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Teaching Methods
There are no foolproof methods to train your dog. Your pet is an individual, and has triggers and drives behind his behavior. If you are working with a professional trainer, you should look into what kind of methods he or she follows. If you are training your pet at home, there are a number of tools available to help you better understand your puppy and what methods could best work with him.
Here is a simple guide to understanding your pet’s needs and what teaching methods will work best for you all:
a) Getting to know your dog. Start watching your puppy as early as you can. Observe how he responds to different kinds of stimuli and temptations. This will help you guess at what methods and techniques you may want to employ during the training process.
b) Choosing the right method. This requires some homework on your part. There are a variety of ways a puppy can be trained. You need to find out more about them to decide what is most appropriate and, most importantly, humane. There are two broad methods that you should definitely know more about:
- Training through positive reinforcement: Dogs love to be loved. And they will usually do anything for a taste of their favorite treat. These two triggers are the basis for training through positive reinforcement. Every time your dog does something right, you will need to reward him with treats and/or praise.
- Negative reinforcement: You may be familiar with choke collars and other tools. These are often used to lead a dog physically towards the action you would like him to perform. For example, if you want him to sit, you tug his collar so he is uncomfortable and thus must sit. There is a clear line between training through aversion and abuse.
c) Choosing the right technique: There are various techniques that can be employed within broadly defined methods. You could choose to use a crate, a clicker, a choke chain… Once again, you will have to decide what best suits you.
d) Going to school: If you have zeroed in on a method, you could try to start the training process at home, if you feel you can handle it. Or else, you could opt to go to a trainer, in which case you should try to find one that works with your chosen method and tools. This has the added advantage of giving your pet a chance to interact with other animals. You should also find a school that involves you as much as possible in the process. In fact most trainers do work with owners to help them train their animals, instead of directly training the dogs themselves. This opens up a clear line of communication, which is critical all through your relationship with your dog. It will also help ensure your puppy learns to obey you.
These are important choices to make that will affect the rest your pet’s life. Take your time, but do remember that training is most effective when a puppy is still young and impressionable.