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The Most Useless Word in Dog Training What is the most useless word in dog training Could it be endlessly calling your dog’s name as they run off in the park in hot pursuit of a squirrel? Is it when you yell at your dog to ‘leave it’ as you hold them back from lunging after every child, dog or leaf that they see? Is it when you are chasing your dog around the room shouting ‘drop’ as they run in circles with the TV remote? If you are having the problems above, the words you are using are unfortunately of little meaning to your dog. However, I would not say these qualify for the most utterly useless word in dog training. This is a word common to the everyday language of the average dog owner. A word repeatedly used at all different times and in all different situations. A word that you will commonly hear at the park, the vets and anywhere there are owners and their dogs. A word often used out of frustration, embarrassment, and concern. Have you guessed it? It’s the word ‘No’. But before you recoil in horror and perhaps a little panic (I mean how can you train a dog without the word no??) consider the following. From a dog training perspective, the word ‘No’ does not convey any information to your dog as to what you would like him or her to do. For example, if my dog jumps up and I tell him ‘No’ I have not actually told him what it is I would like him to be doing instead. The only thing I have told my dog is that I’m cross with him, causing enough frustration or anxiety in some dogs that they will actually jump up more. Even if my dog stops jumping up this time they will likely jump up the next time and every other time after that. Not knowing what else to do the dog simply continues to perform their natural greeting behaviour. If I ask my dog for a ‘Sit’ every time he greets me I have instructed my dog with exactly what I want him to do. In addition, if only rewarded with attention when sitting and not jumping up with a bit of patience almost any dog can be taught to sit for polite greetings. So let’s go back to that recall. My dog has taken a very leisurely approach to returning when I’ve called him on a walk. Feeling annoyed and a bit embarrassed I shout at my dog when he returns. Now think about it from the dog’s point of view. When I come back to my owner, I get told off. Therefore in order to avoid this telling off, it is better to stay away from my owner especially when there are lots more fun things out there I could be doing! Of course, there are other factors that impact on the success of training Including increasing difficulty too quickly and circumstances where owners have unrealistic expectations. You are not going to recall your dog mid squirrel chase (remember Fenton and those deer anyone?) but you do have a good chance of recalling your dog if you spot that squirrel first. There are now well known humane and successful methods of achieving dog training goals that are easy for most owners to achieve. There’s no need to shout ‘leave it’ as you hold your dog back from lunging or ‘drop’ as you try and wrestle that TV remote out of your dog’s mouth. A good dog trainer can help teach a range of obedience exercises without relying on punishment. So if you find yourself at the end of your tether spending all your time yelling at your dog and telling them ‘No’ perhaps it’s time start focusing on what it is you actually want your dog to be doing. The behaviours you train are after all the behaviours your dog will perform. Tamsin Peachey Tamsin is a qualified animal behaviourist having obtained an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour from Lincoln University in 2013. In 2017 Tamsin started running Puppy School classes in Solihull, having received tutor training from renowned author, dog trainer and canine behaviourist Gwen Bailey. Prior to running Puppy School Solihull Tamsin spent over two years working at Dog’s Trust gaining valuable experience in caring for and training a wide variety of rescue dogs. In 2014 Tamsin and her husband adopted their own rescue dog, Milo, with whom Tamsin has worked successfully to reduce his reactivity towards other dogs. In addition to dog training, Tamsin enjoys writing articles and resources on the topic of dog behaviour for both professionals and dog owners. :|zpendofcontent|:
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Does your dog need a sweater? The answer depends on where you live, what kind of dog you have, and in some cases, personal preference. I love dog sweaters (and so does my dog), but I also live in the Midwest where sub-zero days in January and February are the norm. Dogs with thick fur stay warm on their own as long as they stay dry. While others – shorthaired or short-legged dogs, seniors, puppies, toy breeds, thin dogs with very little body fat, and dogs with chronic health or immune system issues – need the extra layer when the … Continue reading →
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When was the last time you taught your dog a new trick? Been a while? Sometimes when we get a new dog/puppy we spend a lot of time teaching tricks and behaviors and once we feel the dog is “trained” we… well stop. Dogs love, love, love to train and learn behaviors. The AKC has launched a new trick dog program and it is just the ticket for some fresh new ideas. Why train tricks? Dogs love to learn new things Mental stimulation and activity helps improve your dog’s overall behavior New tricks prevent boredom (which can lead to bad … Continue reading → The post Why You Need to Teach Your Dog Tricks appeared first on 4Knines Dog Blog.
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To train your dog to walk to heel, it is vital they are calm and responsive. This allows them to have the focus to learn what you are asking of them. To accomplish this, it will help to plan the walk in a series of stages, starting off at a place with minimal distractions so you have the dog’s attention and...
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Would you like to explore what Animal Communication is all about? Maybe you have wanted to learn how but didn’t know where to begin? Or do you already know how to communicate with your animal and would like some extra tips? Whatever your goal may be — you have come to the right place to get the answers to these questions and some others that you may have. Before I share with you the 6-Steps of what I exactly teach my Animal Communication students (see my bio below for more details), here are some are some things to consider. Let’s … Continue reading →
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It’s that time of year where I get asked how cold is too cold to leave your dog outside during the day and some I know have their dogs outside all the time. The answer depends on the following factors: where you live, the size of your dog, the weight of your dog, the type of coat your dog has, the color of your dog’s coat, the type of condition your dog is in, your dog’s overall health and your dog’s age. Not all dogs are alike nor are the temperatures. When it comes to the temperature you have to … Continue reading →
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As a trainer, often I get asked how a client can teach their dog to walk on a loose leash. Dogs sometimes pull on the leash because the dog walks at a faster pace than the person or because he has been inadvertently rewarded for pulling (like when they see someone they like and pull toward them and then get a greeting from the person) or perhaps the dog is very interested in the environment and pulls to investigate odors and other things he is interested in. Not only is this often uncomfortable for the person at the other end … Continue reading →
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It is November and with it comes the time of year when many of us are busy with the hustle, bustle, and preparations for the upcoming holidays. November is also Epilepsy Awareness Month, a time to support those living with epilepsy—humans and canines. So while you are making lists and checking them twice, I encourage you to do a purple awareness ribbon in support, and if you share your life with a dog who has Canine Epilepsy, to use this time to take inventory of your dog’s Epi First Aid Kit. First, and foremost, if your dog has a seizure...
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Over the last few years, I have been really privileged to work with a number of different dog patients, especially older dogs, all with different physical challenges. I really enjoy watching the transformation in my patients, seeing a dog with joint pain, being stiff and struggling to move; to then relaxing into...
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Last year, I rescued a German Shepherd named Neko from a shelter in Southern California. Aside from being a certified dog trainer, I am also the director of the German Shepherd rescue Sylvester’s Haven. Neko had been diagnosed with Degenerative Myelopathy (DM) by the shelter vet. We saved Neko under the assumption that he would probably only have seven months to live given his condition and we had enough donations lined up to give him a good end of life. As I took a personal interest in this amazing dog, I researched nutritional protocols to slow the progression of his … Continue reading →
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Why do we buy toys for our dogs? Is it really for them or do the companies really market to the pet parents to sell ‘cute’ toys? Maybe a little of both? A lot of toys in the stores sell dog toys that aren’t cheap but most don’t last very long once you get it home. Take time to shop around so that you can find toys...
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It’s stating the obvious to say that your pet’s health is very important. Just like their human companions, this includes mental health and stimulation – this last is really important in helping alleviate common problems for dogs such as boredom, loneliness, separation anxiety and lack of mental stimulation.
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