Dogs and language

Dog Vocabulary

 

The March 08 issue of National Geographic discusses the controversial subject of animal intelligence and discusses dogs' ability to learn and identify objects by name.  A Border Collie was reported to have a vocabulary of over 300 words!  Do not get a BC unless you are willing to devote time and energy to training.  Smart dog will become frustrated and destructive when they are not stimulated.  The easiest dog to train is NOT the smartest dog…it is the WILLING one. 

 

Any dog is capable of learning over 50 commands with proper guidance, although some stubborn breeds need more time and effort to reach this number.  Below are some suggestions:   

 

1. "Dog's name"
2. "Good boy/girl"
3. "No, phooey, tsh, eh" – any stop action command
4. "Sit"
5. "Stay"
6. "Down" – means lay down, not get down
7. "Heel" – walk by your side
8. "Come, here" – this takes about a year to train
9. "Kennel, crate, bed"
10. "Quiet, hush, enough"
11. "Off" – get off the counter or furniture
12. "Leave it"
13. "Place" – select a place for them to relax and stay
14. "Potty, hurry up, do it"
15. "Hup, up, load" – invites them into or onto a place
16. "Let's go" – a causal walk with no pulling
17. "Stand" – your groomer and Vet will love this
18. "Wait" - temporary stay
19. "Give paw" – good for wiping wet paws
20. "No bite"
21. "Free dog, okay, relax" – to release your dog from working
22. "Gentle, easy, take it" – dog can take food or toy
23. "Fetch, get it"
24. "Out, Give, drop, release"
25. "Find your truck, go for a ride" – may save your dog's live when loose in the park

 

An action must be paired with a command for an association to be established.  The average dog will learn a new command after repeating the pairing process 30-50 times, but it may take a stubborn dog 100 times to make the association. 

 

EXAMPLE:  The "sit."  Lure your dog's nose in the air with a toy or treat.  When the nose goes up, the butt goes down.  Say the command "sit" as the butt hits the floor.  REWARD within 1-2 seconds to reinforce the action.  Often people reward the wrong thing.  For instance:  You say, "sit."  Your dog sits, then slides into a "down."  You say "good boy."  What just happened?  You taught your dog to lay down with a sit command.  Proper timing is the hardest thing for people to learn. 

 

Positive reinforcement will increase your dog's desire to repeat the action.  Use a variety of rewards like praise, treats, or a toy.  Don't repeat commands.  Be fair.  Be Patient.  Be consistent.  Have FUN.  End training sessions on a positive exercise and a special treat. 

 

2008 Written by Susan Jakobs:  Owner of Midwest Canine Academy, Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  Visit www.dogbuilders.com or www.midwestcanineacademy.com  or call 815-590-8008

 

Separation Anxiety Treament Program

SEPARATION ANXIETY TREATMENT PROGRAM

If your veterinarian and your trainer believe that your dog will benefit from medication, Clomipramine is currently the only FDA drug that is approved for use with canines.  Studies show that the combination of a behavior modification program and medication increase the success of rehabilitating dogs afflicted with separation anxiety. 

1)     Identity and understand the problem:  First identify if it is a Separation Anxiety disorder.  Then you must understand that the dog cannot help what he is doing.  Some forms of punishment are not effective and can make the problem worse.  Consult a professional. 

2)     Discourage attachment:  Do not encourage your dog to be constantly by your side.  For example, you are watching television, make your dog lay down on the other side of the room.  Only give attention on your terms…not because he demands it.  Praise your dog when he is relaxed and calm.  Ignore attention-seeking behaviors. 

3)     Provide leadership:  All humans should be the leader and use the `Nothing in life is free' philosophy.  This approach gives your dog a sense of order and structure.  The dog must respond to your commands before anything positive is provided in return.  Use trick training and obedience as a distraction and to build confidence.  Ignore the dog before leaving and upon returning, until the dog has quieted down.

4)     Counter-conditioning: Train your dog to exercise an obedience command or a trick (sit/down/shake) when leaving.  Then alternate the reward for this action with a treat, praise, or touch.  DO NOT get stuck in a new pattern.

5)     Habituation: Go through your 'leaving the house routine' and do not leave.  Do not encourage anxiety by talking in a sad voice or worrying too much.  Dogs feed off their owner's anxiety.  Change your departure routine regularly and break existing patterns by presenting them without leaving.  At random times, go through rituals of leaving: put on cologne, shower, wear work clothes, taking the car keys, even going outside and locking the door (but then coming in again)

6)     Graduated planned departures: The owner starts after one week of habituation, leaving for two minutes, then five minutes, and so on, only increasing the length of absence if no anxiety is exhibited.  This process can take from weeks to months. 

 

2008 Written by Susan Jakobs:  Owner of Midwest Canine Academy, Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  Visit www.dogbuilders.com or www.midwestcanineacademy.com  or call 815-590-8008

 

Dog Training Secrets

Dog Training Secrets

 

Knowing when to praise, when to ignore, and when to redirect is CRUCIAL in training your dog!  Understanding how dogs learn and why they react to a stimulus can prevent and/or repair undesirable behaviors and develop desired behaviors.  If you understand and employ the following concepts, you will unlock the secrets of training. 

 

1. Think like dog, not a human.  A dog acts and reacts immediately to a situation.  They don't plan ahead, and they also don't feel remorse.
2. A dog knows he is a dog.  Owners confuse the dog when they treat him like a child. 
3. Become an effective leader.  A dog is hardwired to fit into in a pack where the role of leader and follower are strictly defined.  If humans are not good leaders, a dog will assume the leadership role, which causes behavior issues that require professional help. 
4. Good leaders are consistent.  All it takes is one person allowing bad behaviors to sabotage training.  This is unfair and will delay or prevent learning.    
5. Dogs need structure and rules to live harmoniously. 
6. Dogs need repetition and ritual to learn effectively.
7. A dog misbehaves 10 times.  If you stop that behavior 5 out of 10 times, you will NEVER change behavior.  If you stop it 8 out of 10 times, you will gradually change that behavior.  10 out of 10 is better, but not realistic. 
8. Never give a command you cannot immediately enforce.  Command and action should happen simultaneously for learning to occur.  Sit should mean sit, the first time. 
9. Positive training does not mean permissive.
10. Build a foundation of respect, not fear.
11. It is easier to build a puppy than to fix a dog.  Set the rules and start training the day your pup comes home.   
12. Dogs want rewards and attention more than anything else.  Food, water, shelter, toys, play interaction, touch, and praise are rewards that dogs seek.  Dogs do not engage in unrewarding behaviors.  
13. Learn to read your dog and create a balanced training program that fits your dog's personality.  A technique that works on one, may backfire on the other. 

 

A person has 4 choices when responding to an action by their dog:  1) do nothing (ignoring), 2) do something neutral (redirection), 3) do something good (praise) or 4) do something bad.  We do not want you to do something bad, so throw out your rolled-up newspaper, and learn how to correct properly. 

 

It comes down to understanding the basics of how learning occurs.  A reward increases behavior, a punishment decreased behaviors.  A dog will not engage in behaviors that do not have some form of reward.  Basics of learning are:  POSITIVE means presenting a stimulus (praise, treat) NEGATIVE means removing a stimulus (removal of attention or physical praise)  REINFORCEMENT increases a behavior (more effective when intermittent)  PUNISHMENT decreases a behavior  (more effective when consistent)

 

2008 Written by Susan Jakobs:  Owner of Midwest Canine Academy, Member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.  Visit www.dogbuilders.com or www.midwestcanineacademy.com  or call 815-590-8008