will be instructor for a Petco dog training class soon. I want my students to be informed about their dog's behavior, but only have an hour a week to do the informing. In your opinion, what are the most important things a person can learn from a dog training class?
For example, a big one for me is bite control. I find that many of the dogs we get at the shelter I volunteer for are put down for nipping (a bite that breaks the skin, if unprovoked, will result in the dog being euthanized).
Any other things I should touch upon in class?
Some Helpful Tips To Help You With Your Dog Training Abilities
Recommended Answer:
There is so much content to cover, you'll never get it all in. So while I agree that it's important to cover a range of specific areas of content, here are my suggestions (that go beyond the class content and help the human continue to train after the class is over).
1. Teach them a little about training resources. Expose them to a few useful websites, a couple of good books, turn them on to their breed website, tell them about dog performance activities. All of this makes it possible for them to identify other sources for help.
2. Teach them to always make training fun. They should always end every training session on a positive note (do something they know their dog can do--like a palm touch or a sit). That way the dog always views training as "fun" rather than confusing and uncertain and negative. This also allows them to continue training effectively after the class is over.
3. Emphasize the value in being positive. About how there are so many myths with dogs (the old "when they poop in the house, stick their nose in it and hit 'em with a rolled up newspaper" or "can't teach an old dog new tricks"). And that encouragement and taping into a dog's motivation (toys, treats, whatever) can get a dog to do almost anything. This helps them train the right way when you're not there to correct them.
4. Provide some handouts. They don't need to be extensive. But the idea that you SHOW how it's done and then they practice (typical dog class) applies only to visual and kinesthetic learners. Some folks won't remember if it's not in writing. Some of the other info I talked about earlier (dog events, websites, good books) can be a useful handout.
5. Last of all, it's probably not appropriate for this level but for classes above the beginner level, I'd introduce them to the clicker and then show them how to do behavior shaping (especially the 100 uses for a box game). This opens people up to all sorts of training as well as lots of tricks.
SitStayFetch: Dog Training To Stop Your Dog's Behavior Problems (Review)
- Theres no miracle cures. Dogs need slow, steady training.
- food aggression is a big thing in shelters sometimes
- Oh goodness...I think that "drop it" and "leave it" have been the two most commonly used.....pens, dead birds, the cats, etc. "Come" is also useful too ;)
- I think besides coming to training classes, owners should establish a set of house rules and discipline for pets to follow. I believe one thing if dogs have discipline at home, they are easier to train. Also, puppy owners should not give in when they train or discipline their puppies at home. I hope this helps.
ADD: Let us know how do your classes go. Have fun! - Hey there. Good for you for getting the job! I'm sure you'll have fun with your students.
An hour a week is hard, but it's enough time to get the basics started. Dr. Ian Dunbar's book, _Before and After you Get your Puppy_ is a great place to find checklists for puppies. Bite inhibition is of course vital - plus effective potty training, too. You'll be great!
Good luck! - Confidence in themselves so they can teach their dogs the right way to do things.
Patients too! It take practice to train a dog so they have it doesn't happen over night.
No short cuts! - Discussion week 1 on bite inhibition, leadership, socialization and crate training
Drop it,
paw,
stay
Sphinx drop
pawsitive walking
off
"Come" when they are called
Distracted recalls
Fun retrieve
walking and heeling
Socialization with people and puppies
Door greetings and exits
Watch me exercises - Think about what the owner need for a sound foundation. It makes no difference how well the dog is trained if the owner doesn't know what to do with it. So your job is to train the trainer, not the dog. So start with how to put a collar on a dog properly, where should it be on the neck, how tight should it be. Then how a lead should be held, how to communicate to a dog through the lead. Remember that it is perfectly normal for a person to forget which is their left hand the first time they have a lead in it, so be patient.
- Number 1, EXERCISE!!!
and 2nd, dogs need to learn the word NO.
one thing petsmart/co is infamous for is failing to show owners how to properly correct their dogs.
so i would do everything in my power to tell people they need to correct their dogs, and this doesn't mean treats all the time. It means the dog may need a firm scruff, a mouthfull of lemon juice, or(heaven forbid) a prong collar or electric collar.
you need to be familiar with this site. There are tons of articles and dvd's on every dog/puppy training subject.
http://www.leerburg.com/articles.htm - i think more important that specific obedience exercises, is just informing students on how their dogs operate. im a trainer at petsmart, and i take my job extremely seriously. i try to inform them the best i can of the most important rules to follow:
Patience
Consitency
Timing
Supervision
if your not patient, owner and dog will just become frustrated and not learn a thing - training is a lifelong process!
without consistency, the dog will have no understanding of what is expected of him/her (consistent in house rules AND in verbal/hand signals - remember, dogs don't speak our languages!)
without timing, the dog will not be sure what is being rewarded and what is being corrected - aka the 2 second rule - dogs only associate rewards and punishments within TWO seconds of the action - no punishment after the fact!
without supervision (visual AND crating), the dog will only find inappropriate ways to reward itself (chewing on shoes, peeing on the carpet, etc), or can get seriously injured or die (chewing electrical cord, injesting chemicals)
only after these things are firmly in place can a dog even begin to learn to be well mannered. - I am also a trainer, for a private organization.
The number one question I get from my Basic O students is about housebreaking. It's funny how they will put up with dogs that dig, chew, bark and run away .... but pee on the couch or leave an unwanted present a few times and that dog is history!
Most students with these problems just don't understand the concept of housebreaking. They do it wrong and blame the dog unfairly. This is where you come in - good luck!
No comments:
Post a Comment