Dog Training Tips: Things I’ve Learned About Agility Dog Training
I’ve owned many dogs, throughout my life, but have never known exactly how to train them properly. I based my training on punishment and just couldn’t figure out why that didn’t work that well. But, almost two years ago, I started training my Papillon for agility competition. She was extremely high-drive and I knew she’d really love it. So, I found a good agility training school and off we went. We’ve been competing, very successfully, for almost a year now and, looking back, I learned so many important things about dog training!
First of all, most trainers require that dogs have completed at least a basic obedience class before proceeding to agility training. This is critical to agility training and, in my opinion, every dog and handler could benefit from a basic obedience class. I learned that I have a food-motivated dog and that she will work her heart out for highly prized treats, not for punishment! There are skills you and your dog will learn, through an obedience class, such as recalls, sit/stays, down/stays, and walking nicely on a leash. Each of these skills is something you will need every time you compete, not to mention day-to-day life with your dog.
The pace of your training will always be set by your dog. Each dog learns at a different speed and, what comes easily for one dog, may not come easily for another. So, be very patient while training your dog any skill. Make it a game. Let your dog take as much time as it needs, without getting impatient or frustrated, to figure out what behavior you want from it.
All tasks must be broken down into small pieces, whether the task is a simple sit, the beginnings of obstacle training, or more complex tricks or agility sequences. If you break the task down to something small, then mark/reward and repeat, several times before making the task larger, you will have success without stressing the dog out. For example, when training an agility tunnel, you scrunch it up to its smallest form. Have someone place your dog at the entrance while you sit on the ground at the exit, with a treat, and call your dog. As soon as the dog comes through that little piece of a tunnel, you mark/reward. Slowly begin expanding the tunnel using the same technique. In just a few minutes, you’ll have your dog going through however long a tunnel you need.
For agility training, once the dog begins obstacle training, there is never a wrong answer. Dogs get confused, and may shut down, if they start being told they’re doing the wrong thing, so keep the training light and never scold for doing the incorrect thing. If the dog doesn’t do what you want it to, you simply do not mark/reward for that action. You just ask again and, the minute you get the correct response, mark/reward and make a huge deal of it. That will make your dog more anxious to give you that same answer again. As you start competing, you might want to use a particular word to indicate the incorrect response, such as “uh oh,” or “oops,” but not with a scolding tone. This will indicate that the dog will be asked to try again but everything is fine between the two of you.
Lastly, always keep the training fun for both you and your dog. Even when you start competing, or have been competing for a long time, this is critical. If you start getting caught up in the competition and title-winning, you might forget why you started agility to begin with: because it’s fun! When the game stops being fun, your dog won’t enjoy it anymore and neither will you. Agility is a wonderful sport and will forever secure the relationship between you and your dog. Run fast, run clean, and, above all, have fun!
Tags:
Agility Competition,
Agility Dog Training,
Agility Training,
Game Dog,
Heart,
Important Things,
Love,
Obedience Class,
Obstacle Training,
Pace,
Papillon,
Sequences,
Several Times,
Small Pieces,
Train,
Training Dog,
Training Dogs,
Training Your Dog
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Feb 26, 2010 | | Dogs
Crate Training Your American Pit Bull Terrier: Will It Help Your Dog?
Crate training is one of the most often misunderstood dog training techniques. Many questions often come up when discussing the topic of crate training such as: How can I use crate training to teach my dog to behave?, What are the pros and cons of crate training?, and Is crate training safe to use as part of my overall dog training program?
This article will definitely help you understand crate training and what it will do to you Pit Bull terrier. After youre done reading, Im confident that youll have a much better understanding of crate training.
I get many questions from new dog owners on the subject of crate training. Most people really have no idea what crate training is or what purpose it serves. Quite simply, a dog crate is an enclosed cage area that prevents your dog from getting into trouble.
You can crate train your Pit Bull both inside the house or outside. Youll want your dog to have plenty of room to stand up and lay down.
So what are the benefits of you crate training your Pit Bull? There are many few reasons why crate training your Pit is a good idea. One reason is that a crate will prevent your Pit from destroying the inside of your house when you are away. Eventually, youll be able to leave your dog loose when leaving the house and he wont be destructive while youre gone.
Another example of when crate training can be helpful is when youre traveling in your vehicle for a long period of time. Allowing your dog to rest in his crate during the trip will ease his fear if he has any issues with traveling.
Lastly, crate training is a vital component to properly house training a new puppy. Using a crate to assist in potty training is a very good idea and will help cut your pups learning curve down drastically.
Tags:
American Pit Bull,
American Pit Bull Terrier,
Bull Dog,
Bull Terrier,
Dog Crate Training,
Dog Owners,
Dog Training,
Fear,
Learning Curve,
New Puppy,
One Reason,
People,
Period Of Time,
Pit Bull Terrier,
Plenty Of Room,
Potty Training,
Pros And Cons,
Train,
Training Puppy,
Vital Component
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Jan 01, 2010 | | Dogs
The first major improvement in dog training since choke chains and spiked collars, click and treat has quickly establishing itself in becoming a big hit in the world of dog training. Currently, there are over 10,000 trainers who are using this training method everyday.
One advantage to using this form of training at home is its easy to learn for both the dog and his trainer!
Originally used to train marine mammals, click and treat breaks down the process into two separate steps, information and motivation. The click is the information, the treat is the motivation. While other trainers still work on these two steps, they try to teach them all at once, which can confuse the animal and slow down results.
Most trainers will verbally praise a dog for good behavior, while at the same time motivating the dog to repeat his actions. This can be a good method, however it takes longer for the dog to understand which behaviors and actions caused the praise from the trainer.
With the click and treat method, the processes are easily taught. In normal training, a person would say good boy when a welcomed action occurs and proceed with giving a treat. The clicker becomes a substitute for verbal praise and can actually catch the good boy behavior quicker than saying it, letting the dog know exactly which behavior he is being rewarded for.
Another way to look at click and treat training is viewing it as a secondary reinforcement, while food, water, physical affection and play (things the dog wants) become primary reinforcement. When you take a dog for a walk, the leash works as a secondary reinforcement. It is obvious to the dog that the leash is not taking him for a walk; the owner is, however, it triggers a reaction in the dog, telling him that the leash will let him know where he will go and where he will not. And if he reacts to the leash with good behavior, his reward will be a nice leisurely walk.
Click and treat works the same way. When a dog hears the clicker, he will know that he performed a good behavior and as long as he keeps hearing a click, there is a treat coming his way. So, the clicker works as a secondary reinforcement, teaching him boundaries and appropriate behavior.
A couple advantages of the click and treat method include;
1) Faster response than verbal praise. The clicker can identify the exact behavior at the time it happens.
2) It takes the place of treats. While motivating the dog to hear clicks, it will also teach him to work without the expectations of having treats given to him each time he does something good.
3) If the trainer is working at a distance from the dog, the clicker will still work, without having to be right next him.
Are you ready to try clicker training?
The first thing youll need to do is go to your favorite pet supply store and invest in a clicker. The clicker is nothing fancy and should just cost you under five dollars. While youre there grab some pocket treats, little bits of dried liver work well.
A good method to use when getting started with click and treat is to stand in front of the animal. Click the clicker and give a treat. Continue doing this for 20-30 minutes, or until the dog becomes startled by the sound of the click. This will familiarize him to the clicking sound, while teaching him that every time he hears it, he has done something good. After he gets the hang of it, begin by adding commands, such as sit and stay.
Click and treat has proven to be a simple, yet consistent training method with quick results. So for the trainers out there who are looking for a new and innovative way to motivate and praise their animals, get out there, buy a clicker and..click!
Tags:
Boy Behavior,
Chains,
Clicker,
Dog Behavior,
Dog Trainer,
Dog Training,
Good Behavior,
Good Boy,
Marine Mammals,
Motivation,
Physical Affection,
Primary Reinforcement,
Secondary Reinforcement,
Spiked Collars,
Train,
Training Dogs,
Two Steps,
Verbal Praise
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Dec 25, 2009 | | Dogs
Becoming the first major improvement in dog training since choke chains and spiked collars, click and treat has quickly revolutionized itself in becoming a big hit on the training circuit. Currently, there are over 10,000 trainers who are using this method regularly.
Used in the beginning to train marine mammals, click and treat breaks down the process into two separate steps, information and motivation. While other trainers still emphasize on these two steps, they try to teach them all at once, which can confuse the animal and prolong results.
Most trainers will verbally praise a dog for good behavior, while at the same time motivating the dog to repeat his actions. This can be a good method, however it takes longer for the dog to understand which behaviors and actions caused the praise from the trainer. With the click and treat method, the processes are easily taught. In normal training, a person would say good boy when a welcomed action occurs and proceed with giving a treat. The clicker becomes a substitute for verbal praise and can actually catch the good boy behavior quicker than saying it, letting the dog know exactly which behavior he is being rewarded for.
First things first, in order to try click and treat, the trainer must invest in a clicker, which can be found at most pet supply stores. The training itself is quick and rather easy for the dog and his trainer.
Another way to look at click and treat training is viewing it as a secondary reinforcement, while food, water, physical affection and play (things the dog wants) become primary reinforcement. When you take a dog for a walk, the leash works as a secondary reinforcement. It is obvious to the dog that the leash is not taking him for a walk; the owner is, however, it triggers a reaction in the dog, telling him that the leash will let him know where he will go and where he will not. And if he reacts to the leash with good behavior, his reward will be a nice leisurely walk. Click and treat works the same way. When a dog hears the clicker, he will know that he performed a good behavior and as long as he keeps hearing a click, there are rewards coming to him. So, the clicker works as a secondary reinforcement, teaching him boundaries and appropriate behavior.
A couple advantages of the click and treat method include, 1) faster response than verbal praise. The clicker can identify the exact behavior at the time it happens, 2) it takes the place of treats. While motivating the dog to hear clicks, it will also teach him to work without the expectations of having treats given to him each time he does something good, and 3) if the trainer is working at a distance from the dog, the clicker will still work, without having to be right next him.
A good method to use when getting started with click and treat is to stand in front of the animal. Click the clicker and give a treat. Continue doing this for 20-30 minutes, or until the dog becomes startled by the sound of the click. This will familiarize him to the clicking sound, while teaching him that every time he hears it, he has done something good. After he gets the hang of it, begin by adding commands, such as sit and stay.
Click and treat has proven to be a simple, yet consistent training method with quick results. So for the trainers out there who are looking for a new and innovative way to motivate and praise their animals, get out there, buy a clicker and..click!
Tags:
Boy Behavior,
Chains,
Clicker,
Dog Trainer,
Dog Training,
Dogs,
Good Behavior,
Good Boy,
Invest,
Marine Mammals,
Motivation,
Pet Stores,
Pet Supply Stores,
Physical Affection,
Primary Reinforcement,
Secondary Reinforcement,
Spiked Collars,
Train,
Two Steps,
Verbal Praise
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Dec 24, 2009 | | Dogs
Choosing The Right Dog Obedience Trainer For Your Pit Bull Terrier
Many pet owners enjoy the challenge of training their dogs. If the dog is the type that seems to enjoy being trained, it can be a very rewarding experience for both owner and pet. Pit Bulls have the reputation for being stubborn, and few will say its not true. To say that the stubborn streak makes the dog untrainable however is completely false.
Take a Pit Bull and owner who have a good trusting relationship with one another and youll see a dog who is not only willing to learn, but also learns quickly. If a person who has never trained a dog wants to have his Pit Bull trained, he has two choices. The owner can either train their Pit Bull themselves, or hire a dog trainer to do it for them.
If you have no practical experience training dogs, but still want to try it yourself, then you will need to study up on the various training methods used by top trainers. Heading off to the local library is one way to do this at no cost, as well as researching the subject on the internet. If you have a dog that you feel may be a problem to train, skip the do it yourself and go straight for the trainer.
It will do you well to remember that a person does not need a license to be a dog trainer. Anyone who wishes can set up shop when they want and start accepting clients. Its for this reason youll want to check out any individual who provides dog training before you leave your Pit Bull in their care.
Choosing the right trainer may seem like a daunting task, but it is necessary to have a trainer who has enough experience and knowledge so that the trainer doesnt create more problems than he fixes. Find out how many years the trainer has been in business of trainer other peoples dogs. Get at least three references that you can call to ask what type of experiences they have had with their trainer.
Certain dogs, such as Pit Bulls, may have an independent streak when it comes to training. Ask the trainer how they handle dogs which may be harder to train. This is important even if your dog does well with you, he may do otherwise with a stranger. If your dog exhibits stubborn behavior, youll want to know how the trainer will handle it. You certainly dont want your Pit Bull mistreated by a short tempered trainer.
Tags:
Bull Terrier,
Daunting Task,
Dog Obedience,
Dog Trainer,
Dog Training,
Experiences,
Independent Streak,
Local Library,
Obedience Trainer,
Pet Owners,
Pit Bull Terrier,
Pit Bulls,
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Reputation,
Rewarding Experience,
Stubborn Streak,
Train,
Training Dogs,
Trusting Relationship,
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Dec 23, 2009 | | Dogs
Breaking Your Pit Bull Terrier’s Jumping Habit: Dog Training Help
As you have probably already learned, Pit Bulls are highly energetic animals. They love to run and play, and get excited easily. One of the more annoying habits they develop at a young age is jumping. Jumping can be particularly annoying when they do it as a way of greeting, especially if it is young child or someone who is afraid of dogs. Teaching your Pit Bull to curb this behavior is not an easy task, but is your responsibility as a Pit Bull owner.
Many people have stopped their Pit Bulls from jumping on them by using treats. When they come inside, they throw some treats on the floor, and then greet their dog while his attention is fixed on the treats. The treats usually work as a good distraction to pull your Pit Bulls attention away from jumping on you. If you dont like using treats to train your Pit Bull, or if the method just doesnt work well for you, then you have to try other ideas to train your Pit Bull not to jump.
One thing you can try is teaching your Pit Bull that it is nicer to sit than jump. Go outside, leaving your Pit Bull inside, then come back in and calmly greet him. If your Pit Bull starts to jump on you, turn your back to him, and ignore him. When your Pit Bull puts all four feet back on the floor, turn back around and pet him. If he starts to jump on you again, turn back around and ignore him. This will teach your Pit Bull that when he jumps, he doesnt get any attention, but that if he sits nicely you will pet him. This technique may take quite a while for your Pit Bull to learn, especially if he is a very excitable dog. But, if you stick with it long enough, he should learn that jumping is not going to gain him anything other than losing your attention. Once you get your Pit Bull thru this step, try to teach him to sit still for a few moments before you acknowledge him. If he gets up, use the same routine of ignoring him, and then when he sits down, pet him again. This would also be a good time to try to teach him to shake hands when he greets people, rather than jumping on them.
You can also further entice your Pit Bull to not jump by tempting him and then rewarding and praising him for his good behavior. Hold treats up in the air so that your Pit Bull will have to jump to get them. If he jumps, ignore him, and when he is calm try again. When he is able to remain seated, praise him, give him the treats, and some extra attention. He will soon learn that by behaving the way you want him to, he will not only get extra attention, but some extra treats as well, which is double incentive for him to obey.
Another method that tends to work well in teaching your Pit Bull not to jump is to have a designated place for your Pit Bull, and teach him to go there when you need him to, for example, when someone is at the door. To start this training, you will need to pick the spot, and put maybe a bed or blanket and some of his favorite toys there. When the spot is ready, spend some time with him while he is there. Giving him special attention and treats will help him attribute the spot as a good place that he wants to spend time at. As your Pit Bull becomes accustomed to his place, start sending him there occasionally. At first, you will want to be close to the spot, and eventually move farther and farther away from it as your dog learns. Make it a point to give him special attention and treats each time he goes to his spot when you ask him to. Eventually, your Pit Bull will learn that by going to his spot when you ask him to, that you will reward him for it.
The biggest thing you can do to help your Pit Bull learn not to jump is to keep your own greetings calm. I know it is hard when you have been away from him all day not to come in and play and wrestle with him, but this will only get him more excited, and he will expect this same attention from everyone that enters the house. Until you can completely break the jumping habit, it may be best to ignore him for the first few minutes you come home, and then play with him once he settles down. It may take a little time, but your Pit Bull will soon learn how to tone down his excitement.
Tags:
Animals,
Annoying Habits,
Bull Dog,
Bull Terrier,
Distraction,
Dog Training,
Dogs,
Few Moments,
Four Feet,
Habit,
Many People,
Pit Bull Terrier,
Pit Bulls,
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Dec 08, 2009 | | Dogs
We are often asked, “How many jumps should I start with?” You can never have too many single jumps to practice agility. A good starting place is four jumps. This is the absolute minimum number of jumps that we recommend.
You can teach a variety of skills, drills, and exercises with four jumps. Four jumps will allow you to work on a short jump chute or jump grid. You can setup a “box” with your jumps and practice handling, collection, and 270 degree jumps. You can teach your dog jumping left and right. You can be outside the box and send your dog or you can handle from the inside of the box. Your jumps can be setup in a horizontal line, so that you can practice serpentines and threadles.
Go the next step and get eight jumps. Now you can setup two boxes with one introductory jump. You’ve now multiplied your drills that you can practice with your dog. Your jump grids can be of recommended size and quantity of jumps. You can also setup your jumps in a circle with the jump bars perpendicular to the circle or on the circumference of the circle. This pattern also enables you to train a variety of skills.
Your next consideration is a double jump and a triple jump. You could set two or three single jumps together to make your expanded jump, but having double and triple jump in your course work is really valuable to practice. We’ve seen many dogs run a clean course and the last obstacle is a triple and the dog is not prepared for it, and bang, down comes the bar.
You can really be ahead of the pack and have two sets of eight jumps. This is the ultimate in training because you can keep a jump grip up at all times that is separate from your course work, and have eight single jumps to have for course work. And when you include your double and triple, you can really practice all the jumping skills and drills necessary to get you those “Qs”.
Tags:
Agility Training,
Boxes,
Chute,
Circumference Of The Circle,
Dog Agility Jumps,
Dog Training,
Dogs,
Double Jump,
Exercises,
Four Jumps,
Horizontal Line,
Ideal,
Obstacle,
Qs,
Train,
Triple Jump,
Variety
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Nov 12, 2009 | | Dogs