Expert dog training secrets.

Professional insights into training the “perfect dog.”

What is a “perfect dog?”  Is there such a thing?  I think some pet owners would probably say yes...in fact as the "dog mom" of my own motley crew of beloved pups, I would be tempted to say yes too.  But honestly as a dog trainer, I can’t say I’ve ever met one.  I’ve known many wonderful, lovable, amazing dogs.  I’ve known dogs who were trained, and trained very well; meaning they had been taught a large variety of behaviors which they performed on cue with a very high degree of reliability.  There may be people who would see them as perfect.  I see them as very successfully trained.    

Most people believe that training a dog is about teaching them what they should or shouldn’t do.  Once the dog understands what they’re supposed to do, then they’ll do it, right?  Hmmmm….well do you always do what you should do?  If you’ve answered this question honestly, then you've probably said no. 

There are many things we should do, but because we’d rather not do them or because there's something else we'd rather do, we make excuses to justify skipping them.  In fact if you were to examine your own behavior, you would realize that you are most likely to do things that either: A) you find to be the most pleasing to you; or B) you believe you need to do in order to sustain your life and/or lifestyle; or C) those things which have become habitual for you (usually started out as A or B.)  So you could conclude that most of us do things not because we should do them, but because for one reason or another we want to do them.  So about now you may find yourself thinking, “well, I go to work every day, and I only do that because I have to.”  But I would argue that you go to work every day because you want to…or at least because you want to make the money that invariably shows up in your paycheck.  And I would also venture a guess that if your employer were to substitute glass beads for money, or were to cease to pay you altogether, you would stop showing up.  I know most people would.  The exception might be that very rare person who either really likes glass beads, or who finds their job intrinsically rewarding.   

Dogs (along with most every other living creature) are inclined to do the things they want to do as well.  When you understand this, you also understand that training a dog just means teaching a dog to want to do the things you want them to do.  And the best way to teach a dog to want to do something is to teach them to “work” for a reward.  Rewards turn behaviors that aren’t intrinsically rewarding into opportunities to earn a “paycheck.” In order to be effective, that paycheck should consist of something that the dog finds desirable.  For some dogs that might mean small bits of his regular food or perhaps special treats; it might mean a play session or praise and affection; it might mean a rest break, a drink of water, or the opportunity to sniff around, and it might even mean earning the opportunity to do more “work.”  The point is, there is no single thing that will be rewarding to all dogs. Each dog will decide for himself what he finds to be valuable enough to want to work for it.

There are people who don’t understand this basic tenet of dog training. They want to believe that a dog should do what they’ve been taught, simply to “please its master.”  They don’t want to use rewards to train their dog because they believe it should be unnecessary.  They think their dog should want nothing more than to please them.  But unfortunately, most dogs are no more inclined to live their lives to please others than most people are.  There are exceptions of course, just as there are “people pleasers” among us, but they are the exception, not the rule.  And because most dogs don’t fit into this tiny mold, people who choose not to use rewards to motivate their dogs must resort to the use of force and coercion to get their dogs to do what they want.  In fact, this is the foundation of all correction based dog training.  Examples of this type of training would be remote or shock collar training, and the old jerk and pull way of working with a leash and choke collar. 

The funny thing is, dogs who've been taught using these methods aren't working to "please their masters" anymore than dogs taught using reward-based methods.  And although there are some dogs who learn to work from this type of training, instead of learning to want to perform or avoid certain behaviors, they learn to perform or avoid certain behaviors in order to avoid what they don’t want.  And what they don’t want, is for the person they love and should be able to trust the most, to hurt them for their mistakes.  It’s doubtful that there are many people who would choose to train their dogs this way if they truly understood dogs and the way they learn, or grasped the potential negative impact that this type of training could have on their relationship.  Many would make different choices if they knew there was another, less punitive way to get the job done.

If you understand how dogs learn and what truly motivates them (the things they value of course,) then you don’t have to resort to using force to train them.  The keys to training a dog to reliability are: 1) finding and using the types of rewards that best motivate your dog; 2) setting your dog up for success, by starting out in a distraction free environment and increasing difficulty in small enough increments to ensure a high probability of success; 3) working with your dog long enough and with a high enough reinforcement history to turn the desired behavior into a habit; and 4) learning to use the things your dog likes, not as bribery, but as rewards for a job well done. Use rewards (aka reinforcers)  properly to motivate your dog, and then phase out the constant use of them thoughtfully and gradually so you won't need to have treats with you all the time in order to get your dog to behave. 

...Oh yes, and I should probably add: 5) know that you will need to maintain your dog's reliable behavior by continuing to occasionally and strategically reward your dog for that behavior throughout his lifetime.  

Training your dog using reward based methods will not only leave you with a well-mannered dog, but also with a dog who is happy and willing to do the things you want him to do, with confidence and enthusiasm.  It will strengthen your relationship and give you a way to communicate with your dog that will be fun for both of you.  It will teach your dog to seek out those behaviors which you find pleasing, because he/she will know that you will shoulder the responsibility for effectively communicating which behaviors gain your approval, and you will consistently and reliably acknowledge those correct choices in a way that will please your dog. 

And if you need some help, give me a call.
Happy training!
~K    

Copyright © 2011 Kim Rinehardt. Ain't Misbehavin' K9