WOOF! WOOF! MY DOG KEEPS BARKING
Barking is a big issue for many of dog owners, firstly I would like to discuss the reasons why dogs bark and what they are trying to communicate to us via different types of bark. Different types of barks Low and gruff Short intervals in between the bark High pitched...
Mind the Dog!
Dogs are very connected to our own states of mind, which in turn can have a dramatic impact on their own behaviours. This can become a vicious circle as if our tolerance is less and inner strength is weak the dog's behaviour can get worse. Dogs like routine and...
Dog Trainer or Dog Behaviourist?
My title is 'dog behaviourist' and I often get asked do I train dogs? and what is the difference between a dog trainer and a dog behaviourist? Yes, I do personally have knowledge of how dogs learn in which I can then adapt this to training a dog to gain...
Stop! Smell the Roses
In today's modern world of digital technology, fast food and convenient travel our pace of life has sped up beyond all recognition of the days gone by and it seems it will continue to do so. Our four legged friends the dog, has evolved to be by our side and values our...
My dog won’t come back !!! – Poor Recall
Introduction When training for a good recall, operant training should be adopted using key word commands and signals and then the use of classically conditioning the dog that when it comes to you it will be rewarded. To start the recall training the pup/dog must have...
Walk the Walk- Lead Training
Why dogs pull? Dogs learn to pull on the lead through not being taught correct lead manners at a young age. It becomes a habit to reach the place they are going faster. They may be a breed that instinctually pulls or they may be walking with other dogs and the...
The ‘Stay’ Command -Teaching Tips
The stay command is invaluable as it assists in the training of redirecting other behaviours such as jumping up. It also increases impulse control, reduces excitability and helps to steady the dog so it will give you more focus. It may also be used in an emergency to...
Eight Ways to Reward your Dog to Achieve Better Behaviours
Following on from my 'The Secrets to Reward Based Training' and ‘8 Ways You could be Unknowingly Rewarding Undesirable Behaviours from your Dog’, it is time to look at how to communicate what you want your dog to do first and for them to respond appropriately before...
Eight Occassions you maybe Unknowingly Rewarding Undesirable Behaviours from your Dog
Following on from my 'The Secrets to Reward Based Training' post it is time to look at some undesirable, frustrating or annoying behaviours that you may have experienced from your dog that you can be unknowingly rewarding. Dogs will learn the behaviour to display...
The Secrets of Postive Reinforcment Based Training
Dogs work on a reward based system as do we! We would not go to work without pay, unless we were volunteering of course but that gives us a different kind of emotional reward. Food and praise are the obvious two and usually high on the list for many dogs, but rewards...