How to train a dog: reward the dog you want

How to train a dog to stop being ‘naughty’

Many of our clients come to class to find out how to train a dog to stop unwanted behaviours.  For example how to train a dog to:

  • not jump on visitors
  • not pull on lead
  • stop being destructive
  • stop barking

While it can often feel like our dogs are doing these things to be naughty, or to spite us, the real reason is usually simple; dogs are doing what works for them.

It is our perception about what behaviours from our furry companions we like, versus what we don’t like. For example, digging in the garden is a behaviour that feels good for dogs to do and they don’t see it as right or wrong.  It is the human perception that decides that this behaviour of digging up plants is ‘naughty’.

 

How to change the behaviour

To transition from the behaviours in our dogs that we don’t want, to the behaviours that we do want instead, there are a few things to think about:

  1. What’s is happening before the behaviour
  2. Understanding why your dog is doing the unwanted behaviour
  3. What behaviour do you want instead

Before we go much further, we need to define behaviour.  Behaviour is something that observable only.  So, a behaviour can be a dog sitting, wagging their tail, lying on their mat; digging in the garden etc. On the flipside, behaviour is not a dog being naughty as there is nothing observable in that statement.

So, let’s use the example of a dog jumping on visitors to work through how to train a dog to stop doing this behaviour.

 

1.What’s happening before the behaviour of jumping?

Our visitor is arriving and at the sound of the door bell, we can see Fido’s level of excitement appears to be increasing. We can observe this increase in Fido’s excitement level as he wags his tail more, starts pacing a little and his breathing rate increases. Note, depending on the dog, this excitement could be from good or bad stress (but that’s another blog topic).

 

2. Why is the dog doing the unwanted jumping behaviour

For many dogs, jumping on the humans provides information to them about the human and this is the functional reason for the behaviour. For other dogs, this behaviour of jumping can be a combination of information seeking and looking for reassurance in a potentially stressful situation.

This is why the advice of ‘just ignore the jumping dog’ doesn’t usually stop the unwanted behaviour. By ignoring the dog, the dog is still practicing the behaviour; and the function of the behaviour to gather information is still being met. Worse, if you have a dog who is stressed or unsure in a situation, and they jump on humans to seek reassurance, then by attempting to ignore them can heighten the stress they are experiencing.

Ideally, if we know what happens in the environment prior to a dog being likely to jump, our first step is to manage the environment to help set our dogs up to succeed and feel better about a situation. For a dog who jumps on visitors, our approach depends on the individual dog. For example, we may start with the dog safely in their crate with a yummy chew when the visitor comes in. While the dog is enjoying their chew, they can gather information about the visitor from the safety of their crate and with the visitor at a distance away sitting on the couch. This set up may not be suitable for some dogs. For other dogs this will help them feel safe and give them time to gather information without being too close to the new visitor.

For many dogs, after some time to observe the visitor from a distance and the safety of their crate, you may find that their excitement level has decreased significantly. This can result in them being less likely to jump on the visitor after coming out of their crate. However we also want to help our dog know what to do when they get up close to our visitor, read on to step 3.

 

3. What behaviour do you want instead of jumping?

For most people, four paws on the ground is what we want instead of jumping. Often, we end up paying the dog more attention when they do the behaviour we don’t want.  Instead, to train a dog to stop doing unwanted behaviours, we need to start noticing (and rewarding) the behaviours that we do want.

Start with an easy set up for your dog. If you know your dog gets very excited when Aunt Mabel and her kids visit, this is not the time to start trying to train the new behaviour of four paws on the ground. If Aunt Mabel is coming to visit and you haven’t been working on training the behaviour you want, refer to step 2 above for now.

Instead, start with ‘pretend visitors’ who are really just members of the family who live with the dog. We start this exercise with pretend visitors because this is a situation your dog will be able to succeed in. When the pretend visitors arrive, get them to do all the things a normal visitor would do such as ring the door bell etc. Have fun with it and play dress ups. If your dog is succeeding and keeping all four paws on the ground most of the time, then you can make it slowly harder for your dog. For example, the pretend visitors may get more excited in how they speak or move. If your dog stops being as successful, tone down your level of difficulty.

So, in summary: to train your dog to stop doing the things you don’t like, think about why the behaviour is happening. Then think about what you can do to help them be in a mental state where they can offer behaviour that you want instead.

 

Need Help with How to Train Your Dog?

If you want help in applying this information to change any unwanted behaviours your dog may be doing, we offer one on one training and group classes depending on your needs.

A word of caution, the above outline of how to change the behaviour of unwanted jumping is intended as general information only. Depending on your dog and your circumstances the above information may not be suitable for you. For this reason we recommend getting in touch with us for your training and behaviour questions.

 

Written by Tara Ross

How To Teach A Dog To Stay | Building A Positive Bond With Your Dog

How To Teach A Dog To Stay | Building A Positive Bond With Your DogHaving your dog stay on command is an important skill that your dog should know.   “Stay” tells your dog to remain in a “sit” or “hold” position until you release them.

Teaching your dog to stay is an excellent self-control exercise.  It also has practical uses and will keep your dog safe.  For example, teaching your dog to “stay” will prevent your dog from bolting out the front door or jumping on visitors.  It will also keep your dog quiet and still while you’re waiting for an appointment in your vet’s clinic.

What you need

Your dog must know how to sit or drop to learn to “stay” on command.

Make sure you also have a stash of their favourite treats and a clicker for your training sessions.

How to teach your dog to stay

Step one, have your dog sit or drop.  Click and reward them as soon as they sit or drop.

At this stage of your dog’s training, you’re not using any hand signals or verbal commands.  Hand signals and verbal commands are introduced when your dog can comfortably hold a sit or drop position without you having to say anything or give any hand signals.

When it comes to teaching your dog to “stay”, work with your dog in whatever position you think your dog can comfortably hold for longer.   It doesn’t matter whether you teach them to “stay” in a sitting position or “drop” position.  Some dogs are naturally better sitters, others are more comfortable lying down.  Find out what works best for your dog.

Increase the time your dog holds their sit or drop position

Once your dog is comfortable sitting or lying down in a “drop” position without you having to say anything or give any hand signals, you can take their training in the “stay” command to the next level.

Start to increase the length of time between when your dog goes into a sit or hold position, to when they hear the clicker.

A delay between when your dog sits or drops to when they hear the clicker, teaches your dog to hold their sit or drop position for longer.

An important tip: work at your dog’s pace

Remember to always work at your dog’s pace.  We want to set them up for success.  Be mindful of the length of time you’re asking your dog to hold a sit or drop position.  Don’t push to hard too early.

If you push too hard too early, you’ll teach your dog to “self-release” which is not what you want.  Self-releasing means your dog will learn to break their position before you ask them to move.

Hand signals and verbal commands

Once you reach the point where your dog is rock solid in holding a sit or drop position for some time, then you can introduce a hand signal and verbal command (“stay”).

By “rock solid”, we mean your dog will hold their sit or drop when you move and sit on the couch or take a few steps away.

A useful hand signal for the stay command is the “stop” sign with the palm of your hand facing your dog.

Increase the distance between you and your dog

Once your dog is rock solid in holding a sit or drop position, then you can start to increase the distance between you and your dog while they’re holding their position.

Have your dog hold a sit or drop position, turn your back from them and take a few steps away.  If your dog holds their position after you turn and move, then click and reward them.

Again, remember to work at your dog’s pace.  For some dogs, turning your back on them and taking a step or two away will be enough of a trigger for them to break position and move.

Avoid self-releasing

Avoid teaching your dog to self-release.  If your dog moves or breaks their position before you ask them to release their position, then don’t reward them and go back a few stages in their training.   Always work at your dog’s pace.

Add a release word

Once your dog is comfortable holding their sit or drop position with you turning and moving a few steps away, then you can slowly increase the distance between you and your dog before you release them from their position.

When you’ve increased the distance between you and your dog, you can start to introduce a “release word”.  This tells your dog when they can break their sit or hold position.  Examples of release words are “okay” or “yes”.

Distractions

The next level in teaching your dog to “stay” is to introduce distractions during their training sessions.

Examples of distractions include: –

  • Have your dog hold a sit or drop position, then grab a piece of rope and wave it on the floor near your dog (far enough away so your dog can’t reach it or get to it). Teach your dog they are not allowed to have the rope until they hold a sit or drop position and they hear their release word.
  • Practice having your dog sit or drop and “stay” (hold their position) while you’re outside.

Introducing distractions into training sessions teaches your dog impulse control.

Final thoughts

When it comes to teaching your dog to stay, here are some other important tips: –

  • When starting out, keep training sessions short. Maybe no more than 15 minutes.  Puppies or easily distracted dogs may need even shorter sessions.  If a training session is too long, your dog will get distracted or bored and start to make mistakes.
  • Always end on a positive note. Every dog is different.  And we all have our off days.  If your dog can’t seem to focus or hold their sit or hold position, then switch to something they know for a few minutes before ending the training session.  You want your training sessions to be fun and rewarding for your dog so they will love training with you. 
  • Be patient and work at our dog’s pace. If your dog is having trouble holding their position or learning the stay command, try not to get frustrated.  Take a break and try again later if you need to, and maybe try again with different treats.

At Fur Get Me Not, we are passionate about creating reliable manners based on a strong and positive relationship between you and your dog.  In our basic manners course, we teach the critical commands including the “stay” command.  Click here to book into our basic manners course.

Does Your Dog Trainer Use Positive Dog Training Methods?

The Australian Veterinary Association recommends positive dog training methods as the preferred method of training dogs.

Dog training is about developing good behaviours and building a strong relationship with your dog.

In this article, we take a look at positive reinforcement training in detail.  Then we discuss why it’s the preferred dog training method.  Finally, we’ll teach you how to tell whether a dog trainer uses positive reinforcement training techniques.

What is positive reinforcement training?

Positive reinforcement training is a type of learning that works well for dogs.

It’s based on the idea that dogs learn good behaviour by being rewarded for doing well.

Positive reinforcement trainers use verbal cues, hand signals, treats, clickers, toys and games to modify behaviour, correct bad behaviour and teach dog tricks.

What are the other types of dog training techniques?

Other dog training methods are often punishment-based and focus on the “bad” things that dogs do.

How can you tell if a dog trainer uses positive reinforcement training methods?

A picture is worth a thousand words

Incidentally, the pictures and videos posted on a dog trainer’s website or on social media will tell you what dog training methods they use.

As an example, stay away from “alpha dog trainers” who use or recommend choker chains, citronella collars, shock collars, prong collars, spray bottles, yelling, smacking or yanking on a collar or leash.  Dog training should not be cruel or punishment-based.

Next, look for signs of stress or anxiety in the dog training videos as the dog is being trained.  A dog who is walking slowly, deliberately or reluctantly, or licking its lips or dipping its head, is uncomfortable.

Consequently, don’t use dog trainers who force uncomfortable dogs into situations they don’t want to be in.  Dog training should be enjoyable and motivating for you and your dog.

Mind their language

As a rule, avoid dog trainer’s whose website or social media pages do not mention positive reinforcement as a training technique at all.

For the most part, dog trainers who describe themselves as “blended trainers” or “balanced trainers” use a combination of force or punishment and positive reinforcement training strategies.  At Fur Get Me Not, we recommend using a dog trainer that only uses positive reinforcement training methods.

In addition, stay away from dog trainers who describe dogs as “pack animals” who need authority.  Ethical dog trainers will talk about building strong relationships and developing good dog manners, not dog obedience or dominance theory.

Final thoughts

In conclusion, make sure you ask heaps of questions of your dog trainer about the kind of training methods they use and why they use them.  Click here to check out another article we’ve written on choosing the right dog trainer.

At Fur Get Me Not, we use positive reinforcement training techniques as our preferred method of dog training.  We believe in positively motivating dogs which leads to quick and happy learning experiences, trust and a strong bond between a dog and their human companions.

To register into our dog training classes, click here.

Does your dog know these three Dog Tricks? | Dog Training Brisbane

Dog tricks are a great way to provide mental stimulation for your dog.   Boredom can cause destructive behaviours like chewing, digging and barking.

We recommend all dogs be trained in the basic commands – sit, drop, come, stay and “leave it”.   Most dog tricks build on the basic dog training commands.

Positive reinforcement training

Positive reinforcement means rewarding dog behaviours that you like.  Take time to discover what kinds of rewards your dog really likes.  It could be treats, praise, games, walks, toys or even car rides.  When your dog does something you like, reward them for it.

What you need to teach dog tricks

To get started, you’ll need patience and a positive attitude, a stash of treats and a clicker or marker word.

Fetch

The first step in teaching fetch is to figure out what your dog can comfortably hold in their mouth.  It could be a ball or a plush toy.

Once you’ve figured this out, start by placing the item on the ground in front of you.  Ask your dog to pick up the item and place your hand under it.  Reward your dog when they put the item in your hand.

Next, you want your dog to understand they should pick up the item and bring it to you when you’re further away. Take a step back and ask your dog to bring the item to you.  Reward them when they do.

Then move a few more steps back, encourage them and praise them when they move towards you.  Reward them when they put to item in your hand.

Gradually increase the distance but be consistent when they get a reward.

3 Awesome Dog Tricks to Teach Your Dog | Dog Training Brisbane

Roll over

Your dog must know how to “drop” or lie down to complete this trick.

Have your dog drop.  Hold a treat by their nose and pull the treat from the tip of their nose towards their shoulder.  If your dog turns their head to follow the treat, then continue to pull the treat around your dog’s shoulder so your dog will have to lie on their side to follow it.

Continue holding the treat close to your dog’s nose and pull it all the way around so it must roll all the way over to follow it.  When your dog completes a full roll, mark, and reward them.

Your dog may not turn all the way around first go.  If you need to, break it down into smaller parts.

With your dog lying down hold a treat by their nose and then pull the treat from the tip of its nose towards their shoulder.  The moment your dog turns their head to follow the treat, praise or click and reward them.  Eventually stop giving them a treat every time they turn their head and move on to the next part of the trick.

Add the “roll over!” command once your dog can consistently roll all the way over.

Shake hands

Your dog must know how to sit to complete this trick.

Have your dog sit.  Hold a treat in one hand and show it to your dog.  Close your fist.

Say “shake!” and wave your closed fist under your dog’s nose.  As soon as your dog touches your hand with their paw, praise them and click or use a marker word, open your hand and give them the treat.   Repeat and practice.

Over time, graduate to giving the treat from your other hand rather than the treat in your closed fist.    Then stop using a treat in your closed fist altogether and reward them with your other hand every time they offer their paw.

Slowly decrease the number of times your dog receives a treat when they offer their paw.  Soon you’ll only need to reward them occasionally to reinforce the behaviour.

Final thoughts

When it comes to teaching dog tricks, here are some other important tips –

  • One dog trick or command at time. This will help your dog stay focused.  But if the training session is not going well, then switch to something they know and end the training session on a positive note.
  • Avoid distractions. At first, train your dog in areas away from excessive noise or activity.  Start somewhere quiet, like your living room, and work your way up to your yard, then an open space.
  • Keep training sessions short. Maybe no more than 15 minutes.  Puppies or easily distracted dogs may need even shorter sessions.  If a training session is too long, your dog will get distracted or bored and start to make mistakes.  Which brings us to our final point.
  • Always end on a positive note. Every dog is different.  And we all have our off days.  If your dog can’t seem to focus or perform a desired behaviour, then switch to something they know for a few minutes before ending the training session.  You want your training sessions to be fun and rewarding for your dog so they will love training with you. 

This article is covering some very basic tricks if you want to learn more complex trick and create a problem solving genius. Check out our Shape, Solve & Roll Class here.

Biting and Mouthing | How To Stop Your Puppy Biting

Biting and Mouthing | How To Stop Your Puppy BitingBiting and mouthing by puppies are common and normal behaviours.  Like babies, puppies use their mouths to explore the world.  Everything goes in your puppy’s mouth including human hands, feet, fingers and toes.

Puppies are also used to rough-and-tumble play with their brothers and sisters with lots of biting and mouthing.  A puppy’s bite will start to hurt as their canine teeth come through and they grow and become stronger.

Below are some tips for teaching your puppy the rules when it comes to interacting, getting your attention and playing.

Be consistent and help your puppy to make better choices 

Your puppy needs to learn how to behave properly including how to play politely.  Bite inhibition is the ability for your puppy to use their teeth without causing distress or hurting other people or dogs.

Teaching “bite inhibition” will help your puppy have fun, and to be safe, with other people and other dogs.

Below are two suggested methods for teaching your puppy bite inhibition – (1) using toys and (2) meeting your puppy’s needs.

Direct to a calming activity

Chewing, licking and sniffing is naturally calming to dogs and helps to meet their needs from a biting and chewing point of view.

When your puppy goes to use their teeth, direct them to either a long lasting chew, kong or lickimat. They need to do this calmer activity for minimum 10 minutes so you may have to be creativity with what you use or what you have prepared or on hand. Make sure all energetic or exciting games are mixed up with a calming activity, for example scent games or puzzles.  Swap between the two types of play ensuring your puppy does not get overstimulated.   Teach your puppy to self-regulate their excitement.  An overstimulated puppy will bite.

Meeting your puppy’s needs

Although, biting and mouthing is a natural behaviour, it is often worse when we are not meeting your puppy’s needs.

Make sure you are getting the balance right with the following:

  • Getting enough sleep or rest. An overtired puppy will be a biting monster. Make sure you teach your puppy to rest every hour.
  • Meeting their exercise needs. Pent up energy means they will struggle to make good choices and control their impulses.
  • Meeting their mental stimulation needs. This is the one that will make the MOST difference. When your puppy starts to bite re-direct them onto a puzzle or do some training that engages their ability to problem solve. When a puppy is thinking they are calm and less likely to bite.
  • Give them six new things to do with their mouth everyday. Feed their meals out of enrichment toys, give them rubbish to destroy and chew (always supervise at first to make sure they don’t swallow anything). Give them natural long lasting chews and ice blocks or meals frozen in a toy is a great way to sooth teething.

What doesn’t work

Always use positive reinforcement techniques when training your puppy.

Never punish them or yell at them.  It will only make your puppy anxious and scared of you and create other behavioural issues that you don’t want.   Dogs that are physically or verbally punished are more likely to retaliate with aggression.   And it’s cruel.

We have also found for some puppies yelping or making a loud noise can overstimulate them and make the behaviour worse or frighten your puppy. So we no longer recommend this strategy.

Lots of praise

Remember to reward your puppy when they play well and politely.  Give them their favourite treat or toy.  This will show them that good things happen when they play nicely.

Supervise play between puppies and children

Children can’t use these training techniques on their own and will need adult help.  And children often do things to get puppies excited, for example squeal and run around.   Children must be supervised with puppies at all times.

Final thoughts

It’s important that everyone in the family or household practices these training tips.  Everyone who interacts or plays with your puppy needs to be consistent.

If your puppy continues to be too rough, then seek help from a professional  dog trainer that uses  positive training techniques.

At Fur Get Me Not, our qualified canine coaches can support you in using positive training techniques to teach your puppy bite inhibition and other critical skills.   We’re passionate about puppies and their humans forming strong bonds.  Get started today by clicking here.

ABOUT US

Whatever the scenario you find yourself in, we can help by revealing an effective gentle communication which all dogs understand. Once you learn and adopt this communication, your dog will look to you for guidance in each and every area of their lives. As a result of this positive communication, all undesirable behaviour will disappear to create a happy, calm and positive relationship.

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Jane Anderson
Jane Anderson
07/06/2022
Thank you for helping us to decide on whether we were suitable for rehoming a rescue, Cassie. You asked super valuable questions and really listened to our concerns. You helped us to make a conscious choice about what is right for us and take the steps to determine that we were doing the right thing. Ultimately we decided we weren't ready to be a 2 dog family, and we're so glad to gain this insight before taking on a commitment to a second dog. Thank you so much for your advice and support. - Mark, Jane, and Winston
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Jannine Gearon
22/05/2022
Cassie is so great at thinking outside the box. She has a really flexible approach to training and finds what works for you and your dog. I highly rate her
Sarah Swann
Sarah Swann
05/04/2022
The communication was wonderful. They sent weekly reminders about the classes and would even send us a text before the class started. They were happy to answer any questions and would even stay behind after to go through any concerns I had with my dog’s behaviour at home. Tara was amazing and soooo great with buckwheat. Would happily go to another class that she was teaching.
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Tamara Milne
28/03/2022
We are so appreciative of the private dog training we did with Alicia and Cassie. They are both incredibly knowledgable and professional in their approach, and both went out of their way to provide additional help and support. Our great dane has benefited immensely from this training and we couldn't recommend this service more highly!
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15/02/2022
I wanted some help with my new rescue dog’s on-leash walking manners. A week after a single one-on-one session with Tara, and it’s like I’m walking a different dog. No more pulling! She gave me some great strategies to help with reactive behaviours and some really simple tricks which just make life so much easier. Walks are now so much more enjoyable, and he’s gone from constantly pulling and paying absolutely no attention to me, to walking on a loose leash and constantly checking in with me during the walk. The one in one session was a great investment.
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03/01/2022
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