'Reward based training'
FOCUS TRAINING
Focus training channels and directs the dogs energy. Start your training program with focus and touch routines.
HIGH DRIVE IS A BENEFIT NOT A PROBLEM, high drive (energy) in your dog looks like a problem. But with redirection, re-channelling and focus, the high drive dog is an eager and efficient learner.
DOGS LEARN CONTEXTUALLY NOT HABITUALLY this means that they cannot automatically repeat a routine in a different context. So go back to 'kindy' in an new context until your dog can repeat the discipline in the new context.
'ENERGY' - is emotion & intent. Dogs read intent. Dogs respond to emotion.
'DRIVE' IS INTRINSIC INTENT THAT YOUR DOG WAS BORN WITH. Dogs direct their energy into their drive. Low drive dogs appear to have low energy levels.
TRAINING CONTEXTS commencing in
- 1a. Enclosed courtyard or in house. 1b with distraction.
- 2a. House yard. 2b with distraction.
- 3a. Public area. 3b with distraction.
Progress thoroughly in each context before you move to the next. When you advance, start 'again' at the beginning.
EFFECTIVE TRAINING IS REWARD BASED
Reward progression,... 1. Food; 2. Toy; 3. Touch; 4. Achievement.
LURE YOUR DOG INTO EACH BEHAVIOUR
Luring with a treat teaches your dog to follow a food reward and associate the marker with the reward. This is the basis of dog training. If your dog has low drive. You will need higher value treats / rewards.
REPETITION TRAINING,... practice 20 reps minimum for each behaviour.
With a marker and food rewards you will get immediate results.
DOGS HAVE A 6 SECOND RECALL, after that...go back to the beginning and start the routine again.
Give the command & let dog work it out for 4 sec,... Affirm or correct within 6 sec.
Your Affirmation or Correction must be energy neutral. However, you should express positive (high pitched) approval.
'YES IS THE MARKER' MARK success with 'YES' or a clicker, immediately followed by food reward.
Advance your response to 'GOOD' as a neutral positive. This does not require a treat but still communicates success, approval and affirmaton to your dog. This affirmation is essential to a sequence of commands.
Advance to 'NO' as the neutral negative. If the dogs cannot complete the command say NO (unemotionally) and recommence.
If the dog does not understand,...Never correct a dog for something it does not understand.
REGULATE PHYSICAL TOUCH ON YOR DOG
Never touch a dog without firstly giving a command. Touch is reward. Never touch a dog beyond what they can cope with. Do not 'hype' them.
Always give a command, "eg sit" and wait for compliance before you touch your dog. Never touch a dog until the command / response has been completed
'Keep the dog calm'
PROBABLE CAUSES OF TRAINING PROBLEMS include,... Anxiety, Boredom, Aggression
PROBABLE SYMPTOMS TO IDENTIFY Include barking, scratching, yawning, star-ing
STAR-ING IS ONE OF THE MOST OBVIOUS SIGNS OF DOG AGGRESSION
Stop all star-ing immediately
TRAINERS MUST BE CALM AND CLEAR in their response to a dogs (except with recall)
STANDARD COMMAND AND LEASH PROTOCOLS.
Don't ever correct your dog if it does not yet understand the behaviour / routine. Just start the routine again.
USE 1 WORD commands
SIT STAY COME HEEL DROP / DOWN STAND YES GOOD NO PLACE / MAT
PERFORM 20 REPS min per routine per session.
Correct Jumping up with a side leash pop, never reward a jumping dog with words, touch or eye contact.
LURING TO HEEL. Always begin with by Luring with food with hand behind left thigh. This puts your dog in the heel position. Do not release food treat under 3m distance.
MAINTAINING HEEL - When your dog understands the 'heel routine', you can correct it using leash pressure. If your dog is in front of your left thigh, give the 'heel command' and immediately stop still. Allow the dog to create leash pressure. This (non-aggressive) back leash pressure, accompanied by "NO" communicates your disapproval. Use this moderate leash pressure to communicate with your dog. Release the leash pressure immediately that the dog 'gives way'. The pressure release teaches the dog to control their own comfort. This pressure release, accompanied by 'GOOD' indicates your approval to your dog. The dog will quickly learn that the pressure relief is in their control.
IF YOU HAVE A HIGH DRIVE / ENERGY DOG, your will need to employ the 180 degree technique. This direction reversal teaches the dog to follow,... not lead.
FAST HEEL WALK
Try changing direction; 90, 180, 360 degree turns, fast & slow. Give the heel command at each change of direction.
TEACH SIT WITH AN UPWARD LURE and very light upward leash pressure. Push the rear down with 2 fingers. Raise the reward hand vertically to lure the head of the dog upwards. 'Yes and reward when the rear hits the ground.
TEACH SIT STAY by stepping 1m (leash length away) & return. Extend the duration. Advance by dropping leash and stepping further away.
TEACH DROP (USA referred as - down). Downward leash pressure or sweep front legs.
TEACH DROP STAY Lure, leave, return and reward.
TEACH PLACE (Mat) / DROP / STAY This the most useful 'lifestyle command'. LEAD / LURE dog onto PLACE / MAT, then drop a food reward onto PLACE. When your dog puts 4 FEET ON PLACE,.. drop the food as a REWARD .
PLACE DROP STAY duration can be up to 3 hrs.
TEACH RECALL (to an 8 wk old pup) with 'Come or Here at some distance. This is the only high energy, high pitched command. Do the same for and older dog. Use a longline for older more distracted dogs.
TEACH WAIT/STAY @ Doors & gates. Never let a dog enter first.
TEACH 'LEAVE IT' for cars, people, other dogs. Use a light sideways leash pop
CONTRIVE A RELEASE COMMAND This tells yor dog that they are free and the exercise is complete. Variously, a release command can be Ok or free or break)
TEATHERING /RESTRAINING regulates your dogs brain. Unsupervised free ranging scrambles the brain.
CRATE TRAINING All pups need a large crate or Ex-pen. Lure the pup into the crate with food. After each lure, close the door in the dogs face as tries to leave. Simultaneously, give the command 'Stay /Wait. Don't make this a bad experience. Dogs love their house.