Tag: dog training

When it comes to dog training, there’s a lot of debate about which methods are the most effective. Some trainers insist that if you don’t include at least some punishment-style tactics in your training, your dog won’t behave. At ADU, we have a different perspective. Read on to learn why a fear-based dog training strategy hurts more than it helps.

Punishment Centers “Bad” Behavior

When we talk about fear-based training, we’re talking about using unpleasant stimuli to teach your dog which behaviors are unacceptable. For example, fear-based trainers may encourage you to yell or use physical force when your dog barks at the neighbors or steals your shoes.

This kind of negative reinforcement may get your dog to stop the unwanted behavior simply as a means to end the unpleasant stimuli. What it won’t do is teach them what kind of behavior you do want from them or how they can express themselves in an appropriate way.

Fear-Based Training Positions You as a Threat

Your dog may not associate all fear-based tools directly with you. For example, they may not understand that you’re the one hitting the button on that shock collar. However, a lot of punishment will come straight from you, and your dog will start to associate you with their discomfort.

This positions you as less of a companion and more of a threat, which can make your dog extremely avoidant. It’s challenging to teach an avoidant dog important skills like recall because they won’t possess that inherent desire to be by your side.

Anxiety Doesn’t Help Your Dog Learn

How does fear-based training impact your dog in the long run? Research shows that dogs who undergo aversive training show more signs of anxiety, like high cortisol levels and low behavioral states, than dogs who undergo reward-based training.

At ADU, we try to give our dogs time to regulate and calm down before we start training. We find that a calm dog is not only easier to work with, but also more receptive to learning new behaviors and commands. A dog that’s in fight or flight mode is primarily concerned with creating safety, which doesn’t always involve listening to a trainer or owner.

Obedience and Dominance Aren’t the Same Thing

Most fear-based trainers abide by the belief system that owners should exert full control over their dogs and may encourage you to become the “alpha” of your household. Yet, dog behavioral experts point out that in the dog-owner dynamic, there’s no need to establish dominance when you already control so much of your dog’s resources and schedule.

Instead, we encourage owners to foster obedience in their dogs. An obedient dog may make mistakes sometimes, but they want to make you happy, and they’re easily corrected. You don’t need to create a submissive, fearful dog to see positive results.

At All Dogs Unleashed, we prefer methods like clicker training and positive reinforcement to help our dogs become the best they can be. Learn more about our training programs today!

dog training

It’s an aspect of dog training that you will be teaching him many verbal commands. Sit, stay, heel and come will be staples of your routine. Your dog is responding to more than just the words you use; he’s interpreting your tone of voice, your body language, and your facial expressions to determine the nature of your commands. In this vein, language is so much more than verbal. Your dog has his own ways of communicating with you that you can interpret if you know what to look for.

 

A dog communicates primarily with body language and secondarily with verbal cues. When you observe your dog, make sure that you observe his entire body. Don’t just pay attention to the tail or the ears. He may be wagging his tail but the rest of this body may be saying something entirely different. When it comes to communication, different cues can be grouped into five categories: fear, aggression, anxiety, arousal, and relaxation.

 

Fear: A frightened dog may cower or whimper. He may lower his body, tuck his tail, and retreat. Other signs are trembling, shaking, licking his lips or yawning, putting his ears back, and leaning back. A dog that acts differently from normal may be exhibiting fearful behavior. If he’s avoiding people, staying hidden, and not eating, these could also be behavioral signs of fear.

 

Aggression: Knowing what to look for in an aggressive dog can be the difference between defusing a situation and escalating one. Dogs often display aggression when they are guarding their territory. Growling or barking are obvious verbal cues, but look for other body language before these occur. A dog may stiffen first to show aggression. He may put his ears back or widen his eyes. Heed these actions before the dog starts nipping at the air to de-escalate the situation.

 

Anxiety: The signs of an anxious or stressed out dog will be in some ways very similar to a fearful dog. He may display pacing and panting, licking his lips and yawning. If a dog is continually anxious, his health may suffer and he may shed excessively and drool. If your dog is in a kennel and is uncomfortable with his surroundings, you will be able to see his anxiety in his behavior.

 

Excitement/Arousal: A dog’s excitement behavior is generally standing erect with ears forward and tail wagging quickly and stiffly. He may bite, bark, or lunge forward. He may jump, run in circles or back and forth. He may pant excitedly, or alternate moving his legs in place as if he wants to run and doesn’t know where to go.

 

Relaxation: A relaxed dog is perhaps the easiest dog to identify. His legs may sprawl out lazily when lying down instead of tucking under his body. His mouth will hang open with his tongue drooping out. His head and ears will be central and he will make happy grunts. His tail will slowly wag back and forth and his muscles will be loose. A relaxed pup is a happy pup.

 

Learning the verbal and non-verbal cues of your dog is an essential part of dog training. At All Dogs Unleashed, we will train you in identifying these behaviors so you can understand your dog throughout the teaching process. The better communication you have with your best friend, the better your relationship will be throughout his lifespan.