While the use of crates as training tools might seem unkind or even cruel by human standards, it is important to consider them from a dogs perspective. Dogs instinctively seek small, snug places-- or dens-- as secure havens against attack or intrusion. Comfortable and safe, dens are dogs' natural homes where they can rest and relax. Given dogs' social natures' it is helpful to place the crate in a location near people. As your dog's personal domain, the crate should never be shared with other dogs or pets.
When introduced properly, a crate will become the domesticated version of a dog's den. Seen as a resting place, not a prison, a crate represents a physically and psychologically soothing environment to your dog. Used wisely, crates can effectively help to thwart or prevent problem behavior. They can also contribute significantly to sucessful housetraining since dogs virtually never relieve themselves in the place they sleep. The main purpose behind using a crate is to ensure that your dog does not misbehave while unsupervised. If you use a crate as a training tool, you should confine your dog in it's crate whenever you cannot watch it carefully.
Putting your dog in its crate should never be used as a form of punishment. If it is, your dog will associate the crate with negative experiences and resist it. It's important to let your dog become accustomed to it's new crate before using it as a training tool. To help your dog become comfortable with its crate, permit free exploration. You can encourage this by leaving a piece of food, or a treat, and all its toys on the floor of the crate. Never physically force your dog inside its crate.
Once your dog is accustomed to the crate, leave it inside with the door closed for several minutes. Slowly increase the amount of time with each session. Puppies eventually can remain in their crates for up to 3-4 hours, while adult dogs can be left for up to 8 hours. Since a crate is a resting place, do not hesitate to keep your dog in it's crate overnight, especially if it is near your bed.
Be sure to let your dog out of its crate to relieve itself. While dogs generally do not relieve themselves in there sleeping quarters, it may become necessary to do so if no other option is available. If that should happen, do not punish your dog or leave it in the soiled crate.
Even if your dog has not used its crate as a bathroom, dust it regularly. After all, it is your dog's bedroom. A firm pad that covers the bottom of the crate may make it more comfortable. Unlike your own bedroom, however, your dog's crate does not require pillows or blankets. These and other amenities will probably be used by your dog for chewing rather than sleeping purposes.
Avoid leaving your dog in its crate too long. Healthy doses of exercise, play and your personal attention are just as important as learning good manners.
Despite positive results with crate training, do not test your dog by letting it out of the crate unsupervised for extended periods. Begin slowly so that you can avoid correcting your dog excessively, thereby maintaining a consistant approach to training.
Most dogs can be weaned off their crates after about a year of constant training. It is important that dogs never become unaccustomed to them, however, since crates are essential for safe air travel and other infrequent, but necessary, situations. Beyond their use in training, crates can help protect dogs from the potentially harmful consequences of their own behavior, such as receiving an electrical shock from chewing wires or being poisoned by ingesting chemical substances.
In addition to being well behaved, crate-trained dogs are usually easier to handle. This will make a dog owner's life easier when traveling, visiting the veterinarian or leaving the dog with other people.
Obedience training is a broad term encompassing any number of methods used for teaching a dog to understand and respond appopriately to commands. It should not be confused with behavior modification, a form of training aimed specifically at changing problem behavior. At the very least, every dog should recieve basic obedience training. No matter how much time an owner spends researching, soul searching and selecting a breed to fit his or her personality and lifestyle, proper training can make the difference between a delightful or disastrous experience. When approached with fun in mind, obedience training not only creates an effective channel of communication between you and your dog, but lays the foundation for a healthy and pleasurable relationship.
Since a dog's behavior is based on instinct as well as conditioning, it is best to begin obedience training at an early age. Although we may not realize it we begin conditioning our dogs' behavior through verbal and body language before training even starts. Contrary to the adage about teaching old dogs new tricks, it is never too late to begin obedience training. While it may require more time and patience, it is well worth the effort.
Although many people train their dogs themselves, new owners often prefer to enroll their dogs in obedience classes. If you choose this route, you should attend the classes yourself so that you and your dog both benefit from a trainer's expertise. By attending the class together, you and your dog also learn from each other, which can have a positive, lasting effect on your relationship. The interaction with other dogs and people is also a valuable contribution to your dog's social development.
Once a puppy has had all it's shots, it is ready to attend kindergarten puppy classes. Designed uniquely for puppies eight weeks to six months old, puppy kindergarten does not involve obedience techniques used with older dogs. Rather, it focuses on teaching puppies how to react to their surroundings and everything in it. It also teaches them not to be too rough by involving play with other puppies and people. An important first step in the develpoment of a well-adjusted dog, puppy kindergarten also lays the groundwork for future training.
Whether you decide to train your dog yourself or enroll it in class, it is important to first consider which method of training will best fit the needs of you and your dog. Training methods run the gamut from severe to soft. Some methods are based on a philosophy that dogs would sometimes rather resist commands than submit to human whims. Proponents of such methods, such as the renowned trainer William Koehler, advoctae confinement, surprise and long, arduous sessions to promote learning. Praise, play and rewards are not a major part of the process. At the other end of the spectrum are methods based on a belief that a dog's reason for being is to serve its owner. Such methods use only encouragement, never corrections, and operate on the assumption that a dog will mimic the good behavior of its owner. Some trainers believe in putting a dog in its rightful, subordinate place by using consistently dominant physical signs and hard, unyielding tones of voice. Others suggest instilling good manners in a dog by building its self-esteem. Primary tactics involve treating your dog as a loved and respected member of the family.
Before choosing a training method, get to know your dog. Your dog's temperament and ability, as well as your personal preferences, generally are effective guides to choosing a method that's right for you. Since no single method is likely to meet all your requirements, it is helpful to refer to other methods when needed. Most trainers and owners find an effective middle ground between severe and soft approaches.
Just as there are abundant training methods, numerous training tools also exist. Whether you choose food reinforcer's, training collars, harnesses or electronic devices to elicit the desired responses from your dog, it is essential that you first learn how to use the tools properly. By failing to do so, you could severely injure your dog physically or psychologically. Choke, pinch or electric shock collars can be particularly dangerous if you have not been properly trained to use them.
There are five basic commands involved in obedience training: heel, sit, down, stay, and come. Training sessions should include all five commands. For best results, repeat the training three times per day, for approximately 15 minutes each session. Above all, have fun!
When teaching your dog any of these commands, always use a gentle, yet firm, tone of voice. Keep your dog on the lead until it fully understands a command and how to respond appropriately. Never hit your dog in an attempt to elicit a response; it rarely works and usually hinder's rather than helps the situation. Above all, encourage your dog with spirited, high-pitched praise each time it correctly obeys a command.
Heel: Heeling should be taught initially while you and your dog are standing still. To teach your dog to stay close to you on the leash and to not pull in any direction, begin by holding the lead firmly in your left hand. You should then shorten it so that your dog positions its right shoulder next to your left leg. Praise your dog enthusiastically when it comes to the correct position.
Next, begin walking forward with your dog at your left leg and say "heel" as you start. As soon as your dog begins to pull ahead, pull back sharply on the lead and firmly say "heel." Again, praise your dog lavishly whenever it is in the correct spot. Repeat several times, lefting out the leash gradually as your dog leams to heel.
The next step is to practice heeling while turning. Begin with right turns, then progress to left turns and eventually do figure eights.
Sit: Once your dog has learned to heel, it should learn to sit. This can be accomplished by pulling up on the leash while simultaneously pressing the dog's rump gently but firmly into a sifting position. Be sure to say "sit" as you do this and praise your dog once it is sifting. You can also coax your dog's head up and its rump down by moving a piece of food from in front of its face to directly above its head.
Down: Once your dog has learned to sit, the "down" command follows naturally. Starting in the sit position with your dog's attention firmly focused on you, guide its nose down to the ground using your hands, food or a toy. Praise the dog as soon as it is fully down in the correct position.
Stay: Like "down," "stay" also follows from the sit position, though the command may be slightly more difficult to teach. With your dog sitting, hold the lead in a taut and vertical position. Firmly say "stay" and begin walking in a circle around your dog. Respond to any movement by pulling up firmly on the lead. Gradually slacken the lead and walk further away from your dog.
Eventually, give the command "stay" while extending your arm and the palm of your hand toward the dog, as if you were making a "stop" sign. Practice walking in a wider circle with a slackened lead. When your dog fully understands the command, let the lead go and walk away. Always bestow generous praise on your dog when you return, and then release it with a word such as okay.
Come: Having successfully learned to stay, your dog is now ready to learn to "come." This maneuver involves calling out to your dog by using its name coupled with the command "come." It helps to practice this when your dog is in the stay position so that you can first walk away then ask your dog to come to you. Kneeling down or bending over, welcome it towards you with your arms stretched out. Praise your dog only when it reaches you.
Dogs can also be taught a wide variety of other skills and tricks. Consulting with a professional trainer or guide book, and evaluating your expectations, is the best way to begin.
Three keys to success: Regardless of the method you choose to train your dog, there are three universal keys to success: consistency, patience and a positive attitude. No matter how intelligent your dog is, it will be unable to respond correctly to a command that has been assigned more than one meaning. If you say "down," for example, when telling your dog to lie down, do not use it when commanding your dog to get down off the couch or a person. If you are not the only person interacting with your dog while it is being trained, ensure that others are aware of your commands and how they should be used. It is also helpful to train your dog at the same time every day so that obedient behavior becomes a familiar part of your dog's routine.
While some dogs learn faster than others, obedience training takes time. It is unrealistic-- and unfair to your dog-- to expect instant success. Good results come gradually. Success stems from consistent and constant labor that could require up to two years' worth of dedicated effort. Not only is it essential to have patience, it is important not to lose your patience during the process. While quitting before your dog is fully trained might provide a short-term respite, it will undoubtedly yield longer-term problems.
Even when you are truly committed to the task, losing your patience with your dog can be detrimental to the success of the training and possibly to the health of your relationship. Whether you completely lose your cool or simply simmer with frustration, your dog will sense your loss of confidence and may challenge your authority. If your dog becomes anxious or frustrated during training, you should respond by acting even calmer.
Your attitude goes a long way toward determining how successful your dog's training will be. If you approach obedience training as a chore, it is bound to feel that way to both you and your dog. Conversely, if you think of it as a pleasurable experience, chances are your dog will too. It's up to you to set the tone; your dog will follow.
Page 3