Training

A few decades ago, an interesting thing happened. Animal trainers, with their practical experiential knowledge, and behavioral scientists, with their experimental knowledge, began talking with each other. The result was a huge step forward in our understanding of how [...]

In Animal Behavior, the use of Operant Conditioning with Stimulus, Response, Reinforcement is the most effective way to train an animal to do the desired response or behavior. We could say “sit” (stimulus) over and over and at some [...]

If you can’t directly supervise the puppy (especially during the first month), put the puppy in a confined space by closing doors and blocking access. Feed the puppy in the crate at first so it associates the crate with [...]

Timing “potty breaks” As a general rule, potty the puppy before and after naps and about 15 minutes after feeding. At 9 weeks, take the puppy out for a potty every 30 minutes when awake. Add 5 minutes per [...]

Getting your dog to focus on you is one of the most important foundations for successful additional training. If your dog isn’t focused on you, he isn’t likely to respond to what you are asking him to do. Some [...]

Perhaps an owner ’s greatest concern is getting his dog to come when called. This can be a life saving command and needs to be reliably learned as well as reinforced frequently. Things to keep in mind: Always praise [...]

The cues of “sit” and “down” are probably among the most frequently trained.  If you are considering going on in formal Obedience and/or Rally training and competition, you will find that the “sit” cue is basic at all levels and is used frequently.  If [...]

What's the difference? These two cues are often used interchangeably and are also confusing to handlers. Both are telling the dog to remain where he is. The reality is that for most pet owners, they want the dog to [...]

The “Leave it” cue is an important one for safety of your pet and those around you. It can be used to have your pet ignore specific items such as dropped food, pills, baby toys that you don’t want [...]

Targeting is a method of training your dog to follow or go to a specific target. It has been used in formal obedience training for years, most often to get the dog to “go out” to the other side [...]