- Dog Training
- Contact Us
Dog Obedience Training Blog
Calling All Dog Obedience Trainers
I am certain that I am not the only dog obedience trainer that reads this blog, actually I have taken notice to quite a few of you! And, for those of you who are currently in a dog obedience class or know someone who is a trainer, print this out and give it to them!
We, as professional dog trainers, are often really dull and BORING! I know we don’t like to admit it (and some of you may be offended that I even suggest you are boring) but let’s face it, it is difficult if not impossible to not fall prey to getting tiresome after years of training.
We drone on about heel position and perfect sits and our methods and basic curriculum hardly ever changes! I admit, I have been there; and I know how hard it is to be a dog obedience trainer and realize week after week hardly anyone is heeding your advice or doing their homework.
We have a very limited amount of time to make a real impact on the lives of our clients and their dogs. Most people will only take ONE obedience class with their dog and so we have a lot of stuff to pack into a 6 to 8 week period. I also know that you are treated like a celebrity after class and everyone wants a piece of your time and advice!
It’s a complex job at best and sometimes it is downright disheartening depending on your classroom dynamics!
I'm already a little bored....
But, I am hoping to be able to help in a slightly unconventional way. With some simple implementation of pure FUN and camaraderie, you may just be able to increase your return clients and the quality of obedience you are seeing within your class.
This is not the time to discuss dog aggression and other problems in classes. If you want more advice on those problems please leave comments and I will write more articles. I recognize that all curriculums cannot be utilized with all groups of people and dogs.
From my experience: my most popular classes were my most fun classes!
Everyone wanted to participate in Agility, Rally Obedience, Clicker, and my Trick and Game classes.
So that posed the question to me; would I allow people who hadn’t already taken one of my obedience classes to participate in one of my more fun classes?
Cons
- I might end up with a totally out of control class
- Someone or someone’s dog might get hurt
- My clients might be disappointed they are not getting “acute obedience”, after the fact
- What do I do with dogs with behavior problems including aggression
Pros
This looks like FUN!
- Everyone would be having fun
- There is always a chance of injury
- People are probably more likely to do homework when they are having fun
- Dogs are more likely to learn when they are having fun
- I take dogs with behavior problems on a case by case basis and handle aggression with extreme care
Agility and Trick and Game were “Da Bomb!” and I became known as the FUN dog trainer in town. I like that title and hope I still adhere to what it means. Although there are definite times of seriousness in dog training, I try to avoid total seriousness most of the time!
FUN leads to huge class numbers (which by the way means a total increase in profit) and it leads to significant adherence to training and homework done at home. No one wants to have to miss out on the advanced fun other people in the class are having, so they are more likely to do a little basic obedience stuff at home in order to participate in the more fun things that I had going on!
And, I am teaching people that interaction with their dog does not have to be antagonistic and stressful. It is really hard to get mad at your dog when he is wearing socks and you are wearing flippers and a snorkel.
In my trick and game class, we met weekly and switched up which week we preformed which skill set. One week we would focus on teaching your dog a few tricks (even if they related more toward the basics of obedience for some) and the tricks were catered to the person and the specific dog.
Each dog was split from the pack and was given a precise working area where no other dogs would come and bother them or their owner. I came up with a few new tricks that could be picked from each week.
As I borrowed dogs and showed how to implement the teaching of each trick, I allowed the owners to decide what trick they wanted to teach their dogs and then followed behind to help with any problems that arose. Again, it is hard to get mad at your dog when you are trying to teach them to skate board, balance on a ball, or say their prayers on command. Frustration and the inability to complete the task just to the fervor of more understanding and teaching!
The following week I would split my class into groups and we would square dance or play silly games. One of my client’s and probably their dog’s favorite games was to run down to a designated area with their dog find two sets of matching socks amongst a pile of unmatched socks pull them up on their dog’s legs; next they had to put flippers and a snorkel on and race back toward the start line. The fastest dog that crosses the line with all 4 socks on, wins!
If I had an advanced class, I could add some obedience like sits or downs at certain designated spots and when I added chocolates as a reward for the winning owners and dog treats for the winning dog, I was loved even more!
There are all kinds of doggy board games and books that detail how to teach a dog certain tricks and with a little imagination you can come up with dances and games of your own that fit your specific class.
The moral of the story is, that it is a win win situation most of the time. As an instructor you will know the limitations of certain classes, and can even instrument some of these tricks and games into your regular obedience and even puppy curriculum. There is no reason you can’t add some much needed fun to a strenuous training schedule!
Does it really matter whether the dog is listening to the strict obedience of “sit” “down” and “stay” or if they are learning, tolerance, impulse control, and tricks? Either way, they are learning to listen to and hopefully building a strong bond of love with their owner!
So I issue you a challenge, look through your current training regiment and consider adding some down, right fun to your classes and if you are inspired add a drop in trick and game or other fun class!! Trust me, you won’t be disappointed and the dogs and their people will be better for building a foundation of fun and trust together!
You raise a good point. I try to make all my classes fun, and I try to incorporate tricks, gentle massage and handling, and fun stuff into every class. Even when I’m dealing with reactive dogs, I try to infuse the class with love and fun so people relax and don’t add to their dogs’ problems.
I also try to help my students build a better relationship with their dogs by listening to their difficulties and helping them find another way to solve problems and provide guidance to their animals. When people feel listened to, they come back!
[Reply]
@ September 29th, 2011 at 09:42I truly hope this is a foundation of a new trend!
I almost died of boredom in the puppy class I took JD to! It was horrible.
45 minute lecture from a leaflet they could have just given us to read when we get home. Everybody just sitting there the whole time.
Then about 5 minutes of actually some hands-on stuff and 5 minutes free play for the dogs.
Seriously. I could just sit at home and read a book or listen to a podcast if that’s what I wanted to do.
[Reply]
@ September 29th, 2011 at 16:04My home page has a video demonstrating c/t shaping for “Blowing Bubbles” and the kids in my class are led to teach their dog to stick out its tongue on the cue of the kid sticking out their tongue. (peanut butter is the secret)
I just began encouraging my clients to hand feed a couple of meals a week. This is even more important with a newly acquired dog or pup. While hand feeding I introduce the cues of “Yes” and Good” (like it /behavior done and like it and I’ll give you more if you continue. Tossing the kibble a short distance and encouraging the dog/puppy to come/ and introduce the positive interrupter. Touching the puppy all over and treating each touch with a piece of kibble.
I am trying to recreate the bond between mother and pup with owners and pup by closely associating the touch, sight and smell of the owner with a primary reinforcer.
I would love to hear from others who are working with hand-feeding.
[Reply]
@ September 30th, 2011 at 08:01I love it! As an instructor, I love to make class fun. Sometimes it gets boring, but I love to liven it up. Are there any good resources, online or good books, that have really good game ideas on how to teach and practive obedience, tricks, etc.? I’ve got some good games, but I like variety, because it is important for us not to get bored.
[Reply]
Art Hess Reply:
October 13th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
“101 Dog Tricks” by Kyra Sundance and Chalcy
This is the best of the books on tricks etc. that I’ve found. She has several others but this is the original and is the only “trick” book you’ll ever need.
[Reply]
Great idea! I’ve been at this probably longer than you’ve been alive but I’m not too old to continue to look for new ideas. I admit I have sessions where there is lots of enthusiasm the first few weeks and then it tends to tail off. When I think about it the introduction of some obstacles, small jumps, weave poles, detection practice, etc. always created those sessions where people were sorry to see the class end. Also thanks to Peter Gobel for his comments re: hand feeding. Certainly a good addition to a class.
[Reply]
@ October 13th, 2011 at 17:52Please be patient. My website is under construction.
In your basic obedience class try musical chairs (when music stops handlers put dog in stay and run for a chair). It’s a hoot. Relay races using basic commands is also fun.
I also introduce rally obedience, small jumps and other obstacle into the puppy kindergarten and basic obedience
[Reply]
Minette Reply:
October 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm
I LOVE musical dog chairs
and rally! Good for you for keeping it fun! You will be loved and successful!
[Reply]