Following my article in the Nov/Dec issue I was asked to continue discussing the drives used in protection training in short articles. I will use my translation of Helmut Raiser’s book Der Schutzhund as a reference in my discussion. Let’s begin practical training for protection work where it should begin: with prey-drive promotion. Let me …
OUCH! Does your pup leave teeth marks on your hands from play? A young dog often tries to play with his human family the same way he would play with other dogs. It is natural for dogs to use their mouths to explore and investigate things. Puppies playing together in a litter use their mouths …
(Inappropriate greeting behavior) First of all, let’s look at this from the dog’s point of view. Fido is so happy to see you, and he naturally wants to get close to your face, so he does what comes naturally — he jumps up. And guess what – chances are, he has been rewarded many times …
First of all, recognize that you have an obligation to prevent problems by using good management of the environment. A puppy sees the whole world as her chew toy. You need to puppy proof the area where your young dog will be, and to provide appropriate chew toys for her. This is a prevention exercise. …
This program is intended for any dog that has an “Attitude”. It is just as important for a fearful dog as it is for a bully type. Either type of dog will benefit from learning that YOU will make decisions for him or her. If your dog’s attitude has undergone a sudden change, please get …
Denny Kodner has unfortunately given us cause for using mixed metaphors: she has not only missed the boat, but she has gone off the deep end in doing so. She should have learned better after 50 years of exposure to the breed, but her dedication (some would say prostitution) to the …
Travelling in search of information on training has provided many opportunities to broaden my understanding of canine behaviour. Understanding canine behaviour is the essential ingredient in developing training programs which will produce a dog that works correctly and enthusiastically. It is the understanding of canine behaviour which determines correction or stimulation, the levels of each …
One of the most important things for your dog to learn is to walk on a leash without pulling. This makes walking the dog much more enjoyable for both you and the dog. If the dog is pulling walking is unpleasant and he gets walked far less often — this makes him pull all the …
Dogs are pack animals with a highly developed sense of social structure. One reason they make such wonderful companions is be-cause they instinctively accept their human family as their pack. However, dogs are also born with the instinct to try to become the pack leader, and if you and your family do not assume a …
Your dog is always learning, by observation, trial and error, 24 hours a day whe her you are with him or not. In order for a behavior to be maintained, it has to be rewarded. This includes desired and undesired behaviors. Your task is to figure out what the rewards are — and either eliminate …