Teaching your dog

Training a dog is not about making it perform in a particular way, it is about influencing it to make it WANT to perform for you!

Have a look at your dogs breed - then ask yourself 'what was he/she bred for?

You probably can now answer for yourself - the reason it is behaving the way it is!!!

• decide upon what to teach
• ask yourself 'why you want to teach it!'
• find a suitable reward (remember, this doesnt have to be food, touch, a toy. It can be whatever the dog wants at the time)
• gain dogs attention
• show what is required
• give verbal prompt or command
• mark correct response as it occurs
• reward by appropriate method
• when a dog finds something leads to a reward, it increases the chances that it will do it again

unwanted behaviour

• if feasible and behaviour is unwanted, make it impossible for the dog to do!!
• interrupt to stop
• train an alternative (re-direct) and reward
• exercise extreme self control

A loved, guided satisfied dog is happy, full of life, and manageable!

"He who knows the answer to the question how shall I say this to my dog has won the game"

Max Vom Stephanitz.