Dogs are not efficient cognitive thinkers. They are largely inference learners and learn best by repetition and consistency from their owners who love them.
- Speak only in calm but firm tones.
- Don't use a high-pitched or shrill voice
- Do not yell or lose your temper in anger. If you are stressed, train at another time.
- If you give a command and you know the dog is purposefully ignoring you, stop repeating the command, you're just making it worse. Consult us for help.
- Patience, patience, patience. You must learn to laugh at mistakes—the dog’s and yours.
Historically dogs have evolved from social, pack-oriented animals to domesticated animals who truly love their humans. Dogs are the only animals that love being with their humans more than they love being with their own species. Nonetheless, your dog needs a strong, clear, fair leader. If you fail to establish this position for yourself, your dog may try to take the position of leader for himself. If that happens you may not like the end result.
The Alpha Role
In a natural state, before they became domesticated, feral dogs would live their entire lives within the closely structured social order of a pack. Each pack had an Alpha leader, an individual who was dominant over all pack members. This is the individual that you must be in your dog's eyes. Every domesticated dog similarly needs a kind, but firm human leader to respect and to love.
Training Approach Which Will Help You Establish Your Role as Alpha
Your pup’s mother began the process of training for you. By the time the pup was 4 weeks old, the mother disciplined him for excessive chewing or wild play, or nursing excessively. Each reprimand was abrupt, timely, swift and followed by immediate forgiveness. The mom held no grudges (unlike some human moms). The pup quickly learned that his or her mom was a loving alpha leader
Following the steps which follow will enhance your training success while establishing your alpha role. Notice that these steps involve use of vocal commands and body language – both of which your dog will come to easily understand with adequate repetition and patience. Dogs learn by interpreting your body language, eye contact, tone and spoken commands.
- Praise your dog and put your hands firmly on the dog frequently. Hug the dog. In a calm moment, touch the dog’s toes, ears, nose, tummy etc. Get him used to your touch and so that he seeks it and enjoys it.
- Praise generously when success is achieved. While celebrating the success, consider stopping that task for the remainder of that training session rather than endlessly repeat. When a dog achieves success, let your praise or treat signify that he accomplished what you had expected. Continued repetitions after success in the same session often confuses the dog (the dog may be thinking—I thought I did it right, what does he want me to do anyway?) Feel free to move onto another command instead.
- Reprimand fairly and quickly, then quickly forgive. Don't hold a grudge. Do not use physical punishment ever. It will lead to resentment or fear, which as the dog grows can lead to aggression or other undesirable traits. Don’t embarrass your dog (or yourself) by yelling and scolding the dog or dragging him off a an agility course because he failed an exercise.
- A correction or reprimand can be a firm loud reprimand; It can be reinforced by gently but firmly placing your hands on the dog to guide him into a sit position Do so quickly and with authority. Then when you've made the dog do exactly what you asked for--give him a hug. Praise, praise and more praise!
- Make the dog obey on the first command. Don't get into the habit of repeating yourself. Repeating commands has unintended consequences—your dog may either learn to ignore you or forever more wait until the 5th repetition of a command!
- Give commands only if you can follow through, and make sure you always follow through. Make sure family members also follow through! As an example if the dog is off leash, playing and running away from you, do not give a "come” command. – If he decides to ignore you, you have no means of correcting him. Once he accepts you as leader, he will stop and return to you - because he will have learned that leaders are to be obeyed.
- Learn the value of an OK Command. Say OK for what the dog is about to do anyway as long as it is all right with you. This does not mean you say OK when you see your dog about to counter surf. This means you do say OK when your dog is about to get into the car for a ride with you, eat the food in his bowl, go out for a walk. This is subtle way, by way of repetition, of teaching the dog to look to you for approval and permission before taking unilateral actions you may not like.
- Monitor your dog's behavior. Teach him some manners. Even if you like him to sit on your couch, he shouldn't behave that way in other people's homes. If you have a pool he should wait for permission to swim.
- When the dog is out of control or doing a non-stop puppy wilding, make him do a disciplined structured sit-stay. This is an easy way to reinforce your role as alpha. Put the dog in a sit-stay for two to five minutes. For particularly dominant dogs, make it a down-stay, and keep your hand firmly on his shoulders for the duration.
If he breaks the sit-stay repeat until he stays until you release him …do so firmly, but kindly without anger or dog that you are the alpha leader. Remember you should not be training if you are losing your cool.Be firm, but loving. Always be fair and never lose your cool with your best friend.
- If you have more than one dog in your home, you must decide the "pecking" order within your pack by routinely feeding the oldest most senior dog first, giving that dog treats, feeding him first, etc. Make the others briefly wait for their turn; but always provide for each dog in turn. If you want them to eat together always place their bowls down in the same order; place the senior dog’s bowl down first followed in turn by the others. This helps establish harmony and order in your pack and builds upon your role as the leader.
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