Reward-based dog training to suit you, your dog and your family.
The best dog training always starts with questions. Take a look at these:
- What does good dog behaviour look like for you?
- If you could change one of your dog’s behaviours, what would it be?
- Is your dog jumping up always a bad thing?
Poppets Dog Training works with dogs and their families across Nuneaton and Warwickshire. One of the things we love to do is share our experience with you.
Read on to find out about the best dog training to let your four-legged friend jump for joy... or sit quietly, depending on what best suits you and your family.
Take a walk with me…
Your dog, your family, your answers
How did you answer the questions?
Every reader will answer differently. Yes, there’ll be some similarities, but no two dog owners will want to train exactly the same behaviour.
Why? Well, no two dogs are the same, just like no two families or settings are identical.
This makes the questions and discussions between you and a dog trainer essential. Good dog trainers will be confident in their training philosophy. They’ll be ready to explain the ‘why’ behind what they do.
But be wary of trainers who think they have all the answers about what you need, right from the beginning. Every dog is different.
Reward-based dog training: ‘Best in show!’
What is common across dog owners is the need to develop consistent, predictable behaviours.
Poppets help you do this using force-free reward-based dog training.
We know these techniques make your dog happiest. We’re confident in this, because rewards ensure your dog is happy and relaxed, not fearful and compliant. Rewards use your dog’s natural enthusiasm, so they become active participants in their training.
But we won’t know your dog and what’s right for them until we’ve asked questions, talked with you, and then asked you some more. It’s never a one-size-fits all.
Eyes open: Different training methods and philosophies
You’ll find a range of dog trainers and dog training methods around, so do research anyone you’re thinking of working with. They don’t all use best practice methods, and some still use punishment (aversive, disciplinarian methods) to bring about compliance.
Reward-based dog training shapes and encourages behaviour we want to see. Aversive dog training brings compliance through submission and fear.
Take a look at our blog on different ‘Dog training methods and techniques’ if you want to read a bit more, before coming back to see some reward-based training specifics.
Jumping up: What’s the right thing?
When you’ve talked about your dog, I wonder if you’ve heard the word ‘should’ come your way? It’s a favourite word for people giving their opinion on two things: parenting and pets.
Simply saying, “No!” to jumping up is a broad-brush approach we’re not keen on. We’d rather you were confident training the behaviours you’ve mutually agreed will work.
Let me tell you about jumping up in my house. I’m conscious of my back, so my dog has been trained to jump up to receive a reward. But he knows to only do this on my cue and then stop.
The key for you is to train consistent behaviours and responses to suit your setting. It’s less, “You should!” It’s more, “What will work for you and your family?”
The best dog training rewards ‘steps towards the end goal’
Jumping up is just self-rewarding behaviour for a dog. It’s exciting, active, playful and, most importantly, it’s fun. On top of this, it will always result in physical contact and touch – a big win!
So, we need to catch this enthusiasm early, redirect it and reward steps towards the desired behaviour.
Let’s take the example of a visitor coming to your house.
Or should we say, ‘a new playmate and friend,’ makes an exciting knock or ring at the door. Can you see where we’re headed?
For your dog, it’s a call to fun and a chance to make friends. So, we need to start training early, not when they’re sitting on the visitor’s head delighted with themselves (exaggeration for effect).
Let’s look at a reward-based approach.
The big arrival! The best dog training takes small, planned steps
Imagine you’ve decided greeting visitors is the desired behaviour. After all, a friendly dog is a feature of your friendly family, but you want it to be calm and controlled.
Look at this:
Consistency is key, so there’s no getting away from this work being an investment of time and energy. But you know that already. It’s not easy… but it is the best.
You can grab a copy of this file here:
Language of love: Give them what they want
You can guess there’s a caveat to this. Reward-based dog training is about knowing what they do want.
Your dog’s behaviour reflects their intelligence and emotional awareness; they don’t doubt their place at the centre of your family. So, as active participants in your home, they respond to your emotions and communicate their own needs by how they behave.
Dogs repeat behaviours they find rewarding and pick up on your happiness – it makes them feel good because of their relationship with you. They’ll respond to your positivity ahead of any specific reward you offer them. And it follows… if they see their behaviour brings you happiness, they’ll repeat it.
This nature is key to the best dog training. Affection, touch, toys, play and food are powerful motivation and rewards for shaping behaviour.
And, as you can imagine, these are supported by the old favourites:
Consistency,
patience…
and time!
What are they telling you? The best dog training listens, looks and understands
The more time you spend with your dog, the more you’ll know what they’re saying.
You’ll see their face change when they’re relaxed, startled or excited. You’ll see tension in their back when they’re nervous or unsure. You’ll see the difference in how they wag their tail when they’re proud of themselves or ready to walk.
In all of it, you’re the benchmark for safety and reassurance. As their family member and focus of affection, your response and reward will communicate the calm, energy or excited, “Well done!” needed in the moment.
How long does dog training take?
As the saying goes, ‘The more you put in, the more you get out!’
There’s definitely truth in it when you’re training your dog.
You’ll see a difference after one session if you follow-up with consistent practice. If we’re working on a specific behaviour like jumping up or pulling on the lead, we might target these for three or more weeks.
And of course, we’ve built longer term relationships with dogs and families; the key is working closely together.
The good news is, working with us at Poppets Dog Training will mean you’re not on your own. While, we’ll stop short of giving you homework, we’ll check on your progress and give advice. We’ll help you work towards consistency by mirroring the language and approach used here with us, with what you’ll do at home.
From Rachel: Three to takeaway
Seeing your dog learn is special. Seeing them happy while doing it is even more so. And being part of it at Poppets Dog Training is a real privilege. We love what we do.
Here are three tips to takeaway:
1. You know your dog, so trust your instincts. Reward-based training works.
2. Through questions and discussion, decide what ‘good behaviour’ looks like for you and your family.
3. Consistency is key. Put the time in and get help if you need it because it will pay you back.
We’ll be posting again on this topic to give you even more insight into force-free training and the research behind best-practice methods. Find us on Facebook, or check out the blog page.
Do you have questions about Poppets Dog Training and what we're doing across Nuneaton and Warwickshire... or just need a bit of help?
Get in touch - I’d love to meet you and your four-legged friend.
Comentarios