Dog Training Tip of the Month

• Capture the Behavior – The “Down” Cue - July 2008

  Most dog owners will agree that a calm, obedient dog lying quietly next to them as they watch TV, read a book, or have dinner with the family is far preferable to an in-your-face dog who just won’t relax. Getting your dog to lie down is usually a simple dog training/obedience cue to master; ABC’s method of teaching a dog the “down” cue is to food-lure the dog into position using yummy, potent-smelling treats and praising her when she gets in position accurately and in a timely manner. However, what if your dog will not allow you to lure her into the down position? What if she just does not seem to be catching on? Many dog owners would consult a dog trainer in this instance, though it’s relatively simple to train dogs (especially your own) on your own or with simple guidance from a professional animal trainer.
  
  The best way to go about mending this dog training issue is to capture the dog’s behavior on a regular basis, whenever you “catch” her lying down quietly. ABC deems this the “opportunistic” or “natural” down. Capturing the behavior involves praising and treating the dog whenever you observe her lying in the down position. Since your dog trainer doesn’t live with you 24-7, it’s your responsibility to reinforce dog training cues such as the down behavior. Some owners will find that treats, toys, or praise – whatever the dog finds most rewarding – are sufficient for capturing the behavior. Some owners may choose to also use a clicker to capture the natural down.
  
  To capture the down behavior, place a handful of food treats between your dog’s front paws whenever she is calmly resting in the down position. If she does not find food treats rewarding, try giving her a favorite chew toy or verbal praise (“Good!”). Remember to do this every time you find her in the down position. She will soon learn that lying in the down position is beneficial to her and will offer the behavior more often. After repeated captures and rewards for her good down behavior, you will be able to associate a cue, i.e. the word “down,” with the behavior. Your dog will soon become much easier to coax into the down position.
  
  If you have any questions or problems, always contact your animal trainer or dog trainer for advice and tips. Frequent brush-up dog training sessions can be helpful to your dog’s level of obedience. If you do not have a dog trainer to provide advanced assistance with your pooch’s dog training, contact an ABC Certified Dog Trainer in your area by visiting ABC’s Online Dog Trainer Directory. See ABC’s homepage for more information.

• Maintaining your Dog’s Obedience Cues - August 2008

  If you’ve taken your pooch to dog training/obedience classes (which every owner of a friendly dog should) or have sought out private dog training lessons, he has probably mastered (or at least learned) his sit, sit-stay, down, down-stay, come, and heel cues. However, even after you’ve proudly watched him graduate from his dog training class, there is still much to be done when it comes to maintaining these dog training cues. It doesn’t always take a dog trainer to test and enhance your dog’s knowledge. However, in order to keep your dog’s compliance to obedience cues sharp and reliable, it’s imperative for you (the owner) to practice dog training in his everyday life. Here are some tips on practicing obedience cues in real-life situations.
  
  • Have your canine perform sit-stays before you give him his meals. Do not allow him to dig into his dinner until you release him.
  
  • Ask your dog to perform a sit-stay or down-stay before you let him inside the house from the backyard and vice versa.
  
  • Cue your dog to lie down and stay while you put on his leash before taking him out for a walk. He should stay in the down position until his leash is secured and you have opened the door and released him from the down-stay.
  
  • Bring treats with you on your walk. Stop and practice dog training, working different obedience cues intermittently throughout your walk. Don’t forget to treat and/or praise him for compliance.
  
  • During your walk, practice the heel cue. However, remember to take breaks from training and allow your dog to walk leisurely (loosely, meaning without pulling on the leash).
  
  • Practice the come cue as a family – have each family member pick a room in the house and stay in there. Each person should take turns calling the dog’s name and saying “come” right before he reaches them. Not only will this reinforce the come cue and his overall level of dog training, but it will also help the dog learn to obey every member of the household.
  
  Remember to make dog training motivational and rewarding for your canine. He should always be praised, treated, and/or petted whenever he does the right thing. With consistency, effort, and an understanding relationship between you and your canine, he will be an obedient and enjoyable member of the family.

• “No Begging!” How to keep your pooch from pawing at your plate - April 2010

  It is difficult to peacefully enjoy your meal when there is a constant, nudging paw tapping on your knees, or a sad-faced puppy with his chin in your lap, hungrily eyeing every bite of food that you spoon into your mouth. Begging is an annoying behavior that is easily manifested, and difficult to get rid of. The story is always the same. You feel guilty eating your comparatively divine cuisine whilst your doe-eyed dog watches sadly from the background, and eventually, relent into feeding him a few scraps off of your plate. You figure that it was just a tiny piece of chicken, and tossing him the leftover pieces that you did not plan on eating anyways will not be harmful.
  
  However, once your dog gets used to the idea that he can weasel some food off of your plate with one, doleful look, this behavior can become obsessive and highly irritating. House guests, family members, nobody will be safe from your dog’s begging ways, and allowing the bad behavior to get past a certain point could cause him to become aggressive around food.
  
  The best way to ensure that your dog does not become a beggar is to prevent the issues from occurring early on. If you can train dogs not to beg from the beginning, it will be highly beneficial to them, as well as yourself. If your pooch has already developed these habits, it is difficult, but not impossible to repair the damage with a few simple steps. The following tips will assist you in keeping your dog from skulking around the dinner table, and will also prove to be a great lesson in dog obedience.
  
  First and foremost, it was likely that you were the one to teach your dog that it was acceptable to beg at the table. So, you must be the one to end it. Whilst you are eating your dinner, if your dog is in the room, he has probably already taken up his usual post at your feet, waiting expectantly for you to hand him a morsel. In this instance, it is best to ignore your dog’s advances, until he learns that his attempts are futile, and gives up.
  
  Another vital factor in this dog training exercise is to let the other occupants of your home in on the plan, and make sure that they all follow the ground rules that you are setting. Having everyone agree to cease feeding the dog human food will aid your efforts to end the behavior. For instance, if you are refusing to give the dog a bite of your hamburger, but your kids are handing him green beans under the table, your attempts will prove to be counter productive. With teamwork, your pal will find nobody to turn to when he tries to continue begging.
  
  Unfortunately, your pooch has already become attuned to the idea that with enough hard work, he can get whatever he wants from you, and will begin to add whining, barking, and howling to the typical routine. The important thing to do here is to stay strong, and continue to pay him no heed.
  
  If your pooch is still standing, it is likely that he will move on to plan B, and begin trying to steal food from your plate, as well as your counter top when you are not paying attention. A useful tactic to employ at this point is keeping your dog in a separate room while your family has dinner, and making sure that he cannot see you. The best way to teach him that you are the alpha in the pack is by feeding him after you finish your own meal. Although it may seem like a better idea for him to be distracted by his own food, your dog needs to learn that you are the boss, and that humans come first.
  
  The most important part of teaching your dog to stop begging is to stick to the plan with dedication and determination. By employing these tips, you will be on the path to having a healthier, more well-behaved puppy that your friends and family won’t mind having around.
  

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