2123 Marina Blvd. San Leandro, Ca 94577 (510) 483-2631 braveheartdogs@sbcglobal.net |
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how to find the right dog trainer. Will training with food teach the dog to obey only for food? No, it won't, as long as you are using the food properly as reinforcement. I have trained many dogs using rewards such as treats, praise and toys or play and have never ended up with a dog who will not respond to the commands once trained. When training dogs (or any animals for that matter) there must be motivation. Your choices with dogs are rewards, usually food (if you do it right, you will get a treat) or fear/pain (you better do it right or I will hurt you). In the end the dog always has a choice, you are much better off teaching him to WANT to do what you ask. Physical punishment like jerking the leash or hitting doesn't earn the dog's trust or respect.
possible? Absolutely, you can train dogs without food, but not without some type of motivation. There must be motivation when training animals. No matter what anyone tries to tell you, please know that you cannot train an animal (no matter what the species) without motivation.
you will use as motivation to encourage the dog to learn and to do what you ask. Some people mistakenly believe that dogs will do what we ask "just to please us" or "for praise". You can bet if you are doling out physical corrections (such as jerks on the leash) and then giving the dog some praise such as a pat on the head and or a verbal "good dog" he is working to avoid the corrections not to earn the praise.
food? You wouldn't go to work for free and it is unreasonable to ask your dog to. We would not expect other species like humans or cats to just do what we say when we say it without motivation so why would we expect our dogs to? It isn't reasonable.
partner that you have built a strong working relationship with based on trust and communication or do you want a dog who does what you say because he fears what will happen to him if he doesn't? Think about it. Is it cruel to reprimand or discipline my dog? Just like with children, discipline and guidance is necessary when raising a dog. If you allow your dog to make all the choices with nothing ever expected of him, the dog will probably not respect you. Many behavioral problems can be solved or improved by changing the way you live with your dog and setting very clear boundaries. There are times when reprimands are necessary, but it is important to choose them wisely. Well planned and thought out reprimands can be highly effective. Time outs, verbal reprimands and repititions are ones that I typically use. Getting into physical battles is not smart or effective because force won't make your dog respect you not to mention the fact that if a dog really wants to hurt you he will and you could get hurt and still not have the dogs respect. What type of equipment should I use to train my dog? We recommend training all dogs on their regular, everyday collars and a leather, cotton or nylon leash. Once in a while, with a dog that pulls a lot, we may suggest an Easy Walk Harness until the dog learns not to pull on the lead but typically we use a basic collar and leash. What do you think of electronic (shock) collars? I am not in favor of using electronic or shock collars to train dogs. The simple fact is that it isn't necessary. First of all, it relies on training the dog by way of avoidance and aversion. The dog does what is asked to avoid a shock. I prefer to reward the dog when they do it right rather than trying to punish everything they do wrong. For the purposes of training a companion dog to do common every day behaviors (such as sit, down or come) shocking them with a collar isn't necessary. I work with dogs regularly who have been previously "trained" by way of electronic collars. It takes quite a bit of work and relationship rebuilding between these dogs and their owners to make things "right" again. When using this type of punishment in training you really risk creating other behavioral problems along the way. Some dogs can even become aggressive or depressed because they can't figure out how to avoid the pain. These are clear signs that the dog is in distress and surely not enjoying the time spent with the owner. Advocates of shock collars will tell you that "it doesn't hurt the dog", my question is; how do they know? If a dog yelps or runs away, most likely it has experienced something painful. There are healthier ways to build a working relationship with a dog. Finally, using punishment in training requires impeccable timing, which most people don't naturally have. Someone who cannot properly train a dog with a clicker or with food due to lack of timing has no business putting a shock collar on their dog. Positive training, corrections, compulsion based training...I'm confused! If you're confused about which method of training to use, please don't feel alone, it CAN be confusing. Positive reinforcement training means that you are training by focusing on the good things your dog does and rewarding those things rather than focusing on the bad things he does and punishing him for those. It truly is that simple. Remember, the dog always has a choice, why not make him WANT to do what you ask? Positive training allows even children and people with less than perfect timing to succeed. Poorly timed and executed leash corrections can destroy a dog, but poorly timed rewards can only slow him down a bit. All of my classes are reward based training classes. I train my own dogs using positive reinforcement that doesn't mean that I don't discipline them or that there aren't consequences when I feel they are necessary, it's just that I don't rely on pain or intimidation to train them. I have found that my dogs trained with positive reinforcement are much more reliable than any other methods I have used. If you know that you want to train your dog using positive reinforcement and dog friendly methods than you want to make sure that the trainer doesn't use painful collars like choke chains or remote or electronic collars of any kind as this is not positive dog training. Is it possible for me to observe one of your classes before signing up? Absolutely! I welcome and encourage prospective clients to come and observe my classes before signing up. It is very important to me that my clients feel comfortable with my style, technique and approach, so I am happy to have people observe any of my group classes before registering for a class. If you are confused about what class is best for you and your dog, a phone consult to decide on the best approach for you and your dog is free of charge. What is "clicker training"? Clicker training is a form of training based on a learning theory called operant conditioning. It is the technique that is used to train dolphins, killer whales and most animals to perform or do things on cue or on command. When used properly, the clicker is used as a "reward marker" meaning that it tells the dog that it did the correct thing at the exact moment that it hears the click and that it will be rewarded (food is the easiest reinforcer to use). This technique gives clear information to the dog which is why I like it so much. It is used to train many different species to do a variety of different behaviors that a few years ago most people would have thought impossible. Having trained with more traditional methods for many years it took me a while to be completely convinced so I decided to test the technique. I purchased a young, ranch bred cattle dog (a breed traditionally trained with harsh methods and considered "difficult") and used only the clicker with him. I was so impressed with the fast, precise results and how much the dog enjoyed the training that I retrained some of my dachshunds with the clicker, began to train all my dogs and most client dogs using clicker training. It's ok not to use the clicker in our classes, but we encourage it because the results are so amazing. And, it works for all dogs. This whole thing of "not one technique works for all dogs" is bogus, it does work for all dogs and most species actually. We are looking to teach such simple, straightforward behaviors with our dogs (sit, down, don't pull on the leash) that doing it with the clicker is really pretty simple. I have a Pit Bull and with all the hype lately, I'm worried. Will my dog become aggressive? The bad press surrounding Pit Bulls (and other bully breeds) is an unfortunate thing for a wonderful breed. Pit Bulls that are properly socialized, trained and cared for, usually make devoted, loyal pets. The breed does however have some hardwired characteristics that can make them challenging. Perhaps the most difficult trait is their history of having issues with other dogs. They were in fact originally bred for dog aggression, and many dogs today will still carry this trait with them. Some dogs that do fine with other dogs as puppies and young adults, may become aggressive as they reach adolescence. Many Pit Bulls (and other bully breeds too) are not very good at reading other dogs signals. So, when playing with other dogs, their play style is usually very rough and in your face, this is not taken well by dogs with other play styles and this is a very common way for fights to result. That being said, I have known many reliable, outgoing, dog friendly pit bulls. It is up to the owner to watch their dogs carefully and be aware. Take red flags seriously and don't put your dog into situations where he could into altercations if he has issues with other dogs or is developing issues with other dogs. My dog has been called "dominant" what should I do and will your training work? I see dogs all the time that are labeled "dominant" or "alpha". The truth is that is just isn't that simple. Social hierarchies are something that fluctuate and change all the time. Also, most of the time when people are observing dogs and trying to establish what is going on as far as social status and hierarchies, they are not skilled in truly reading canine behavior. The fact of the matter is, when you are trying to establish social hierarchies within a group of dogs, you are only guessing. You can't and won't ever know what is truly going on. What worries me about novices labeling a dog as "dominant" is that people then tend to think that the best way to treat the problem is to try and physically dominate the dog which can be very dangerous and in fact, make the dog worse. The best thing to do is forget about the label and find a trainer who can help you find solutions. You want a trainer who will put together a treatment plan for you that will deal with your dog's individual issues while making sure to keep both of you safe and happy. I have worked successfully with many dogs that were supposedly "dominant" dogs that had previously been treated with harsh corrections and inappropriate techniques that made even their owners uncomfortable doing them. There is certainly a better way. Alpha rolls, strings ups, and other forms are physical abuse can be extremely dangerous and it doesn't improve the dog's behavior or outlook. He won't view you as his leader, but rather as a bully. It is crucial to be a good leader to your dog, I will teach you how to do that in a way that the dog understands and respects. What do you think of "The Dog Whisperer" TV show? I have watched "The Dog Whisperer" and have seen the trainer in person. What I can tell you is that it's definitely not my style. I am committed to using dog training techniques that are scientifically based in proven learning theories, which the techniques on the TV show don't do. Many of the methods used on the show are old school, traditional methods and while they may sometimes work, we now know that we can get the same reliability from our dogs without using force, pain or intimidation to do it. Personally, I don't see any point in revisiting the era of dog training that relied on brute force and unproven theories. When working with dogs I am committed to treating the dogs I work with and their owners with respect and compassion, which is something that "The Dog Whisperer" methods do not do. I have seen many dog and owner relationships fractured due to harsh, physical corrections and I have seen clients and dogs injured from trying such techniques. I do agree with the concept that many dogs with behavioral issues are lacking adequate exercise. Further, I agree that many behavioral issues can stem from people treating their dogs like people, which is never a good idea. Finally, it should be noted that serious behavioral issues are not solved in 30 minutes. This is the magic of television and editing, not real life. On Choosing a Trainer There are so many things to consider when choosing a dog trainer, so let's just touch on a few that I think are very important. You want a trainer that is not only experienced, but successful. The theories and method must be effective. You trainer should be able to go beyond telling you what to do, but should be willing to tell you WHY. Your trainer must be willing and able to explain not only how to do something but why that method works and makes the dog understand what you want or what you are trying to convey. Find out how your trainer learned and perfected their craft. Dog training truly is an art form, few people can become experts at it just by taking a 6 or 8 week course. While this is certainly a start, a qualified trainer should have years of successful experience under their belt. A good trainer truly understands canine behavior and has more than one plan of action for each challenge. Many trainers will say that they are "certified" however, it's important to remember that there is no state regulated certification for dog trainers. Any dog school or training academy can award it's students with "certification" from their school so find out how your trainer was certified. The Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) offers certification training that isn't not affiliated with any specific school or program. This is the only widely known and well respected dog training certification. Certification requires that trainers have at least 300 hours of training experience within the last 5 years with 75% of the experience as a "Head Trainer" or "Instructor", as well as a reference letter from a veterinarian, another trainer and a client. Once all of this has been completed the trainer must take a 4 hour, 250 question exam that tests the trainers knowledge of learning theory, animal husbandry, ethology, instruction skills and equipment. You, the client, needs to feel comfortable and confident about what you are doing. You need a trainer that is a good teacher to you. You are the one at the other end of the leash, so your trainer needs to be able to teach you to effectively train your dog, to explain what you need to do and how to do it, and to gently correct you when you need help. As the client you need to be comfortable with the methods and techniques you are doing. If something seems wrong or you aren't comfortable, ask questions. Remember you don't have to do anything to or with your dog that doesn't seem right. It is extremely important for your dog trainer to be openminded. Dog training is changing and evolving all the time. I can tell you from years of training many different breeds and ages of dogs that there are dogs out there that need a different approach, good dog trainers understand this and are willing to modify training methods to make them work for different dogs. As a professional trainer, I have found that there are a number of ways to teach dogs, however I teach my students to use the methods I have found easiest to understand and execute, and the ones that are the most rewarding to the dog and owner. Having trained using positive and aversive methods over the years, I feel fortunate to have been open-minded enough to give positive training a try. My dogs are happier and frankly, I enjoy the training more than ever before. Not only that, they are more reliable than ever before as well. A good trainer is up front and honest about their methods. If they say they use "positive reinforcement", "reward based methods" or "motivational methods", ask what they are. Ask what they do and how they teach specifically. These questions should be answered easily or should be on their website or other material. It shouldn't be a guessing game. There are many trainers who label themselves "positive", but having spoken to and corresponded with trainers from all over the country, I can tell you that everyone's idea of positive is different. Some trainers label themselves positive and then use shock collars in their training. It is up to you, the paying client, to ask questions, observe classes and choose a trainer who will benefit you and your dog. You, as the client need to feel comfortable with the methods and technique being used on YOUR dog. If it doesn't seem right, don't do it. If it hurts, frightens or intimidates your dog there is a better way to do it that doesn't fracture your relationship with your dog. You want a partnership with your dog not a dictatorship. Ask for letters of recommendations. A good trainer can provide letters of recommendation from happy clients. Also, ask to observe classes before committing to enrolling or purchasing a package. You want to see your trainer in action to make sure that you are comfortable with that particular trainers style, technique and communication skills. A good dog trainer is knowledgable about not only dog training and behavior but also about different breeds of dogs. Dogs were developed for different reasons and for different purposes and this is important when it comes to training them. Good trainers are knowledgable about all breeds and what they were developed for, and will be able to offer you methods that work for different breeds. Yes, the basic principles and techniques are the same, but the methods are sometimes modified to work for different dogs and breeds. It is really helpful if your trainer has experience with many breeds of dogs, knowledge of genetics and a real understanding of canine behavior. If you are hiring a trainer or behavior specialist for something very serious such as fearful behavior, anxieties or aggression, please make sure that you are hiring someone qualified. Anyone working with these issues should have a clear understanding of working with desensitization, classical conditioning and counterconditioning techniques and should be experienced in these areas or someone could get hurt. The most important thing to remember is that you need to feel comfortable with your dog trainer. This is someone who you employ to help you and your dog. You should always be able to feel comfortable asking questions or talking to your trainer. |
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