Having a well-trained dog is beneficial for both you and your furry friend. Training doesn’t just include commands like ‘sit, stay, lie down’…it’s a way to create a wonderful bond with your dog.
Why is training important?
- Obedience
- You want a dog who does what you want them to, when you want them to do it!
- Socialisation
- Having your dog meet lots of other dogs and people is a really important aspect of training, allowing them to settle into what is often a busy world around them. Without it, they may become fearful and anxious, and can even become aggressive.
- Nip behavioural issues in the bud
- Prevention is always better than cure!
- For fun!
Enforcement vs punishment
Most training methods involve learning a behaviour and associating that with a consequence, which, depending on how you choose to train, can be positive or negative.
Positive reinforcement is probably the most popular way of training, and is usually the kindest and the most effective. It means adding something to increase the frequency of a behaviour. Generally, this involves rewarding your dog after they successfully respond a command. For example, if you are teaching your dog to sit, every time they do it correctly, you can reinforcement this behaviour as good by praising them or giving them a treat, thereby making them associate this behaviour with a positive outcome. Obviously, this way is going to be the most fun for your dog, removing any essence of fear from training, which is why it is the method which is most recommended.
Other methods can be effective, but can result in fearful or negative behaviour as a side effect. Negative reinforcement involves removing something unpleasant to reinforce a dog’s action, like pushing their rump towards the floor to make them sit and taking the pressure off when they do so successfully. There is also such a thing as positive punishment, by which something is added to reduce the frequency of behaviour. For example, if you push a dog off if they jump up at you, positive punishment would mean next time they come up to you they don’t jump. You can also negatively punish a dog by taking something away to reduce the frequency of an action.
In general, these other options should only be used under the guidance of one of the vets, or a qualified behaviourist. It’s much easier to get something wrong when using them, and as a result, to end up with worse behaviour than you started with.
What options are available?
- Group sessions
This is a popular choice for lots of owners, particularly with puppies. These classes will help your dog to learn most of the basic commands via a structured programme, as well as giving them a chance to socialise with lots of other dogs.
- One-to-one sessions with a qualified dog trainer or behaviourist
It may be beneficial for some dogs to have more time dedicated just to them. For dogs with more complex behavioural issues, you may also want to consider seeking the help of a licensed animal behaviourist.
You can find help choosing a trainer via the Animal Behaviour and Training Counsel (www.abtc.org.uk)
- Training at home
Regardless of whether you see a professional trainer or take classes, much of your dog’s training will be done at home. This often provides a quieter and secure environment to start your dog’s training off before heading somewhere with a few more distractions!
Useful kit
If you’re training your dog, here’s a few critical bits of kit you might find useful!
- Long line
These are particularly useful when teaching your dog recall, providing a bit of security, and can be there as a gentle reminder to come back to you if they get a little distracted! You can also consider them as “safety lines”…!
- Clickers
Lots of people like to use clickers, that are used to make a sound when a dog successfully responds to a command, swiftly followed by a reward. This is another method of positive reinforcement training.
- High value rewards
This means the really good stuff, like sausage or cheese, particularly if you’re training in what might be a difficult environment for your dog, like a busy park. Some dogs might respond better to being rewarded with their favourite toy or a tennis ball instead!
- Patience
Remember, training your dog is a process and can be frustrating at times. It’s important to remember the end goal, and to enjoy the process as much as possible – it will be very rewarding!
