Reasons Why This Ventura Dog Trainer Loves Her Private Training Clients

08.44 in clients, Dog, her, loves, private, reasons, this, trainer, training, ventura, why

I just had one of those awesome private dog training clients today! The kind that just makes me love my profession even more than I already do. The reason I love going to "work" (Really? This is "work"?), even on a Saturday afternoon. 

This very nice couple recently adopted an adult dog from a California Animal Shelter. Just like my own Poncho the Dog, this dog came with a few "issues" - but hey, come on, we ALL come with "issues" right? We all bring some sort of baggage into each and every one of our relationships. Anyway, this dog, who was very sweet, did have a few things these nice dog folks wanted to help "fix". How great is that? Not only do they adopt an adult dog, but they take one with "special needs", and then want to try and help this sweet pooch work through them. Talk about selfless. 

The other nice thing? The gentleman was concerned when he came to todays session. He had admitted that he was thinking that I, this certified pet dog trainer, was going to give him the same information that he had kept hearing elsewhere. Either by other trainers, or books, or other people. And that the training steps were going to be complicated, or not make much sense. 

Well, it seems he was pleasantly surprised! He told me that not only did the info I shared make sense to him but that the training steps were simple, and easy for him to use in his already busy daily life. He also confirmed what I was saying made perfect sense! Now theyre so excited about wanting to work with their dog, that theyre motivated enough so they can come to some of my upcoming dog training classes and workshops. 

Wow! How is that for positively reinforcing?! (I mean for me!) Quite a rewarding afternoon for yours truly. Cant wait to see them out in public practicing those newly acquired skills! 

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Reasons to train your dog

19.21 in Dog, reasons, to, train, your

There is a multitude of reasons to train your dog. Dogs can be trained to hunt or to protect, and they can also be trained to do tricks for enjoyment. No doubt, dogs are known for their desire to please. That desire makes them a desirable pet. Below you will find several hints that will make training a more enjoyable experience for both you and your dog.

Accidents will sometimes happen when you are house training a puppy. Its important to immediately clean up the accident to make your training more effective. If you dont clean accidents up quickly, your pet may smell the mess and eliminate in the same spot again. Many products are sold that will neutralize these odors, so ask about them at your local pet store.



 Positive reinforcement is the most effective way to train your dog. Utilize rewards during training by giving your dog a treat to reinforce good behavior. Using punishment and negative training techniques will only make the dog afraid of you and less likely to want to please its master.

 A large breed dog needs a large dog bed to be comfortable. You can buy a large bed for your large-breed dog, or even get a crib mattress to use as your dogs bed. These are advantageous for the fact that you are able to regularly change the cover by using crib sheets. Another good thing is that crib mattresses have a moisture-proof cover.

 If you are thinking of hiring an animal specialist, be sure that you check their reputation and interview them thoroughly. Many animal behavior specialists have opposing opinions on how to correctly train dogs. Be sure to verify that the trainer you hire has similar ideas as yours, prior to implementing any of their tips.

 Getting your dog to hang onto his favorite toy with his mouth, for example, is easy. When he puts the toy around his mouth, use a training clicker and offer him a treat. After this is done a few times, watch and wait for your dog to put the toy inside his mouth. After has has done this, you should click and promptly give a reward. Next, only give him a reward if he holds the toy using his mouth.

 You need to let your dog be a dog, so give him some time to burn off that energy. Make sure your dog is properly fed, given a comfortable corner or bed to sleep and has a good place to run and be active.

 When you are going to be housebreaking a dog, you should consider crate training. Let the dog out on a regular schedule to make the crate training most effective. You will have fewer accidents if you take the time to crate train your dog.

 Dont give a puppy too much information and training at once, or youll wear him out. Puppies can only handle small amounts of training, so it is best to keep training to short but intense periods of time. If you try to teach too much, he wont like the training sessions and wont remember everything. This will only frustrate you over time.

 You never want to give your dog a punishment during training. Try to stop your dog from performing unwanted behaviors, but if he does, redirect him by demonstrating the correct behavior. Build a positive relationship with your dog during the training process.

 You should teach all family members the same commands that you use for training your dog. For example, one person correcting your dog from jumping by saying "get off" and another using "down boy" will confuse the dog and be counterproductive to your training efforts. If the family can be consistent about commands, training will go easier.

 Have a good time while training your dog. Playing with your dog helps build a stronger bond between dog and human, which encourages the dog to respond positively during training. Training can be pretty fun, but make sure you get plenty of non-training play in too.

 Keep your dogs wants and motivations in mind when training. You will also get educated about what your dog likes or doesnt like, and what will work and what wont. Regardless of your reason for training your dog, he will need an assortment of various training exercises and a lot of positive reinforcement. You will find it much easier to train your dog if he is happy.

 Try training your dog to grab a toy and keep it in his mouth. When you see him mouth a toy, give him a reward or treat and use a clicker. After a few tries you should allow the dog to pick up the toy on his own. When he does, just click and then give a reward. After this, you should only reward your dog after he holds the toy in his mouth.

 If you see your puppy chewing on something he should not be, you need to stop him immediately. By doing this, you are teaching him what is okay to chew on.

 Refrain from playing tug-of-war with your puppy while you in the process of training him. These kinds of games may encourage your dog to bite your hands. This behavior is very difficult to break, so you should avoid these games while they are still a puppy.

 Teach your pet the proper way to walk on a leash. When they walk properly, it makes both of you safer when you both go walking.

 When dog training, assign a particular word or action to each behavior. Dogs respond well to this because it helps them to understand what you are looking for from them when you speak a certain way. The best tip is to stay consistent. Consistent commands will help make your training successful.

 Use a phrase on your puppy to house train him. When you take your dog out, repeat this command. This will help him form an association between being taken outside and doing his business.

 If you have to keep your dogs outside, never tie them up too close to one another. If there chains become entangled with one another it could lead to an injury. This is especially dangerous if one dog is larger than the other, as it could use its superior size to maneuver the other dog into a dangerous position.

 When you get your puppy, be sure to create a bond to him by helping him learn his name. Repeat his name regularly, so he will learn to come to you when he hears it. These should be the primary words your dog needs to learn. Spending a lot of time interacting and playing with your puppy is the best way to establish a bond of love and trust. This will make him easier to train later.

 Most people are surprised how quickly their dog can learn from training and how fast they get results. So if you are looking to change any of your dogs wayward ways, try some of our tips for quick success.

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Here are a few reasons why one shouldn’t use Positive Punishment

01.48 in a, are, Dog, few, here, one, positive, punishment, reasons, shouldn’t, use, why

Positive Punishment is defined as adding anything that will decrease a behavior (this could mean anything from saying “no!”, “eh eh”, or using physical Positive Punishment- choking, shocking, kicking, smacking etc)

Here are a few reasons why one shouldn’t use Positive Punishment:


1- Without perfect timing, intensity and consistency, the intended positive punishment actually becomes abuse.
2- The dog learns to avoid the punisher in order to do undesirable behavior.
3- It can cause irreversible emotional damage to the dog or human, even irreversible changes in the brain.
4- Positive Punishment is scientifically proven to increase stress hormones, arousal and aggression.
5- Animals habituate to positive punishment – meaning the intensity will have to keep increasing.
6- You cannot make children, dogs or anything for that matter reinforcing for a dog using Positive Punishment, you can only suppress the behaviors punished.
7- Positive Punishment causes dogs to hide their warning signs before a bite.
8- Dogs trained with punishment feel trapped when with owners, as leaving a ‘stay’ or leaving the owners side to escape from a child can cause punishment. Dogs that feel they have no escape tend to bite rather than move away.
9- Intended punishment can actually INCREASE the behavior you wished to extinguish. As attention was provided.
10- - The punisher becomes less reinforcing to be around for the dog. If you use punishment with your dog, there is no way to compete with the reinforcement value of other things in the environment. Your dog will find other stimuli in the environment more reinforcing than you because the dog has a history of punishment with being near you.
11- Dogs who are punished do not offer behaviors as readily, so they are harder to teach new obedience behaviors, sports or tricks.
12- People who use positive punishment will punish more readily in the future as it is positively reinforcing to use. Using punishment causes ones own behavior patterns to change towards dogs and people. Some people will find that they cannot stop using positive punishment even if they want to, and will need to seek help to change their behavior.

-Emily Larlham

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Reasons to train dogs

03.55 in Dog, dogs, reasons, to, train

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.

 Providing your dog with food that it likes while training him or her will help give them incentive to do good. Offering your dog a truly special reward is an easy way to encourage them. Really pay attention to his reaction when he is given the treat and adjust your reward foods accordingly.

 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.

 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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