Canine Nation

We don’t want our dogs deciding for themselves. Or do we? Maybe it’s actually not up to us humans. Our dogs make choices all the time whether we want to admit it or not. It can be a problem if we try to control something we can’t control. I think the answer might be in managing and influencing their choices instead of trying to decide for them!

Dog training is evolving rapidly. Some in the dog community feel that we need to actively prohibit the use of training equipment like electronic and prong collars. There are generations of habits and methods built up around these tools. How do we facilitate the transition to new methods without creating new problems? I think it’s a question we should be discussing.

Motivation is not something people associate with dogs. After all, there are no doggy motivational speakers. We just assume that our dogs want to do what we ask of them without considering things from their perspective. But what’s in it for them? Companionship? Adventure? Tasty snacks? Maybe nothing at all. The answer is more complex than you might think.

The science of dogs and training can be overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be. There are things that we need to know about our dogs and how to train them and there are things that are just nice to know. As science provides us new insights into our dogs, it is important to look at this new information in a larger context. We’re just trying to live better, happier lives with our dogs. Keeping the science in perspective can help us do that.

It's been almost 20 years since our dog Vince showed me how much I didn't understand about dogs.  Oh, I THOUGHT I knew all I needed to know.  But Vince's low growl and bared teeth said otherwise.  That began a marvelous journey of learning that has made life so much better for my family and my dogs.  Science has helped me understand both my dogs and myself better.  And that has made all the difference.

There is a trend in modern dog training toward kinder, more dog-friendly training methods. Training that seeks to remove everything unpleasant for the dog and to make learning more enjoyable. But is kindness enough to teach our dogs? Is there more to being effective trainers than just being kind to our dogs and not using force?

The sport of Dog Agility has been an unexpected delight for both my dog and me. In the beginning, it was a reason to teach my dog a number of novel behaviours using Mark and Reward training and behavioural science. But my adventures with my dog in this wonderful sport have taught me a great many lessons about kindness, persistence, patience and trust.

How social is your dog?  Different dogs will want more or less social engagement.  But what is most important is that we teach our dogs how to cope with the lifestyle we bring them into.  Socialization is not just about giving your dog play time with others.  It's about exposing them to a variety of sights, sounds, and experiences in a safe and enjoyable way.  To have a dog that is comfortable and happy in different social situations, you have to take them with you, teach them kindly, and never overwhelm them.

Is a new puppy’s personality all down to genetics and breeding or does the way they are raised determine who they will become? How much of a role does the environment a puppy grows up in play in who that puppy will become?  Both nature and nurture will shape the personality of a dog as they grow.  Sometimes in some surprising ways!

The greatest difficulty I have always had in improving how I live and work with my dogs has been my own attitudes and beliefs about dogs.  It can be difficult to keep an open mind and admit that I’m wrong.  Trying to be objective about dogs, behaviour, and training has allowed me to learn and grow. And that has benefited both me and my dogs.

Learning about modern dog training methods based on behavioural science changed the way we work with our dogs.  Perhaps the most important change was in how we raise our dogs from puppies.  It seems that this way of training not only teaches them manners and interesting tricks, it also teaches them about life and living!

Dogs are wonderfully forgiving creatures. Past wrongs seem to be quickly forgotten; after an angry moment, relationships are almost instantly restored. I think that we humans have a great deal to learn from dogs regarding forgiveness and moving on.

Any good dog trainer knows that the consequences of a dog's actions will decide whether he wants to try to do a behaviour again or not.  But there may be more to training your dog than rewards or punishments.  The process we use when we teach our dogs matters too.  Being honest, consistent, and true to a good training process can make all the difference in the world!

Back in 2011, I noticed just how many dog trainers were claiming to offer “balanced dog training.” Remarkably that number only seems to have increased as time when on.  What I find most surprising is that these "balanced" dog trainers are just adding a new buzzword, "balanced",  to out-of-date traditional dog training techniques.  Don't be fooled by the hype!

What do you do when your puppy becomes a teenager? Our Belgian Shepherd Rizzo was a case study in dealing with an adolescent dog maturing out of puppy and into grown up.  It can take some patience and planning to deal with puppy shenanigans and to keep a young dog in this phase of life engaged in training.  It can be simple but it's not easy!

What I have learned about dogs through behavioural science and modern training methods has fundamentally changed the way I see them as beings. It has changed his life in so many wonderful ways.  But there are lots of ways to love a dog.  Some are very different from others.  But they are love all the same.  We should remember that.

There is an old saying that goes something like, “A good craftsman never blames his tools.” Likewise, it’s important that we never give credit to our tools for good work either. Dog training is an interactive process and as your dog’s trainer, you are responsible for creating a good relationship in which your dog can learn. Choose your tools wisely and learn to use them well!

Imagine being a dog and working with three different dog trainers. Each has their own style and agenda. Imagine that these three trainers could show up at any time and might change places abruptly. Now imagine that all three trainers are YOU and you must juggle your priorities and goals in real time. Amazingly, we do it every single day. Here’s hoping we can all do it well!

When it comes to dog training, myths abound, especially when you are talking about more modern techniques like Mark & Reward Training. With so much misinformation floating around, I thought it would be good to do a little myth busting and get to the truth behind some of the inaccurate claims dog people make about Mark & Reward Training.

There is a lot of myth and misinformation about modern dog training techniques, specifically positive reinforcement training.  Why are some people so resistant to changing the way they train their dog?  And what is the truth behind some of this myth and superstition about training with rewards?