General Pet is your source for advice and information for a happy and healthy pet.
Author: Patrick Moran Article source: http://www.articlealley.com/. Used with author's permission.
&nopopupKnowing how to motivate your dog in training is an important concept. Your dog must want to follow commands and participate in training. There is a fine line between rewarding your dog and motivating your dog and the sooner you learn how to make the difference the better a trainer you will become.
Motivating your dog is creating an environment where the dog has a desire to participate. When trainers learn how to motivate they usually learn to take it one step beyond. They create an environment where the dog actively tries to figure out what the trainer what him to perform.
There are 4 methods to motivate your dog.
1. Using food;
2. Using toys or prey items;
3. Using praise;
4. Using force (corrections).
A trainer will learn how to mix and match these methods depending on the dog, the circumstances, the dog's level of training and the trainer's level of expertise. Keep in mind that some of these methods will work with some dogs in a particular circumstance while other methods may not influence the dog at all in another situation. Knowing what method is the best, for a given circumstance pertaining to a specific dog takes time and patience but this experience will make you a great trainer.
As briefly mentioned in the previous paragraph, the method you choose will vary depending on these circumstances.
1. The dog's temperament;
2. The dog's genetic drive;
3. The bond you have with the dog;
4. The distractions the dog is up against at any given time;
5. Your experience and skill;
6. What level of training you and the dog are at.
I know it seems like a lot to consider but obviously it's common sense. For instance, you wouldn't use the highest level of correction on a dog that was genetically bread to be aggressive just because the dog didn't sit immediately on the first try. If I was to be that dog and was repeatedly being severely punished for something small like that I think I'd get frustrated and turn on you. I won't even challenge you to try this.
I remember taking my Siberian husky (I had a while back) out for a simple walk. That same Siberian had been a wheel dog pulling a sled with me on it the day before. What do you think our walk was like? But I couldn't very well get mad at him. I'd try to slow him down and remind him about leash respectability but the fact is the dog was born to run and pull so genetically, I was in a losing battle plus the fact that dog sledding was introduced to the dog by me. He would do anything else I'd ask of him except going on a nice leisurely walk without him pulling my arm off. Can't win them all.
The next article will be about using the 4 methods to motivate your dog.
Patrick & Katie Moran
Monster Gift Store's Pet Shop
www.monstergiftstore.com
Patrick and Katie have been around dogs all their lives. Patrick is an ex-musher from Canada who has had to turn dogs into four-legged athletes. Katie has always lived surrounded by 4 or more dogs at a time. Dog nutrition is an important factor to fewer vet bills and longer life for your pet.
smilingdog commented on 13 Nov 2007, 22:46:46
Please help us. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete this article. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 27 Nov 2007, 20:33:46
Please help us. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete this article. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 06 Dec 2007, 12:53:28
Please help us. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete this article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 10 Dec 2007, 21:35:27
Please help us. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete this article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 12 Dec 2007, 17:46:52
Please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 17 Dec 2007, 19:28:26
Please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 20 Dec 2007, 11:32:49
Please, we have posted several times - please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 07 Jan 2008, 22:05:47
Please, we have posted several times. Please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 15 Jan 2008, 23:46:31
Hello?! Please, we have posted several times. Please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 22 Jan 2008, 22:50:57
Please delete this article; we have posted several times. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 04 Feb 2008, 23:41:20
Please delete this article; we have posted several times. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 12 Feb 2008, 23:37:35
Please delete this article; we have posted several times. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 25 Feb 2008, 23:41:35
Please delete this article; we have posted several times. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 04 Mar 2008, 23:31:30
Please delete this article; we have posted several times. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 19 Mar 2008, 10:34:49
This is our FIFTEENTH post - please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
smilingdog commented on 03 Apr 2008, 10:32:43
This is our SIXTEENTH post - please delete this article. We may have infringed on someone else's copyright, and we are trying to make it right. Please please delete our article and the duplicates in all the other languages. Thank you. Katie Moran http://www.general-pet.com/motivating-your-dog-in-a1180.html
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