Positive
Dog Training |
Q:
What’s the difference
between positive, nonviolent dog
training and traditional training
methods? Is it easier?
|
|
A:
Most people find giving and receiving
rewards much more appealing than giving
or receiving punishment. And certainly
dogs like receiving rewards rather than
punishment. On The Dog Whisperer
DVD, you’ll learn to teach your
dog to do behaviors you want her to do
instead of having to correct her for the
behaviors you don’t want. Instead
of focusing on what you want your dog
to stop doing – jumping, barking,
digging, chewing – and then correcting
or punishing her, decide what you want
your dog to do instead and positively
reinforce that behavior. For example,
if your dog jumps on you when you walk
in the door, decide what you want her
to do instead. Lay down when you walk
in the door? Run to her bed? Fetch a toy?
Let’s say you want your dog to lay
down instead of jumping when someone comes
in the door. Begin by setting up the environment
so your dog can’t jump on you. That
way, you don’t have to correct him
and jumping doesn't become a self-reinforcing
behavior. Use a baby gate, a tether, a
dog run, or a kennel.
Practice
teaching your dog to lay down with the
three-step method (shown on the Dog
Whisperer DVD). Once your dog is reliable
(after a few sessions), then practice
saying "down" as you walk in
the door. After a few repetitions, your
dog will automatically lay down whenever
you walk in and you won't even have to
ask. Presto, a dog can’t jump and
lay down at the same time!
Here
are a few examples of behaviors you might
want to use for ones you don’t want:
If
Your Dog: |
Choose
One or More of These: |
Jumps
|
Find-it,
sit, down, stay, go-to-your spot
|
Digs
|
Dig in sandbox, chew treat-filled
toys that will help keep her occupied,
provide exercise and games
|
Steals
& chews things |
Leave
it, go-to-your-spot, down, chew
appropriate objects
|
Bolts
out the door |
Go-to-your-spot, down, stay, come
|
Barks
|
Down
(or bark three times and then
lay down), come to get you when
someone comes to the door |
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