The fastest, easiest, most effective approach is to recreate the undesired situation in a controlled setting, and correctly use sound distractions with praise to erase the misbehavior. Dogs can learn or unlearn almost anything in four properly conducted repetitions.

We are going to carry out a 4 step process. Part of this will be to use different locations each time and to use some pros to help. Along the way, we will be trying to get inside our dogs mind to understand his thinking better.

A good dog owner, already knows that dogs think and communicate, but not at all like humans. So it is up to us to make the effort if we want good results.

Be consistent. Dogs get confused if you're not consistent. Now that you are getting familiar with teaching a command through conditioned reflex, you can use similar techniques to stop or break any behavior whatsoever.

We will be using a set of cans in our demonstration. These allow us to change the direction of the sound quite simple by moving the string. This is all we need to change a behavior. We are going to create sound and follow it immediately with praise. What you do is let the unwanted behavior begin nad create a sound from a different direction, and then praise him.

Each time you create a sound to stop or break a behavior, you must praise him for as long as he refrains from continuing such behavior (at least until he no longer thinks about that instance, usually ten or fifteen seconds), and be prepared to create your sound distraction and praise as soon as the behavior begins again. This is the sticking point with so many trainers. "Why should I praise this critter if he's not even doing what I want?" Remember, dogs do not think in human terms. Most behavior problems are simply a failure to clearly communicate.

Of course, you may continue correcting your dog forever, as most trainers do. We do not understand why a trained dog needs correction. Seems that if he were trained, that would be the end of it. That would imply that if a trained dog makes a mistake, that this mistake is probably not an accident, but rather, a challenge to your authority.

Because the process is so enjoyable many people use it forever. Part of that comes from the satisfaction of successfully training our dog. Bear in mind, these are corrections and not the teaching of new behaviors.

Posted under Dogs