Encourage your dog to adopt good habits

06.09 in adopt, Dog, encourage, good, habits, to, your

Dogs are not as intelligent as humans, therefore they should not be treated as such. The owner will be greatly disappointed with how training goes. Dogs are smart animals, though, and with a little patience and understanding they can be well trained.

If there are certain things that set your dog off causing bad behavior, then keep his mind focused on other things as you pass by what provokes this bad behavior. For instance, do something distracting to entertain and stimulate your dog when you are walking him and you approach another dog that your pet does not deal with well. By doing this, he will start to see that good things can happen even when he sees that stimuli.



 It is important to leash-train your dog. This will help keep your dog and you safe when going for walks.

 Stay with the training, so that he doesnt forget the lessons that he learned. Keep him in practice. A lot of times owners thing training is a one time event. You can encourage your dog to adopt good habits. That is why it is vital to ensure your dog maintains a strict rule system.

 To ensure your training sticks, everyone in your household needs to treat your dog the same way you do and use the same training methods. Consistent methods is your best bet to get your dog to remember something. If teaching methods between people differs, it is easy for your dog to get confused.

 Keep your dog outside while you are away from home to prevent it from chewing on your items. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 When your dog reaches six months, make sure that your dog is spayed or neutered. Obedience training should be put off until this is done. Any dog not "fixed" will be very excitable and easily distracted in obedience sessions. This will make your dog easier to train.

 Training a new puppy can be much easier if everyone in the the family participates in the training. While they may have a single person working with them regularly, getting everyone involved can enforce that they must always follow the rules and it will make it more consistent.

 Dont let your dog make the decisions as to when to pay attention. If you dont feel like making time or having enough energy to give the dog a command, dont do it.

 When training a dog, watch that you do not overdo giving the dog treats. Too many treats can really plump a dog up. It is easy to forget about treats when you consider how much you are feeding your dog. This can happen especially when you are training him.

 Train your dog in little steps if what you want him to do is a bit more complicated. Take fetching the morning paper, for example. The first step is to teach your dog to hold the newspaper. Next, he must learn to follow a command to approach the object by name. You need to teach him then how to pick the object up. Finally, show him that you want the object brought to you. As you break the behavior down into simple steps, your dog will soon grow to master the entire task you want him to complete.

 Not everyone has what it takes to train their dog, sometimes a professional is needed. You may hit a snag in your training and a professional can help get you back on track. Professional trainers can instruct you on how to improve your training methods, and get both you and your pet back on track.

 Every dog is unique and is motivated to learn by different things. What your dog likes, doesnt like, and what types of training work for him are all things that you are learning during this process. Regardless of the reason that you have decided to train your dog, provide him with various training exercises and copious amounts of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.

 Obedience classes can help you with any training issues you face. These classes can help deal with various issues such as stopping disruptive barking, not sitting when told, and not listening to you.

 Pay strict attention to your body language and tone of voice anytime you are training a pet. Dogs can be very perceptive and can pick up cues from their owners about how the owner is feeling. A firm but stern tone should be enough to reinforce discipline.

 There are a few tricks you can try when attempting to crate train a puppy or dog. If the dog doesnt want to get in the crate try putting a chew toy in it and close the gate when theyre not there. This will make the puppy want to be let inside the crate to get the bone. Open the door, and praise them when they go inside.

 If you want to get rid of inappropriate chewing behaviors, you need to set up the dogs environment so that he will have fewer temptations. Additionally, make sure there is nothing that can pose as a threat to your chewing canine. Any objects which your dog could choke on or become entangled in should be kept out of reach.

 When you begin training your puppy, create a bond with him by first teaching him his name. Simply start by calling his name as often as possible. Once he learns his name, you can encourage him to come to you when called. Your dog should learn these items before any others as theyre the most important. Spend plenty of quality time with them, so that they know that they can trust you. In this way, he will be more receptive to advanced training later.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on something that he shouldnt be, stop him as soon as you catch him. Redirecting your puppy towards a chew toy teaches him what is appropriate to chew on. This can prevent further damage to your possessions.

 You can prevent your dog from destroying your home by keeping it outdoors when you are away from the house. When this isnt possible, you want to provide things that both appeal to your dog and that are okay for the dog to chew on. Establishing acceptable chews toys is also about keeping those things you do not want your dog to chew up behind closed doors or well out out of reach.

 After learning some helpful hints on how to get through to your dog and train it to behave to your expectations you simply need to follow what you have learned. After changing your dogs behavior to fit with the tips suggested you can properly train your dog..

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Good dog training skills

00.19 in Dog, good, skills, training

When you decide its time to train your dog, its very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.

If any sudden behavioral issue occurs, take the dog to the vet to make sure that there is not a health issue involved. Sometimes pain and other health conditions can cause some animals to act strangely or lash out. Animals cant tell us when something is wrong, so they depend on us to interpret their behaviors.



 Giving your dog mental stimulation is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. Bored dogs will often turn to chewing furniture, shoes or even drywall, to amuse themselves if they are not given proper stimulation.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Use your dogs name several times a day. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The instructors at these schools are trained to deal with a variety of different dogs, even the impossible cases. They can teach a dog to follow commands, heel on a leash and to stop any unnecessary barking.

 Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.

 Most cases associated to dog bites result from fear. This occurs whenever dogs feel trapped, threatened, and frightened. Dogs cannot be trained through force. This makes your dog more likely to bite. Your dog will be ready and willing to regard you as the dominant one.

 Dogs tend to concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of everything else unless that concentration is interrupted. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.

 Once you decide to train your dog, it is very important that you continue with the training no matter what. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. You always need to keep training your dog, just like you need to continue feeding it and providing it shelter.

 Avoid tug-of-war games when training a puppy. These games often encourage a puppy to start biting. Dont let this behavior take root by avoiding these games until the dog is older.

 If your dog chews things when you leave him in the house alone, consider building a doghouse and leaving him outside when you go out. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. In addition, keep the household objects that could be dangerous away from your pet. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

 Training should be done when the dog is young. This is not concrete, but it is known that puppies respond easier to training. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Stay consistent when training your dog. Write down the commands that you use and then make sure each person who needs to know them does. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Teach everyone in your family to use the same commands to train your dog. Avoid confusion when it comes to disciplining your dog; keep command words consistent throughout the household. Using consistent commands all the time from every person who trains the dog will make training much less confusing for the dog.

 Keeping your dog outdoors when you are not home is a good way to prevent chewing. If you cannot put your dog outside make sure you do not leave anything out that your dog can ruin.

 As with most things, and this goes with dog training as well, dont ever give up. Dogs need consistent reinforcement in what you have taught them so they remember the good behaviors and dont revert back to their old, disobedient ways they had before training. Training never ends. It is an important part of taking care of your dog.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Since you now have what you need, you can use this information to properly train your dog. If youve struggled to determine the right place to start your training efforts, you now have a clear answer..

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Canine Good Citizen

02.38 in canine, citizen, Dog, good

Honestly, when I was looking there really wasnt much good information out there for this program. I also havent had much time to look. So if any of you havent met my two dogs their names are Kita and Zoe. Yeah these two goof balls. Zoe, the great dane, is planning on passing her CGC test. I want to take her with me into TDI. She is an amazing dog. Kita on the other hand is a eight year old senior citizen that loves to play pranks on residents. Her partner in crime, Shadow, passed away a few months ago. There are certain guidelines that Zoe must pass to reach her CGC goal. But with clicker and treat in hand we will work our way towards that goal.

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How To Get A Good Well Trained Dog

09.57 in a, Dog, get, good, how, to, trained, well

There are many different things a dog can be trained to do. While certain dogs are trained for hunting or protection, others are just trained for their owners convenience. Dogs love to make their owners happy. This is one of reasons they are known as mans best friend. This article will help you with effective ways to train your dog whatever the reason.

Give challenges to your dog on a regular basis. Test what he knows by giving commands, even if you are sure that he has the skill mastered.



 When you know that you need to be gone for a few hours, take your dog for a long walk before you depart. If you tire them out, they will be better able to handle feelings of anxiety when they are alone and separated from you.

 The whole family should be involved with your dogs training. Having everyone participate in your dogs training will make sure he obeys the house rules.

 Dont play tug of war with your puppy. These, along with chasing and wresting, can encourage them to bite your hands. You will want to put these games off until the dog is older and properly trained not to nip and bite.

 Dont use doggy treats as your sole positive reinforcement mechanism. Giving treats to dogs in order to teach them new behavior is quite effective. Having said that, carrying treats on you 24/7 is not very likely. Try patting your dog on the back and giving him an "enthusiastic, that a boy."

 You do not want to use wee-wee pads when potty training your dog. The pads eventually leak; leaked waste marks certain areas in the house as "potty areas". Wee-wee pads can also train your dog to think that other items that are the same shape are a potty area as well. The best way to housebreak a dog is not to allow them to use the bathroom in the house; there is really no alternative.

 While you can train different types of dogs with various personalities, it could be near impossible for you to train two dogs. Dogs have the tendency to distract each other. If you find this happening it is likely best to separate them.

 Make sure that the only items your dog can reach are chew toys that are specifically made for dogs. You need to replace that with a designated chew toy. Chew toys are essential for puppies who are experiencing pain from teething. A great alternative is a frozen wash cloth.

 While training your puppy or dog to use a crate, introduce him to new concepts slowly and gradually, so he is able to adjust to the changes without feeling stressed. As soon as they start to feel comfortable in the crate when the door is open, try closing the gate and have them eat inside. Start off with small periods, for example 10 seconds or so, and gradually increase crate time. If your puppy gets upset, then you may need to slow down and have more patience with them.

 You should use positive motivation when you are training your dog. Rewarding your dog with praise is an important part of reinforcing desired behaviors. Using punishment and negative training techniques will only make the dog afraid of you and less likely to want to please its master.

 Effective dog training requires instilling good behaviors from day one. It is far simpler to teach a dog to do something the right way than to break bad habits. For example, if you are adamant about your dog not being a beggar, then never make any exceptions to handing him food from your table.

 Dogs generally focus on one thing while ignoring everything around them, unless something interrupts that intense focus. If you keep up with his training, your dog will look to you more often for direction rather than looking to the environment.

 Creating good behavior in your dog can be achieved by consistent treatment from all the people who interact with him on a daily basis. Your dog needs consistent lessons everyday. Make sure that everyone who trains your dog does it in the same manner as you in order to avoid confusion.

 During your training program, keep your dog interested by using many different types of treats. You can increase your dogs incentive to learn the desired behaviors by offering treats that are extra-special. This helps your pet to understand that this is no ordinary reward.

 Prepare your dog early on for veterinary examinations. Touch your dog gently down the sides of his body and tell him he is being good when he does not react. Prepare your dog to accept someone handling his paws or looking at his teeth. Your friends can help out, too.

 Limit the duration of training sessions. It is possible that your dog will lose interest if it is made to do the same thing over and over. Do not spend more than 10 minutes on each session.

 Do not let your dog decide when to listen and when not to listen. If the patience to follow through with any command you give is not there, simply choose to not give it instead.

 Try not to use wee-wee pads as a tool in potty training your day. The problem with the wee-wee pads is that they leak and leave enzymes from urine and feces behind. The pads may also confuse the dog because of their shape. It could cause the dog to think that a bathroom mat or welcome mat is a place to go potty. The best option is to toilet train your dog outdoors.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 As you have read, pet owners choose to train their dogs for many different reasons. The natural willingness of dogs in general makes most easy to train. It is hoped that you have found some helpful tips in this article that will aid your efforts to train your pooch..

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The best way to teach a dog good behavior

09.09 in a, behavior, best, dog, good, teach, the, to, way

Dog training can be very intimidating to someone that has never done it before. There is a lot of information out there and sorting through it all can seem difficult. These are just some tips to help you start out with dog training the right way.

The best way to teach a dog good behavior is to never let poor behavior take hold. Dogs find it much harder to break existing bad habits than to learn new, positive ones. For instance, a dog that is never fed table scraps is less likely to beg at the table.



 When training your dog, do not include any punishments. Taking preventative measures to avoid the occurrence of a bad behavior to begin with is always best, however, if your dog does get out of line, demonstrate how it should have been done rather than scolding him. Training your dog is a great way to develop a positive relationship with him.

 Dont give up on training your dog, no matter what. Through constant and positive reinforcement, you will be able to train your dog to retain the behaviors you teach them. Taking care of your dog must include instituting a training plan, as well as meeting his food and shelter needs.

 Everyone in the family should use the exact same commands when training your dog. If you mix up commands, like one family member saying "up" when another says "jump," the dog will have a more difficult time figuring out what you want. As long as you use consistency, then your dog has a great chance of learning all of the tricks and behaviors that you wish.

 If you catch your puppy chewing on things, stop him. By doing this, you are teaching him what is okay to chew on.

 If your dog suffers from separation anxiety when youre away, encourage him to bond with other members of the household. This will help it be less focused on the fact that you are not home.

 Get your dog used to the things they will encounter when going for a vet visit. Practice gently moving your hands all over your dogs body and reward him for staying calm. You also need to get him ready to have his paws held and looked at, as well as his teeth examined. Ask your friends to help out, as well.

 Dont be ashamed to ask for help if your training program doesnt change your dogs behavior. Particularly if you are struggling to achieve the results you desire, professional help may be just what you need. Professional dog trainers know the ins and outs of this better than you. This may be what to takes to get your dog started on the right foot.

 A trick you could teach your dog is to hold something in his mouth, such as a toy. Get your dogs attention with a clicker and reward him with a snack when he tastes or mouths the toy. When this has happened several times, hold off until the dog grabs the toy with his or her mouth. As this happens, press the clicker and then offer the reward. Also, rewards should only be given if the toy remains in the dogs mouth.

 Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated just like a human does. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. If you neglect your dog, your dog wont neglect to chew up your valuable possessions.

 Have fun with your dog each day when training. A sense of play brings you and your dog together. This bond makes the dog more responsive to your commands and training him easier. Having fun with your dog during training is one thing, but playing and having fun with your dog outside of training is also necessary.

 Keeping your dog active is an important part of successful dog training and is also good for their health. Dogs are not made to sit around. The happiest, healthiest dogs run and work. Run with your dog, take it to the park or teach it to play Frisbee. Do not allow your dog to become bored and keep it entertained by keeping it active.

 Any complicated or multistage task you would like to teach your dog should be broken down into steps. A great example of a teachable command is having your dog get the paper in the mornings. You will need to teach him or her how to hold something first. Next, he must learn the name of the object. After that, you should teach him how to take the object in his mouth. Then, he should give it to you. Breaking a task into small steps will make the information your dog has to process much more digestible and consequently, more easily accomplished.

 Keep your dog well exercised and active. Dogs can get bored easily. A bored dog will try and find something interesting to do, and training is not usually interesting. When your dog is exercised and is happy, training will be easier. Walk or run your dog frequently.

 You will find dogs are simply dogs. Allow for activities that let him be himself and have fun. Dogs need to eat well, a spacious run, and lots of toys and interesting things to occupy their time.

 In the majority of instances, dog bites are caused by a biting phobia. The occurrence is frequently due to a dogs anxiety, claustrophobia, or sense that danger is imminent. Train your dog with praise and discipline, not physical force. This could have the unfortunate effect of causing your dog to bite you. If your dog trusts you, he will want to make you happy and look towards you as a leader.

 Do not let your dog decide when to listen and when not to listen. If the patience to follow through with any command you give is not there, simply choose to not give it instead.

 Dogs that have trouble with separation anxiety need to develop stronger relationships with others in your household. Allowing the dog to establish relationships with new people will lessen its dependence on the owner.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 It is hoped that you have found some guidance from these suggestions. Remember these tips as a guide to helping you train your dog, so both you and your dog will be very happy..

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Preparing yourself with some good advice

09.19 in advice, Dog, good, preparing, some, with, yourself

When you decide its time to train your dog, its very common to be a bit lost. Good dog-training skills come naturally to very few people. In order to train your pet properly, preparing yourself with some good advice is an excellent idea. This article contains good guidelines for several different aspects of dog training.

If any sudden behavioral issue occurs, take the dog to the vet to make sure that there is not a health issue involved. Sometimes pain and other health conditions can cause some animals to act strangely or lash out. Animals cant tell us when something is wrong, so they depend on us to interpret their behaviors.



 Giving your dog mental stimulation is an important part of keeping your pet happy and healthy. Visit your local pet shop for new and entertaining toys for your dog on a regular basis. Bored dogs will often turn to chewing furniture, shoes or even drywall, to amuse themselves if they are not given proper stimulation.

 Use your dogs name whenever you are offering it a treat. This will direct his attention to you immediately every time, and especially right before you issue a command. Use your dogs name several times a day. If you need to punish your dog, go to your dog. Dont call him or her to you and then punish.

 To learn how to effectively train your dog, you may want to take an obedience class. The instructors at these schools are trained to deal with a variety of different dogs, even the impossible cases. They can teach a dog to follow commands, heel on a leash and to stop any unnecessary barking.

 Anxiety in dogs often leads to destructive behavior like chewing or clawing. Placing the dog in a safe environment such as a dog crate and providing a chew toy keeps the dog safe and occupied until your return.

 Most cases associated to dog bites result from fear. This occurs whenever dogs feel trapped, threatened, and frightened. Dogs cannot be trained through force. This makes your dog more likely to bite. Your dog will be ready and willing to regard you as the dominant one.

 Dogs tend to concentrate on one thing to the exclusion of everything else unless that concentration is interrupted. With enough training, you will have your dog focusing solely on your signals.

 Once you decide to train your dog, it is very important that you continue with the training no matter what. Without reinforcement, your dog will revert to his old behaviors. You always need to keep training your dog, just like you need to continue feeding it and providing it shelter.

 Avoid tug-of-war games when training a puppy. These games often encourage a puppy to start biting. Dont let this behavior take root by avoiding these games until the dog is older.

 If your dog chews things when you leave him in the house alone, consider building a doghouse and leaving him outside when you go out. When this is not possible due to weather or living in an urban area, close your doors to all of your rooms. This keeps your dog out of your things. Be sure to leave chew toys out for them.

 Always give your dog the tools for success. If you are training it to stop chewing things it shouldnt be chewing on, give it things that it can chew on. In addition, keep the household objects that could be dangerous away from your pet. Items like hairbrushes can cause a dog to choke or could block their airway.

 Training should be done when the dog is young. This is not concrete, but it is known that puppies respond easier to training. If you start training your dog when he is young, he will be almost as well-behaved as a child.

 Remember how many treats you reward your dog with during the course of the day to avoid fattening him up. A lot of people forget to account for treats given during training when considering a dogs diet plan.

 Stay consistent when training your dog. Write down the commands that you use and then make sure each person who needs to know them does. Behavior should be rewarded or not depending on the affect that is being sought. When the people around the dog use different commands and responses, he may become confused and training could suffer.

 Teach everyone in your family to use the same commands to train your dog. Avoid confusion when it comes to disciplining your dog; keep command words consistent throughout the household. Using consistent commands all the time from every person who trains the dog will make training much less confusing for the dog.

 Using a clicker can help them behave better. Using a clicker is simple. Use it to make a good association between the noise and when something good occurs. Try clicking and treating immediately, and doing this several times over a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 To help you train your dog you should know what kinds of foods your dog likes to eat. Since these will be the rewards for good behavior when you are training the dog, it should be something that really motivates him. Make note of your dogs reaction when the reward is offered.

 Behavior problems that suddenly occur with no reason may indicate a medical problem that needs to be evaluated by a veterinarian. Your dog might be acting out because he is suffering. This behavior may be his way of telling you that there is something wrong with him.

 A clicker works well when training most dogs. Using a clicker is as simple as showing your dog that good things happen when the clicking noise is heard. Try using this technique right away, doing it frequently over a span of a few days. Your dog will soon know that the clicking noise means that they are doing a good job.

 Since you now have what you need, you can use this information to properly train your dog. If youve struggled to determine the right place to start your training efforts, you now have a clear answer..

Read more

Water Balloons Squirt Bottles NEVER a good option for dog training!

18.38 in a, balloons, bottles, Dog, for, good, never, option, squirt, training, water

My new round of Canine College just started this past week over at Ventura College Community Education. As much as I hate to brag, it is truly a great group!!! Wait wait wait, let me clarify. So have all the other groups. I just get SO excited each time a new group starts at VC or at my inquisitive canine studio. Its like its the first time, each and every time. I guess Im just like a dog myself in this respect - isnt that the way our pet dogs act whenever we come home after being gone for a long time? 

Anyway, one reason I was just SO thrilled was because of the human students paying attention to what I was saying - I could tell learning was taking place because their behavior changed! HA! And so did their dogs behavior! Learning going on all around - just lovely!

At first people were telling their dogs multiple times to be quiet - but the dogs continued to bark, and the humans got frustrated. Then I went through what the class was about, what I wanted from them - my "What This Class Is" list, which included:

• Having students focus on what all they wanted from their dogs!
• Rewarding behaviors they like using food, petting, praise, play - anything to acknowledge what their dog did was what they wanted. 
• Realistic expectations! 
• What their dogs knew at this time versus what theyll know by the end of the class. 
• And the ever important "Barking Protocol" that I have as part of all of my dog training classes and workshops... not the dog socials though, because that is more like a playground...

Once everyone was "rewarding quiet", and the dogs were minding their manners, the humans started to engage and ask questions!!! I LOVE questions! I mean, that is one reason I love writing my Noozhawk advice column, right? Not because I want to sit at a computer all day, or hear myself "speak" - I want to help empower dog owners to create better relationships with their dogs!

Okay, so one of these great questions was about a certain training technique that this person had heard about, and was wondering what my thoughts were about it. Ive heard about it too. As a matter of fact it was one of the old fashioned training techniques I had learned as a new dog owner. It never made sense to me then, and it certainly doesnt make sense now. Ive gone as far as to have it in my policies that it is not allowed - we dont use this coercive training technique at the inquisitive canine. What am I talking about you ask? Squirt bottles!

This great student was brave enough to ask: "Joan, what are your feelings about using squirt bottles to train dogs?" She hadnt done it herself, but she had heard about it from another trainer - along with a few other aversive methods. 

After establishing how the squirt bottle was intended to be used, this is what I said.

• First I encouraged her to answer her own question: "How would the dog learn what you wanted him to do?"
• If I were teaching you how to knit, and every time you did something "wrong" I was to squirt you with water, would you learn what to do? Or would you just end up being afraid of knitting and afraid of me? 
• Would you ever be able to figure out what behavior I wanted? Or would you just learn to avoid doing anything, for fear of "doing something wrong" or being squirt in the face? 

She knew in her heart it was the wrong thing to do - she just wanted to reassure herself. Plus she helped clear matters up for others as well - this is a very popular technique still used today, so Im sure other students were wondering the same thing. 

Another disturbing technique was just mentioned on one of my "group" lists. They were talking about how a franchise group of dog training "professionals" is now recommending throwing water balloons at dogs who are "misbehaving"! Wow, there are just so many things wrong with that. Talk about aversive! This is not fun and games for a dog - they cant throw one back, right? And isnt the humans own underlying motivation out of anger and frustration? Talk about poor coping skills! 

Again, I ask, shouldnt we just stick with teaching dogs what we want in a way they understand and enjoy? And then acknowledge them in a happy, healthy, fun way when they do? Lets leave the water balloon fights to us humans on a hot summer day...shall we? 

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