yourdog

One of the best things to happen in dog training in the past few years is the shift from emphasizing correction, or punishment, to emphasizing rewards. Using rewards is a whole lot smarter for most trainers–and especially for companion dog owners. Perhaps the most important reason is that if you make a mistake using punishment, the consequences can be pretty sad. Some dogs–not all, but it can happen–may react to being punished by becoming aggressive or fearful. Other dogs shut down. They lose their sparkle. They may seem broken-spirited. Many people also find that reward-based training feels better. It’s nice to be a source of praise and treats, instead of a constant disciplinarian. And best of all, reward-based training really works. That’s because rewards help to nurture and strengthen behaviors we  want in our dogs. If a behavior is rewarding, your dog is more likely to exhibit that behavior again in the future. By figuring out how to apply that simple rule, you can use rewa

If you don’t know where you’re going, how can you get there? That’s true of most things in life, and it’s true of dog training, too. Sometimes we fall into the habit of thinking mostly about what we don’t want. This happens a lot with dogs! We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or chew our shoes, or run away when we call, or bark like maniacs when our sweet old aunt comes to visit. But think about it. Suppose you’re about to adopt a puppy. Do you really want to spend the next ten, twelve, or fifteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Wouldn’t it be better to guide your dog into behaviors that you want ?  For example, instead of thinking, “I don’t want my dog to chew his toys.” Instead of, “I don’t want my dog to jump up on my guests,” how about, “I would like my dog to sit to greet people.” By framing your training goals in positive terms, you’ll have a clear destination in mind. That’s a great way to start your training journey