All dogs learn differently and at different speeds. It is up to
the trainers to assess the learning personality of your dog and then
through the use of reinforcement ensure their compliance.
At Total Canine Solutions our methods use positive reinforcement with
minimal positive punishment (corrections). The use of food and toys as
positive reinforcement and a lure
is always the first step to ensuring the dog will do the behavior.
Positive punishments can be a loud noise, the word "no", or a pull on the
leash. Only after the dog knows the behavior do we then use corrections when the dog chooses not to obey a command
it already recognizes.
Some behaviors, such as jumping, we use Differential
Reinforcement of Incompatible behavior. This means that we teach the
sit command so when the dog attempts to jump, we tell it to sit and then
it is reinforced for the sit. This diminishes the amount of jumping
the dog does and you find the dog sitting for attention more often.
However, this will not always work and this is why there is always more
than one way for the dog to learn the correct behavior. Which could
be a negative punishment, removing yourself from the room or worse, ignore
the dog.
The trainers will work with you and your dog to ensure
that behaviors are learn in the fastest and best manner. Through the
use of a conditioned reinforcer (the "clicker") and operant
conditioning the dog learns through associations that the click noise
means that's the behavior that will get the reward. The reward can
be food, a toy, a "good dog" or even just a pet. The
Clicker can become a powerful tool when working with the dogs to get
advanced behaviors and tricks with the dogs loving to learn more.
Look at www.clickertraining.com
to learn more about this method of reinforcement.
The Premier Gentle Leader is our equipment of choice to
walk your dog and for use during training. This is the least
aversive equipment on the market where the dog knows you have control of
it. This actually has a calming effect on many animals. There
is no contact with the trachea of the animal and therefore has less
possibility of harm to the dog. Feel free to check out the equipment
at www.premier.com and look at the
gentle leader under products.
We do recognize that some people do not want to use a
gentle leader to train their dog, this can be discussed with the trainer
and after evaluation of the dog recommendations can be made for different
equipment.
Dogs are pack animals and therefore it is up to the
owners to ensure that their dogs are always treated as lower members of
the pack. Through the use of ignoring (negative reinforcement) and
rewarding (positive reinforcement) the dog will learn how to properly
react in the family setting.
We at Total Canine Solutions believe that socialization
of animals from an early age is imperative. The more interactions a
dog receives during their development stage the more secure and less
stressed that animal will be in all settings.
Please contact us if
you have any questions about the training methods utilized.
