Dog Training: Understanding Motivation
As a dog trainer for many years, I have seen just about every method that is used for motivation in getting dog’s to do what you want. There is praise, ball reward, treats, clicker’s etc. First you have to understand what turns your dog on with the best focus attention.
One of the biggest challenges in training is getting a dog to consistently follow commands. Getting a dog to do what you want, and when you want, can be a challenge for even the best of trainers. Remember, dogs are not intellectual beings; they rely on repetition and habit to learn desired behaviors. Therefore, consistency in your approach is crucial.
For example. In training your dog to lie down. If you continue to bend over to praise or give food reward to get the dog in a down position, then you will always have to do this. But if you break this habit by having your dog down, wait for a moment, then reward by placing it between the dogs front legs, and make the time between downing and reward longer and longer, and eventually eliminating it, you will consistently have the dog down where ever he is.
Don’t try working your dog when you are angry, make sure you have thought through what you are going to do before you do it, and take your time.
To wrap up, remember that dogs learn through habit and repetition. By planning your sessions, staying consistent, and understanding what motivates your dog, you’ll create a solid foundation for successful training.
Whether you’re working on basic commands like “down” or more advanced behaviors, applying these principles will lead to effective and lasting results.
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