Dog Obedience Training Blog
“What?” You say….shouldn’t I be writing about how to get your dog NOT to beg? Well, you would think so but often times in dog training you have to approach things from a different angle in order to be successful quickly.
My dog training background comes mostly from training Service Dogs for adults and children with disabilities. I was lucky that when I got started at an early age training dogs there was also a local prison that was training dogs for disabled individuals, working with the men and the dogs was truly a blessing and it changed my life. From that time on, I have done all that I can to continue to work with Service Dogs and the disabled even starting my own nonprofit organization.
When you train a Service Dog for someone with a disability, you quickly realize that physical force is out of the question, trainers can force the dogs to complete tasks but the disabled individual would not be able to use the same techniques, so you learn to use positive reinforcement to sculpt a dog to do all sorts of tasks and you even learn to train your dog to do some things that you will later never ask for again.
One of the first things I teach my dogs is how to beg. I start with a positive reinforcement game, which means when you do what I want you to do you get rewarded for your behavior. I ignore bad behavior, and only reward the things I like and I don’t use any real commands, I wait to see what behaviors my dog is willing to offer me.
When I first start this game off, I reward my new dog or puppy for sitting patiently. Each time my pup sits he gets a treat and praise, and if he continues to sit I continue to feed and praise him for his patience, because I don’t want a dog that bounces right up after a task. If he jumps on me I turn my back or ignore him, if he wanders away I wait until he returns and sits; but if he lays down I jackpot him.
Jackpots are larger treats (normally I use pea sized or smaller) or better treats. Sometimes I stuff a tool belt full of mediocre treats i.e. normal dog treats in one side and awesome treats i.e. chicken or cheese in the other side.
When my pup does something average but good, I reward with mediocre small treats, but if he completes a difficult task or one I really want to focus on I give the better higher value reward. This tells him YES that is the behavior I want to see from you. Dog training is about chaining behavior together, starting out small and then little by little requiring more and more.
Sit is the first and easiest thing to get a dog to do reliably. But, I like a dog that lays down and stays there most of the time. In my house, if in doubt lay down! So I shape and reward that behavior first and foremost. My pups learn from the moment they come home that laying down is where I want them.
I teach my dogs from an early age or straight out of the shelter if they want ANYTHING they must lay down in order to get it. I want them
to think they control their environment to some degree, so this is how I teach them to beg. If they want my ice cream cone, my hot dog, my affection, whatever the scenario they must lay down in order to have a shot at it. This behavior also transfers to other people in other situations if my dogs wander across a 3 year old eating an ice cream cone they aren’t gone to knock the kid down and run off with the prize, they are simply going to lay down at the toddler’s feet and wait to be rewarded. It is a great system!
In the beginning, I carry lots of treats with me so that I can reward the behavior right away going back to the scenario with the toddler I would give my puppy a treat and lots of praise and he would think “YES, they have to give me what I want”. This would cement the idea and ensure that he follows the same behavior pattern time and time again.
Then, I begin to fade the treats and provide my dogs with constant praise for a job well down and treats on occasion.
Finally, the clincher is if you like this behavior (and I do) I continue to reward my dogs randomly and on special occasions for the rest of their lives for adhering to this plan. I like to recognize a job well done and most people may never notice a dog calmly laying at their feet for attention or food but I like this calm, kind behavior.
But, if you don’t like this behavior in general and don’t want your dog to even lay down and beg, then you totally extinguish ever giving your dog a treat again while you are eating or while anyone else is eating. Your dog has already built the foundation for calm behavior and laying down so he will eventually stop begging but will likely to some degree still show acceptable behavior. He may even vacate the area and lay somewhere else.
Because I have trained and worked with Service Dogs for so long I have taught my dogs to lay down under the table while we eat, this way they can’t see me and I can’t see them so there is no way for them to sit and beg and this system works at our house.
Sometimes even teaching a behavior you don’t want and then never asking for it again is an extremely effective way to teach your dog not to do something. I guarantee you this works on a variety of behaviors! And, this is a much happier more fun way to train than using force! Good luck and have fun training!
My dogs are getting older, one is 10 and the other is 8 and I realized at the beginning of this year as I trained for a 5 mile race (not a 5k) I had no dog to train or run with because my dogs are too old to run so far, so I recently got a puppy. Actually I picked her up on Sunday! I forgot just how much work and effort a new little life is, but it reminds me of the importance of setting your puppies up for success in the very beginning of life.
Before Your Puppy Comes Home
Potty Training
Setting Up for Success Around the House
Socialization
This early socialization is crucial to a well rounded out going dog!
You have a lot of work to do, and so do I! Get your puppy out and set him up for success. It is our responsibility as doggy parents to make certain that we are setting our dogs up for becoming the best pets possible! Dogs are and investment in not only money but also time, effort and emotional bonding, we owe it to ourselves and to them to give them the skills they need to thrive.
Probably the second most important facet in dog training is exercise. Those of you who are getting use to my writing know that I think the number one most important point of good dog training is mental stimulation, but the next most important is exercise! When I trained police dogs, I often had them run next to my bicycle or scooter until they were exhausted. They needed the physical exercise to calm their minds and spirits.
Most all dogs and people can benefit to adding to their exercise regimen, unless of course they have a heart condition. Exercise lowers our blood pressure, can uplift our moods, and can even decrease our chances for developing certain diseases. These benefits are also obtainable to your dog.
A tired dog is a good dog!! This is probably my favorite quote, and the truest statement in dealing with your dog. There are many ways to attain a tired dog, but exercise is a fairly easy way to get what you want.
Almost 100% without a doubt when I do a behavior consult with someone having difficulty with their dog, I recommend increasing the amount of exercise their dog is getting. Dogs without exercise and mental stimulation begin to rot mentally and that leads to a lot of naughtiness and problem behaviors. Dogs that have jobs and work all day for their people or those that get a lot of exercise are much less likely to suffer from behavior problems. Exercise is also helpful for almost all behavior problems, it very rarely increases problems.
Imagine taking a room full of small children locking them up and not giving them any exercise or allowing them to play or to mentally stimulate themselves; they would go insane and they would drive YOU insane. The more exercise, learning and structure our children get the happier they are and less they likely they are to get into trouble. Your dog has the same requirements, but most people buy a dog and expect it to take care of its own needs. Dogs require stimulation and exercise to be happy.
Almost all dogs can benefit from exercise; fat dogs, old dogs, young dogs, skinny dogs, puppies can all benefit from an exercise program. You may have to cater an exercise program to fit your dog’s needs but in any case most dogs need some way to rid themselves of excess steam.
The joy of exercise is that it comes in all forms; hiking, biking, swimming, walking, running, skijoring, retrieving, games, weight pulling, drafting and numerous others all qualify as good forms of exercise. If you do it right, you and your dog will never tire of a boring routine.
The majority of people who have dogs that are suffering from behavior problems have adult dogs between the ages of 1-5 and this is the time when exercise is at its most important! Adult dogs should be exercised at a minimum of 3 times a day, morning, afternoon and evening. Adding exercise will help to decrease your dog’s boredom and increase his success of becoming a good pet.
“I don’t have time to exercise my dog!”
“My dog has a big back yard to run in he doesn’t need exercise”
I have heard all of the excuses! Your dog is an investment not only in money but also in time and companionship. Your dog has needs and sometimes you have to inconvenience yourself in order to ensure success and happiness for your dog. Get up early if you have to, or go to bed later but make sure you are devoting the time he needs to his success as a good companion and friend.
Dog’s don’t “run laps” on their own, very rarely do dogs utilize a big back yard as a means to exercise and run out their energy. Even with the biggest back yard or acres to run he needs someone else to help him and encourage him to exercise. He is not going to set his own exercise goals, you have to do that for him.
If you sincerely want to give your dog a shot at being a good pet and pleasing you, you need to give him sufficient exercise. Not only will his body benefit from the payback of exercise, but he will be spending time with you listening to your voice and hopefully working on obedience and your bond as he exercises and becomes weary.
Let him run next to a bike, take him swimming, have him pull a tire; whatever you decide that is appropriate for his breed, age, size and his abilities allow him to blow off steam in a constructive manner and you will see the benefits through his behavior in a few short days!
If you have ever taken an obedience class with your dog, and actually done your homework, you will remember and notice that for that period of time (usually 6 to 8 weeks) your dog begins to listen to you faster and his obedience improved. But weeks after the class is over, his skills begin to wan and the dynamics of life before class take over and it seems as if he never completed an obedience class.
WHY?
It’s simple if you think about it; if you practice something together you are better at it, the more practice and time you devote to something the better you get at it. However, once you stop practicing and working on something, often, the more things go back to the way things were and you forget what you had once learned.
Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?
Most of us have either watched this show on TV or at least know the concept; adults (sometimes even doctors, lawyers and Yale graduates) are asked simple questions along the lines of the curriculum that we learned in and up to the 5th grade. Most of us learned these things a number of years ago, but how much do we truly remember? To have a child in school and needing help with homework is sometimes humbling!
Without practice or applying our knowledge, we often forget what we have learned. The same is true of your dog! If you don’t make obedience and training a part of your daily lives together, you and your dog will slip back into the same patterns of life that lead you to frustration and into obedience class.
But, often instead of understanding that dogs, too, forget and slip back into previous habits, we often blame them, think they didn’t learn or that they are being obstinate and refusing to comply, when really they are probably reverting back to what they knew and know best which is the dynamics of your household “before” obedience class.
What to Do?
Set a goal
Take a Class
Compete
Find a hobby you can both enjoy
To my clients I am known as the “fun” trainer. I have been training dogs for almost 17 years and have seen all kinds of methods and I have taken my years of experience and knowledge and I have sculpted them into a program where I focus on games and fun ways to achieve my obedience goals. I do this so that my dog enjoys his training but most of all I do it so that “I” enjoy training and working with my dog. Fun does not mean there is a lack of skill or that my dogs are sloppy, it just means that my goal is to have a high level of performance and we both enjoy ourselves. The more things I can teach my dog, the happier we both are! Even if I am just teaching him tricks, he is listening and learning and enjoying himself, and I am ending up with another skill to show off to my friends.
I try and make a point to spend time with my dog and invite him to join me as often as possible. If I go hiking, biking or to the beach, I want to include him in my plans. I enjoy teaching him new things and watching him enjoy life and excel at obedience. It is a joy to have a well trained companion.
Every time you work with your dog in a fun and positive manner and you work together towards a common goal, you are solidifying your place in your furry pack and your dog is learning to have fun listening to you. The more fun you have together, the more time you will find to spend together and you build a bond of respect that will last a lifetime. So get out there and spend some fun time together as you reestablish your bond and your dog learns to listen to your every command!
There are fewer joys in life greater than a good walk; add a well behaved dog to that equation and in my opinion you have pure perfection! I have the great honor of training and walking 5 Weimaraners twice a week.
Tuesdays and Thursdays are full of exhilaration and exercise, I tell my friends I am Weimar-running or doing Weimar-obics. Although it is a job for me (thank goodness for wonderful clients who rescue dogs) it is an opportunity for me to get outside, enjoy the weather and beat some of my stress.
Coming to PBS on April 21, watch this heartwarming series on the impact that service dogs have made on the lives of those they serve.
Video: Through a dog’s eyes
By Daniela Caride, Publisher, www.thedailytail.com
The PBS series “Through a Dog’s Eyes” will surely be wonderful. With premier scheduled for April 21 at 8 p.m. E.T., the series follows the journey of service dogs and the people whose lives they change.

courtesy of www.ohmidog.com
Seems like there’s an award for just about everything these days. Even our dogs can get in on the action. The award for Valor Dog of the Year has been announced.
Dogs recognized for their acts of valor
ohmidog.com, published 3/16/10
The Humane Society of the United States has announced the Valor Dog of the Year” – Kenai, a Bernese mountain dog mix from Erie, Colo.,who awakened her owner to alert him to a carbon monoxide leak in the vacation home where he, six other adults, two children, and three dogs were sleeping.
The awards celebrate the human-animal bond by honoring dogs who have exhibited an extraordinary sense of courage or resolve by heroically helping a person in need.
While many people want to purchase a new puppy from a good breeder, there is an alternative for those who don’t want to fork out the big bucks just to get a great pet. Consider a shelter dog. Many of these dogs are just waiting for someone like you to come along and rescue them, and they are more than ready, willing, and eager to provide you all the love and companionship you could possibly want!
Common Misconceptions about Shelter Dogs
by RenewTrients March 15, 2010 10:25 am
Bringing home a shelter dog can be very rewarding. Not only can they be as loving, loyal and amusing as dogs raised by breeders, you’ll also feel a good about the fact that you’re saving a wonderful animal from an uncertain fate inside the shelter. While there are those people who will love their pets no matter where they come from, there are also those who would think twice about getting a shelter dog. Most of the time, they are apprehensive about bringing home a rescued dog because of established misconceptions. Here are some of them:
Shelter dogs were abandoned because they are bad pets. Absolutely not true! A shelter dog might have been taken to the facility because of a number of possible reasons including death of the original owner or maybe because the owner was neglectful or abusive so the authorities took the pet away from his custody.
Shelter dogs have behavioral problems. Instead of making generalizations, you can try to see the dogs for yourself and ask the shelter staff about their history and disposition. Most shelter dogs are only too happy to be adopted by a new owner that they end up rewarding them with love and loyalty and often make full emotional recovery.
Dogs in shelters are old and sickly. While it is possible that some shelter dogs have medical conditions, most are, young, vibrant and healthy. And so what if some of the dogs are old? Many shelter dogs that become very good companion animals are senior dogs. They usually make great pets for people who are old or less active themselves.
I can’t get purebred dogs in shelters. As a matter of fact, you can get dogs belonging to even the rarest of breeds in animal shelters. But mixed breeds make great pets too, especially because they often experience less medical problems than purebred dogs.
courtesy of www.dogstardaily.com
If you are thinking about getting a dog, or perhaps adding another one to your household, you might want to read this article to see if you have done your homework on figuring out just what type of dog is really right for you and the best methods for training your dogs to fit in with your lifestyle.
An Un-Tapped Resource
by Marie Finnegan, January 17, 2010
Dog Star Daily
As dog trainers we regularly see people who have chosen to add a dog to their home that isn’t always the best match for them. Our job is to teach them how to live together in spite of the challenges a mismatch may bring with it. Most of the time we can help, but sometimes sadly the dog ends up in rescue instead, despite our best efforts.
What I don’t understand is why more people don’t ask trainers their opinion in finding the right dog for them. We see and work with more breeds and shelter dogs regularly than they will ever meet in a lifetime. Some of us even live with multiple breeds in our own homes. Not to mention the fact that dog trainers know about dog behavior and breed traits because it is our job to know this information.
Dogs are so forgiving, so eager to please. They can be trained to behave with manners that would make anyone proud. What if we were more like them? Here’s an article from CBS’s Bob Schieffer, with a whimsical look at how much better off we might be if we took a few lessons from our dogs.
Bob Schieffer Says Humans Would Be Better Off If We Let Dogs Be Our Teachers Read the rest of this entry »
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