I know there are different training methodologies and styles. What I am wondering is what exactly IS dog training? When does it start? When does it end? Is it for the dog or the owner? Is it for both? Who needs training more, the dog or the owner?
Please understand, I'm not asking about housebreaking or crate training. I'm asking about other types. I'm also not looking for answers to debate clicker training versus all positive training methods. I'm more interested in the underlying concept of dog training as a whole.
Traditional Dog Training Versus Positive Reinforcement Dog Training - A Comparison
Recommended Answer:Training begins in the litter box, and ends the day the dog dies. We start by giving mom and nature a little help when the pups are only three days old with ENS.
http://www.breedingbetterdogs.com/achiev…
And then we start with socialization, then introductions, then new skills, and finally skill maintenance.
Unlike our children we cannot set our dogs down in front of a blackboard and give them a lecture and expect them to learn. Instead we show a dog what we want and expect it to remember it. So when someone says their dog is a really fast learner, what they are really saying is that their dog has a good memory.
Over a lifetime I have watched dog training evolve in many many ways. When I see someone saying "oh, that is so mean" or "that device is so cruel", I smile and think to myself "you don't want to ever see how we did it 50 years ago then if you that is bad". Almost without fail new training devices and methods owe their existence to someone thinking that there has to be a better way that is less stressful for the dog than what we are doing.
The classic IMHO is the electric collar that so many think is such a terrible device to use on a dog. The reality is that the field trial dog of today is a far softer dog than what was around when I first started in the game. We can train dogs today even to the level of National Champions, that would have never been able to stand up to the rigors of upper level training 50 years ago.
Dog training is a science, and I hope people never stop wondering "what if" and trying new ways.
edit:
"So why is it when people have an issue or problem with a dog they say "But I took it to training and it still does X"?
Why doesn't "training per se" fix problem x....?"
Because the owner forgot all about the "skill maintenance" part of the deal.
Dog Training Online - Inside Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers Revealed
- Schutzhund is the pinacle of dog training.
You have obedience training which is training your dog basic commands like sit and stay etc.
For more serious dog trainers you can go right up to Schutzhund.
Heres a link to have a look at, Your probably right to ask if training is for dog or owner but i would say it takes both, the dog has to be trained to learn your commands and you need to learn how to be able to communicate this to you dog.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schutzhund
- Training your dog, to me, means establishing and teaching rules and boundaries that your dog must obey. It starts as soon as you first come in contact with your dog, and I do not believe training ever ends. There will always be new situations and circumstances that will arise.
It is for both the dog and the owner. The owner needs to learn how to communicate effectively with their dog, and their dog needs to learn their boundaries. Not only does it make for an obedient dog, but a stable one as well.
I think the owner needs more training than the dog. Too many people get so frustrated with their dogs for "not getting it", when in reality, the owner simply doesn't know how to teach their dog what to do. An owner can never blame an untrained dog for being disobedient, but can only blame themselves for not putting in the effort to change the dog's behavior.
- Dog training is how you get the dog to do what you need it to do consistantly. This covers everything from basic manners to specialized training.
Edit: "But I took it to training and it still does X"? You can take a dog (or a child) to a lot of things, if you don't actually teach it (train it) it will continue to do what it has always done. Too often the issue is the owner (parent).
One of my standard "tricks" when a new client who is an obedience class failure comes to me is to bet them $20 I can have their dog reliably trained to sit (or down, or walk nicely on a leash) in 10 minutes... I've lost ONCE (smart dog!) .. after the dog is successfully performing I ask the owner.. "Now, would you like to learn how to train your dog?". The onus is on the trainer/owner to figure out which tools will work best for each dog to facilitate learning. (just as some humans learn best by reading, some by watching, and some by doing).
- It is a GOOD question! Training effects more than just the dog's behavior. When a dog is secure with his owner being the 'pack leader' he is less stressed. He doesn't have to worry about leading and decision making, that is what the leader does. A dog is also happier when he know what is expected of him and what is not allowed. An untrained dog (and by untrained I do not mean professionally untrained) is never quite sure if or when he will be scolded or punished, he is never quite sure what he did wrong, if anything at all, nor does he understand when he is doing something good. A trained dog is safer because he is less likely to run into the street, wander from home, annoy the 'wrong' person, be aggressive towards kids, strangers or other animals. A trained dog is far easier to live with than an a dog that is out of control. The training itself is a bonding experience between the dog and the owner! I know that you didn't want to touch on this subject, but a dog trained with praise will obey because he want to please his owner, not because he fears the owner's punishment. Yes, usually it is the owner that needs to be trained in what does and does not work with dogs and why. A dog that won't come when called is a dog that will always have very little freedom for his own good. An owner that has a dog that waits patiently 1 or 2 feet from the door is a more relaxed and happier owner. I was at a relatives house the other night and every time someone went in or out you heard "don't let the dog get out!" or "Someone hold onto the dog!' I have an 8 month old puppy and he doesn't try to 'escape' as people come and go. He waits patiently whether someone is entering or I am letting the cat out. He does not go through the door until I say 'okay'. My dog is less likely to 'get loose' then the other dog, therefore, my dog is safer. I am not saying that I have a perfectly trained dog, but you get what you put into it. But first you need a little training yourself to train your dog effectively. That training may be formal training, reading a book on training, getting tips from a breeder or other dog owner and some of it is common sense. That is just how I feel about training based on my experiences as a dog owner and what I have learned over the years (some of it by finding out the hard way what doesn't work) reading and obedience classes.
- If the person knows something about training, then it starts the minute they get the pup or dog. If not then it won't really start until they work with a trainer to teach them how, so that will be dependent on the person. And just by that fact you can see training is more for the person and will depend on what and IF they are willing and open to learning. I feel like I know something about training, have a clear idea what I'm about. Even so I find there is always something new to learn, a new tool or new technique, new thoughts on behaviors. No two dogs ever learn the exact same way, motivated or react the same or have the same temperament, so a wide range of different methods is good to know for tailoring training to an individual dog. So the learning for the human shouldn't really end and in reality, neither does the training for the dog. It's an ongoing thing for both, as it should be in getting a dog to follow commands consistently.
*** I'm with Tom I on the electric collar. It's a new tool, hardly harmful but how many people do you see on here that have closed minds about it? It's a matter of the person being open to learning new methods and tools. A pity people are so closed minded they can't see when a new thing is actually better! Same for a prong collar or a halti type...you fit the tools and methods to the dog and the behavior.
- Dog Training is a way of life- you teach your dogs things every day, whether you intend to or not. I have a friend who, every time she puts her hair in a ponytail, her dog runs to the bathroom and lies down next to the tub. Did she train this? Not intentionally, but the dog learned that this meant my friend was getting ready to soak in the tub.
My dogs learned that when the tv goes off, if it's during the day, they are all going with us, if it's at night, it's bed time. I didn't train it, they learned it.
So, dog training starts the day you bring a dog home and ends the day the dog leaves-
Hope this answered your question.
- Heres my opinion
Owners are usually the ones that need more TRAINING
They start from the time they are born to the time they pass away.
Dog training is actually what I like to call owner training. Its methods that teach the owner how to handle the animal when they behave or misbehave. Usually according to owners we see, certain behaviors they dont like are natural for all dogs. It just depends on where the owner lives, how much room they have, how often they are willing to walk their dog, or spend time with them. It depends on how often the animal is socialized as well.
I am stocked full of information like you wouldnt believe on dog training and the essentials . My email is on my profile if you have any more questions or would like a fuller description of just about anything
- Jessica's nailed it.
Training is more for humans. Training is a way for humans to learn how to control their dogs.
Training is a way for humans to learn how teach their dogs what is acceptable behavior and what is unacceptable behavior.
The owner that understands this knows that training is not static -- it is a dynamic process that never ends.
- *What I am wondering is what exactly IS dog training?
Learning how to teach a desired behavior. As well as teaching that a particular behavior is undesirable and not allowed.
*When does it start?
From the moment you get a dog. Not all training is good. Teaching a dog at all is training, it's whether you teach them good or bad that is the issue.
*When does it end?
Never, you and the dog are learning constantly.
*Is it for the dog or the owner? Both. You have to learn yourself how to teach the dog.
*Is it for both? Absolutely.
*Who needs training more, the dog or the owner?
The owner. If you learn how to teach (the right way), you can teach the dog anything.
Ugh, used teach one too many times....
- Not being a true "doggy person", I can only speak for what goes on in my life with my dogs.
My dogs are in no way trained in any way other than they know what I will and won't tolerate. (Same as my children)
They come when I whistle, they sit, they "leave it", they don't jump up, lick, bite and numerous things that I don't want them to or want them to.
I believe the owners are the ones that need to be trained to train the dog.
I know for a fact that if I wanted my dogs to be better trained then I need to be trained.
- Dog training is for the dog and the handler(owner). Imagine that the dog is a confused Chinese child that you have adopted.
Would you allow a child to remain in a confused state without allowing her to enter your world?. Dog training opens the door to a new world for your dog, they enjoy training and learning how to communicate.
The training starts when a dog arrives with you and continues for the rest of its life. I use play training methods, I never scold or shout at a dog when it does something wrong. I praise my dog when it pleases me and I use toys or treats for lures and rewards.
At the outset the owners must learn and concentrate on the correct commands and body language. Commands must be concise, you should not tell your dog to sit and the next time tell it to sit down, or give a different command at any time if you want the same response.
Dogs will never understand a vast amount of words, however with training they will understand your commands.
I have always gone to obedience classes and then progressed to agility or heelwork to music.It is not fair to buy a puppy if you have no intention of introducing it to the outside world.
I adore dogs and I think that I would be frustrated if there was no intercommunication between me and my dogs. Imagine how the lack of communication will frustrate our beloved pets.
As far as I am concerned, clicker training is not open to debate.CLICKERS ARE THE KINDEST, QUICKEST AND THE BEST METHOD OF TRAINING.
