawl through the doggy door as a baby. Growing up I was completely unaware of new methods as was my mom, and once she tried positive training and had huge success she entered the world of positive dog training, and I followed and observed. I haven't seen a dog yet that has not felt the all mighty power of that yummy treat.
Now that you know a bit about me, lets move on~
Contents
Use ctrl+f (hold the ctrl key, press the f key, release ctrl key) to find things quickly.
1. Updates
2. About The Author
3. Contents (You are here)
4. The Pet Training Dictionary
5. General Process Of Training
6. What You'll Need
7. Lets Begin!
7.A ~ Remember This
7.B ~ Sit
7.C ~ Down
7.D ~ Watch Me
7.E ~ Stay
7.F ~ Come
7.G ~ Loose Leash
7.H ~ Emergency Recall
8. Tricks
9. Q/A
9. Q/A
9.A ~ Q: My dog keeps doing its business in the house!
9.B ~ Q: My dog chews up my stuff!
9.C ~ Q: My dog won't eat its food!
9.D ~ Q: My dog's ears stink!/My dog's ears are discolored and they itch at them.
9.E ~ Q: My dog looks bloated and isn't very active!
9.F ~ Q: My dog's bowel movement looks like hair gel!
9.G ~ Q: My dog paces back and forth uncontrollably!/My dog does strange head movements or body movements.
9.H ~ Q: My dog is bleeding from the lower region! What does it mean?
9.I ~ Q: What is Parvo?
9.J ~ Q: How do I stop my dog from barking?
9.K ~ Q: My question isn't listed here!/The answer didn't work!
9.L ~ Q: Won't feeding my dog "human food" make them sick?
The Pet Training Dictionary
Cue = The word taught to the puppy/dog; sit, stay, down, etc.
Lure = The action of using the item to lure the dog into position without using force or hands.
Bait = Item that is used to lure the dog into position. It can be food, toy, whatever is the strongest motivator for the dog.
Shape = Getting only pieces of the behavior wanted, IE: Dog leans for a down, give treat. Continue shaping behavior until it is fully completed, mark with yes, and give a "jack pot" for very good behavior!
{If you're using summer sausage or a meat, just let the dog get pieces off it. That's what I prefer to do.}
Jack pot = Giving many treats {we do three} to mark a job well done! You may also use much petting with "good boy/girl". This increases the likely hood of behavior reoccurring again.
Fading the "yes" marker: After puppy/dog is understanding the cue asked of him/her, the marker of "yes" can be discontinued.
Fading the treat = Continue teaching the behavior that you want. After puppy/dog is doing the behavior at 100% without luring, but responding to voice word/hand signal, start giving the treat on a mixed up basis. IE: Sit = praise, Sit = treat and praise, Sit = prasie,
Sit = praise, Sit = treat and praise. Continue reinforcement of behavior with an occasional treat, this keeps the motivation of completing the cue that was asked, or find other ways of reinforcing, such as switching to a favorite toy, IE: Dog completes behavior, gets to tug on a toy as the reward.
Positive Marker = Using the word "yes" or a clicker to mark the correct behavior, must be used immediately following the correct behavior.
Negative Marker = The sound "ack", to teach the dog that is the wrong behavior, then redirect to the correct behavior. Can also be used to tell the dog to stop the unwanted behavior, but it is a good idea to teach the dog what behavior you would like to take the place of the unwanted behavior.
(I think "ack" sounds like "At". So to me it sounds like "atat!")
Praise = Use praise, "good dog" immediately following after giving the reward.
Release = Word used to tell the dog that it can stop doing the behavior that was asked of him/her IE: Finished, Okay, Lets go.
Keep in mind I most likely won't be using these words in the guide.
General Process Of Training
First step: Lure dog into position with bait.
Second step: When dog completes action, IE: lure into sit, dog puts bottom on the ground, mark with a "yes"
Third step: Give dog bait
Fourth step: Praise
Fifth step: Give release word
After repeating of luring into position and dog is completing full action each time, add the cue (word) that is being taught, IE: Sit, down, stay, etc.
If puppy/dog is not completing the full action IE: down; shape the behavior in steps.
Beginning training looks like: Lure, mark correct behavior, treat, praise, release.
What You'll Need
High Value Treat
Example:
Summer Sausage - Bought at Wal-Mart
Hot Dogs - Bought at many stores
Bacon Treats - Bought at pet stores, also wal-mart
Chicken - Bought at many stores
A Buckle Collar - No choke chains, mighty chains, pinch collars, anything negative like that. A collar like this one.
A Dog!
Lets Begin!
Remember This
When your dog has successfully done what you want it to do, use a "release" word. A release word lets your dog know that when it comes out of position it will be praised. You can use "Yes!" or "Okay!". Also remember that dogs tend to respond to high pitched noises, so use a high voice.
If your dog does not successfully do the treat, either do an "At at!" noise or a "No!" noise. But don't hit the dog or yell at it. At at seems to work better than no, but it can depend on the dog, so if one doesn't work try the other. If you use no, say it in a low tone. Low tone because it reminds the dog of growling. Using no is bit negative because of using the low tone, because that's using fear. So again, I recommend at at.
Say the command before doing it, unless the command info says otherwise. Your dog will then associate the word with the command, but don't say it repeatedly! Then your dog may not do the trick until you've said the word more than once.
Try and wear as much blue as possible, dogs see blue the best.
Sit
My preferred way to do sit, is have your bait in hand close to the dogs mouth to where they can lick and nibble at it, and hover it over the dogs head slowly moving above their head to where they look straight up, until they go into a sit.
Its okay if your dog jumps up in excitement from trying to get the treat, eventually they will give up and go into a sit. If they don't feel free to pull away do an atat and try again.
Tip: You may have to be near/against a wall for this, because the dog tends to back up.
Down
To do down, have the treat in hand, while the dog is sitting, take the treat, while your dog is licking it descend onto the stomach/hind leg area, until they finally plop down to a down!
Trick: If your dog slouches, then lean into that slouch with the treat. It seems to be more easy for you and your dog.
Trick: If your dog is having a hard time doing the down, sit down and put your legs in front of you, then put them up so there is a triangle gap under your legs, think of a mountain. Then put the treat under the "mountain" and let your dog crawl through into a down. Now this will take some time, especially if your dog isn't food motivated, but keep trying! You let your dog see the treat, then lure it closer and closer to the mountain, then put your arm under the mountain and let the dog see the treat, now start pulling the treat slowly through the mountain and let your dog try and crawl through. If your dog is very large or small just make the crawl space smaller or larger.
Watch Me
If a dog is fearful of a human, watch me is a really good command to get the dog used to humans, and also if your dog is aggressive with other dogs, or if he just has trouble paying attention to you! Watch me is more useful than people think.
Let your dog smell and lick the treat, but don't let them have it! Then bring it to your face and say "Watch me!" When the dog looks give the treat. If the dog is already looking when you say the word, also give the treat. That will help them get the idea real fast.
Then when walking by a dog/person, figure out what their safety zone is, which is where the dog doesn't growl or bark at the dog/person but seems uncomfortable or fearful, and use the command in the safety zone. Then go closer and closer to the threat with the watch me command, if you dog acts up by acting aggressive or fearful say atat and go back and start again. Remember to get the dog used to the subject you need to practice at least once every three days if not every day. Then try using different scary/aggravating subjects like another dog or person, as they may be used to that specific person.
If your dog is fearful you can try having the person offer the treat to the dog and after a while pet the dog. If it is aggressive I would not advise this, have a positive professional work with them.
Stay
This is best practiced in a fenced in yard or living room. You can also do it in a park on a leash. Have the dog in front of you, with the treat in hand. I would recommend not letting the dog smell/lick the treat for this trick, because then they may want to follow the treat. Put your hand in a stop sign position, with the treat under your thumb and say "Stay". Then take two steps back, and two steps forward. Give the treat. As the dog gets better and better at the command, take more and more steps back, and then forward.
If your dog follows you do the correction and start again, it sometimes takes at least three tries.
Come
This to is best practiced in a fenced in yard or living room. As stay, you can also do it in a park with a leash. This trick is so very similar to stay. Have the dog sit, then take two steps back and say "Come!". Remember that high pitched voice! You may have to slap your knees, because that tends to get dogs excited and want to come to you, If that doesn't work, then shuffle your feet while moving backwards and say "Come on!" and your dog should come. Just as stay, when your dog starts getting used to the command, start taking more and more steps backward.
Note: You may want to practice come and stay together, because the dog can often get confused if you do stay one day, come the next, and then try stay again.
Loose Leash
Loose leash training is basically like "heel". It teaches your dog to stay by you. Start walking the way you want to walk, show your dog the treat so it knows you have something yummy. When it pulls say "This way!" and turn. If your dog keeps trying to go the other way, lead it with the treat by putting it in front of its nose and letting it lick. Then take off a piece, give it to the dog and continue walking. Your dog should start looking at you more often waiting for the treat, and also staying by you!
Tip: You can also say your dog's name to get its attention.
Tip: If you have hard treats, I recommend you break them up before training, and have around 3 or more in your hand, so you can continuously feed the dog when you need to, without sticking your hand back into the treat bag and getting the dog excited.
Emergency Recall
Emergency recall is amazing for so many things. If your dog gets out, emergency recall, if your dog is barking, emergency recall.
Emergency recall is when you say a word, any word that you don't use alot, and give a treat. What we do is:
Hotdog! *treat*
Hotdog! *treat*
And so on. Then when you let your dog out and it barks say that word, for us it would be hotdog. Try and give your dog a treat as much as possible. Sometimes your dog may be too smart and purposely go outside to bark then come in and get a treat. If this happens try mixing it up by not giving a treat one time and then one the other time. Remember to be patient and give it time, rome wasn't built in a day.
Try taking your dog to your friends house and let them be in their backyard, then while they're all excited and distracted, try using it as well. You can also do this while walking your dog, and on a long leash. Sometimes if your dog gets out they're so excited and distracted by everything around them that they won't respond to it, so its good to get them desensitized.
