Why Train?
He already knows how to sit… why do I have to take him to obedience class?
As part of our adoption contract, DVGRR requires that the adopted dog and new family attend an obedience class together. This isn’t simply because we want the dog to learn to sit, lie down, and stay. Obedience classes are about so much more than a person issuing a command and the dog obeying. Training a dog isn’t making him do what you want him to do. It’s important to the relationship, and successful relationships need nurturing. Communication and understanding are the keys to a positive and fun adoption. Living life with a dog means we have an obligation to listen – yes, listen – to the dog. To see and hear the constant messages they are offering us – albeit in non-verbal ways.
If you commit to training your dog, your appreciation of and admiration for the abilities of our canine friends will grow by leaps and bounds. DVGRR dogs are eager for attention and hungry to learn. Work with your dog for just a few minutes at a time and watch him devour all that you offer. They want to please us; they want positive reinforcement. With clear and consistent behavior on our part, they can learn almost anything. Discuss with your family what you want most from the dog – to sit quietly beside you, to play fetch, to shake, or give a high five. If everyone invests a small bit of time to teach the dog what you want, he will give it to you for years to come. It is much easier to show a dog how to be good than to get angry if he does something “bad” (bad as defined by human standards). Teach him what you want, reward his successes, and celebrate a life lived together.
Questions about positive reinforcement training can be sent to Dennis via email at dennis@dvgrr.org
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Winter Exercise
All of us who are blessed to share our home with a Golden Retriever fully know the importance of exercise. The winter months bring special challenges for keeping your dog(s) exercised. A tired dog is a good dog, and we all want good dogs. So how do we make that happen when sidewalks are full of snow and ice? When the tip of your nose is freezing and you don’t want to spend hours outside throwing a ball for your dog? When swimming isn’t an option?
Exercise can be mental or physical. Puzzle games are a good way to practice down stays, sit stays, or the “wait” or “leave it” commands. It’s fun to work together with your dog with these games. Hide and seek is another way to make practicing obedience commands fun. Hide and seek can be done with toys or treats stashed around the house or with dogs and kids. The latter has the bonus of entertaining both kids and dogs!
Filled toys, such as a Kong®, or antlers are great ways to use up some of your dog’s energy. Chewing is a real need for your four-legged friend, and gnawing on an appropriate item keeps your dog focused on doing the right thing and burns some energy at the same time.
Fetch can be played inside – just choose the room carefully, in case of wild bounces.
Tricks are a great way to keep your dog stimulated mentally. Fun and silly tricks are good for the trainer and the dog. There are many books available showing just how to break down the steps of teaching roll over, high five, clean up your toys, etc.
Winter might mean more time indoors, but that’s just a new place to discover more fun with your dog.
Questions about positive reinforcement training can be sent to Dennis via email at dennis@dvgrr.org
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To Bribe or to Reward? That is the Question…
The dictionary defines a bribe as “something given to someone in order to influence their behavior.” A reward is defined as “a gift given in recognition of one’s effort.” A bribe is given BEFORE the desired behavior is offered; a reward is given AFTER the desired behavior is offered by a dog.
Some trainers use luring to initially help the dog understand the request being made of him. A treat is used to lure the dog into position. However, doing so must be phased out eventually, or the dog learns to only offer the behavior IF a treat is present. This is when we move into giving rewards. Positive reinforcement dog training is based on the premise that a dog receives a reward for choosing to do what the person is asking of him. It may require a bit of patience to make the transition from luring to rewarding, as the dog needs to figure out the change in how things are now being done. Stand still, breathe and wait for your dog to think about it. And yes, think about it he will. You may see him offer up his entire repertoire of tricks, in an attempt to do the “right” thing for you. As soon as he does whatever you are asking, immediately offer him a reward. “Yes!” or a high value treat or a click – whatever you do, do it as soon as the desired behavior is offered. Reward given and lesson learned!
Questions about positive reinforcement training can be sent to Dennis via email at dennis@dvgrr.org
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I’M SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU!
Oh, sorry, did I knock you down?
There are many reasons to love a Golden Retriever – friendly nature, silliness, energy, or loving kindness, to name just a few. These are dogs who LOVE their people. Most Goldens make friends with everyone they meet and do not hesitate to make their feelings known. That might mean gently nudging your arm with a reminder to keep petting the fluffball sitting next to you or snuggling up against you on the couch. It might also mean 80 pounds of love comes jumping up and crashing into your body to say, loud and clear, “I LOVE YOU.”
Although we cherish their enthusiasm and outgoing nature, most of us do not want to have them jumping up on us nor on anyone else. At best, it’s annoying, and we end up with muddy pawprints on our clothes, necessitating a quick change on our way to work; at worst, someone is knocked over by an overexcited greeting. Those who are young or old can be injured or scared if a large, strong dog jumps up in greeting.
In order to teach a dog what to do, or what NOT to do, we must be consistent in how we impress upon them the rules of life. If you don’t want your dog jumping up on your chest when you are dressed in a suit and on your way to work, then you can’t allow him to jump up on you when you’re wearing your favorite old sweatshirt and jeans on the weekend. If you don’t want him jumping on your kids’ friends, then he can’t jump up on your kids. Rules need to be fair and consistent. (The exception to this would be if you wanted him to do so on command, then you would teach him to do it only when asked.)
The best way to teach a dog NOT to do something is to offer him an alternate behavior that is incompatible with the undesired behavior. For example, if you do not want him to jump up on you, teach him to sit for greetings. If he is sitting, he cannot be jumping. Magic! You just helped him learn to do something RIGHT, which means he cannot do something WRONG. A high energy dog can be taught to run and grab a favorite toy instead of jumping up on people at exciting moments.
While you are working on teaching him an alternate behavior, your dog may still try to jump up on you. Don’t push him away with your hands – to him that is you playing with him as he is playing with you. Don’t knee him in the stomach – that is an outdated and unkind training method. Simply turn your body away from him. Most dogs will stop jumping up when they can’t jump at you from the front. Keep your hands down by your sides and turn away from the jumping wild man. Body language is something that dogs understand quite well.
If he is jumping up on people who enter the house, you can try a few different strategies. Always remember: behavior that is rewarded will be repeated. Do not let him practice bad behavior. When the doorbell sounds, crate him or put him on a leash, asking for a sit. Ask your visitor to ignore the dog until he behaves politely and calmly. Some people ask their dog to “go to place” (to a kennel or dog bed) when people are coming into the house. This gives the dog something on which to focus, something “good” to do that will earn praise.
Goldens want to please us – with some consistent rules, we can help them succeed.
For further suggestions on dog behavior and training, contact Dennis via email at dennis@dvgrr.org
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Help me be successful, please.
I am a dog. That means many things. It may mean that I am silly, happy and relaxed. It may mean that I am nervous, skittish and scared. I may be old and lazy or young and wild. Either way, I want to be good. I want your praise and affection. I need your love. I need food, your gentle touch, and a safe place. I need mental and physical exercise. I need friends. I want to be good, but I am new in your home.
Show me what you want. Teach me your rules. Help me to do the right thing. Too many choices, too much space – that’s confusing. I don’t know that the sticks outside are acceptable chew toys, but the firewood in the house is not. I don’t know that peeing on trees in the yard is to be celebrated, but peeing on that tall houseplant in the living room is not so cool.
You tell me “good dog!” when I find the treat in the wooden puzzle toys you share with me, but yell if I use those same detective skills to open up a backpack and take out the granola bar hidden within. Help me to be good. Show me the rules.
If you can’t be with me or watching me, give me a safe and cozy place to rest, a place where I can only make good choices. I am a dog, I like having a den. I like security and a cozy nest. A crate is my place. It’s safe, and I can relax. I have boundaries and can doze off, dreaming of what fun we will have.
Help me succeed. Give me love, exercise, attention and then let me go nap. Then open the door, tell me I am a good dog and let’s go have some more fun. I want to be good, truly I do. Please help me do so.
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A Tired Dog is a Good Dog
Exercise. We all need more of it. Humans and canines. Our bodies are meant to move, to be in motion. If not used, we get stiff. Aches and pains increase. The number on the scale climbs higher and higher. It isn’t enough to walk to and from our cars, nor for our dog to go out in a yard to play. Unless he has a very active playmate, many dogs will go outside simply to relieve themselves, and then go sit by the door, wanting to be reunited with their family. Those who have a young dog know that a tired dog is a good dog. Plenty of fresh air and exercise is the best way to make sure that, once in the house again, you will have a calm and well behaved young dog. Instead of getting frustrated at him for chewing shoes, or racing around your home in an overexcited frenzy, why not just go for a long walk? Your return home will result in a “good dog” – and you didn’t have to do any training! Just good ol’ fashioned outdoor playtime. It’s good for all of us!
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The Power of Sit
One of the most frequently asked questions in a puppy or beginning obedience class is “How do I get my dog to stop jumping up on everyone?” Many people grew up being told to use aversives to stop this rude behavior. The tide has turned dramatically in the field of dog training, thankfully, and we now use positive reinforcement methods to train animals. The biggest thing to remember is that a dog cannot perform an undesirable behavior at the same time he is doing an alternate – and desirable – behavior. Therefore, by showing him a “good” thing to do when he meets someone new, you are giving him the chance to succeed.
If he learns to “sit” every time he is approached by a two-legged friend, then he cannot jump up on the person. By helping him to focus on a behavior that earns him a reward, you have broken the “bad” habit of jumping up on people. You haven’t let him jump and then punished him – you have showed him what TO do, instead of scolding him for doing something he should NOT do. He offers a sit, is praised, and that increases the chances he will offer a sit to the next person. Show your dog how to be good and his “bad” habits will disappear.
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Dog Park or No?
With dog parks popping up all over the country, many people are wondering if they should take their dog(s) to play with the other canines at the local dog park. However, not every dog is a “dog park dog,” and we all need to keep that in mind. Watch your dog’s body language as you drive up to the area. Be aware of what he is telling you as you walk through the gates and during your time in the yard. Is he relaxed and happy? Is there a give and take with the play sessions? Dogs should take turns being the chaser and the one leading the chase. When wrestling, you want to see a balance in who is on the top of the pile. Noise and rough play may be fine, or they may be indicative that things are spiraling out of control and everyone needs a break.
There are plenty of good books with explanatory photos available – take the time to educate yourself about your dog’s body language and feedback. If he is telling you that he enjoys the dog park, then go for it. If, however, he isn’t happy or relaxed with a pack of dogs in one big yard, then respect his feelings and go for a long walk instead. Some dogs do well with one other dog in a fenced-in backyard, but are overwhelmed by a large pack at a dog park. Listen to your dog, be his protector, and enjoy each day spent together.
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The Importance of Management as a Training Tool
Positive reinforcement is the key to not only teaching your dog desirable behaviors, but also to building a strong and trusting relationship between the two of you. There is another component to helping your dog make the “right” choices and that is to use management as a tool. Dogs are rewarded even if we aren’t intentionally rewarding them.
For example, the dog that jumps up on the kitchen counter when you are away at work and eats a loaf of bread that was sitting out on the counter has been rewarded successfully and will definitely jump on the counter in the future. If you were marinating a steak and that was his stolen item, you can be sure he will countersurf with even more dedication in the coming days. However, if you do not allow him access to the kitchen when he is alone – or if you keep your counters clear of all potential rewards (and to a Golden, that reward isn’t necessarily just food!) – then a dog that countersurfs will learn that his efforts get him nowhere, and it isn’t worth the effort to jump up and scout out the possibilities. Eventually, this behavior will disappear because it did not offer anything beneficial to the dog.
If your dog watches out the front window all day long and barks at passers-by, then he is reinforcing that undesirable behavior. All day, he devotes himself to practicing nuisance barking. If, however, you do not want him to learn to do this, you can manage the situation by controlling his access to the window and outside distractions. Gate off that area of the house, close the curtains, close a door, whatever it takes so that he cannot practice the barking behavior until he becomes a master at policing the neighborhood.
Creating a well-behaved dog is simple and fun to do. If you reward desirable behaviors, ignore undesirable actions and manage the situation so that you ensure your dog will be successful. Help him to be good and you will both be happier.
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Train Your Dog Month
January 2013 has arrived, and it is “Train Your Dog Month.” What a perfect way to start a new year – with fresh energy and some new manners for your dog.
Obedience skills are important, it is true, but so are the day-to-day manners. These can be practiced in very short sessions throughout the day – puppy push-ups (sit/down/sit/down) as you wait for your cup of coffee to fill up. “Sit” and “wait” each time you feed your dog. Or, even better than feeding in a dog dish twice a day, put those treats in your pocket and use them as rewards throughout the day.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to train your dog. While some people use treats, others swear by a clicker and others use verbal praise, they all agree on one thing – that positive reinforcement training creates a stronger bond between person and dog and best of all, shows the dog that it is fun to work together and learn. A dog that has learned skills by being praised for successes is a dog that is willing to try. This becomes a dog that sits to ask please, that offers up new behaviors as he is attempting to decipher your wishes.
A list of positive reinforcement trainers can be found at www.apdt.com. Books detailing various methods can be found at www.dogwise.com and training ideas and tips found on www.trainyourdogmonth.com/tips/
Keep it simple, keep it fun and celebrate successes. There is no limit to what you and your dog can do together.