nicelytraineddog.com

As I was surfing the channels the other evening I paused on a dog training show. The trainer was working with a dog and expressed to the people about the energy the dog senses from you. This is not a uncommom belief for the uninformed. What he was trying to describe is know in behavior as “Clever Hans.”  There are no mysticial fields of energy you project to your dog.

Over the past few years pet dog trainers have promoted the concept of no compulsion what so ever in their training. After thirty plus years of training dogs that must respond to commands regardless of the circumstances the belief a dog can learn to be obedient without the use of any compulsion is not accurate.

Keeping this as simple as possible control of your dog means you are in control of its behavior. Behaviors are based on needs of the animal either real or preceived. Dogs act on needs based on the reinforcement that is available or may be available. The stronger the need for the reinforcement the stronger the behavior to obtain it.

In order to control the dog you must deminish the value of exhibiting some behaviors. You can use extinction training in some. Extinction does not work on all behaviors or is the correct approach. When extinction does not work avoidance and escape training is likely the ansewer.

The Aplha dog uses force to control and displine a pack member, dogs understand this if it is associated directly with the incorrect behavior. Anyone who tell you not to displine your dog is setting you up for a disobedient dog. Remember, the punishment must fit the crime as well.

…I would like to schedule another appointment. Zoe has learned alot already, and I would like to continue in her training as soon as I can. Thank you!

[cscherer38@yahoo.com]

Although this idea sounds good it is not a realiable soure for working dogs. You may get one from time to time that works. After 30 years experience in the police dog field and having trained at least 1000 dogs myself, and worked with many many more in the long run it is not cost effective.

When selecting dogs here in the states and selecting dogs in or directly from Europe my experience has dogs from pounds, or out of people’s yards about 1/30 making the selection process. Dog from or in Europe usually about 1/4 making the selection process.

The military has been importing dogs for about 20 years. They could not reliably find a supply of working dogs using pounds and donations. This is not to say you will not find some there, it means you will in the long run you spent more looking for the dogs than you should making the concept not cost effective.