Saturday, January 14, 2012

My way of thinking/ Training your dog

I have had dogs all my life.  Starting with a Dachshund in 1959 and moving on to larger breeds as I got a little older.  I began learning to train them very early through my Father who was a stickler for obedience (from the dogs and my brother and me too).  I always loved my dogs and I wanted them to obey me, but I wasn't fond of some of the tricks of the trade.  Things like swatting a newspaper to get their attention and giving treats just because they did what you asked somehow didn't seem right to me, even at an early age.


In 1982 and began raising Australian Shepherds for show.  I had a rescue dog as well, but the idea of going to dog shows and breeding was of a certain interest to me.  I didn't really think it through very well.  The work involved was way more than I had bargained for.  All the obedience classes and all those dog shows.  And the pain of selling them to make room for more was something I hadn't bargained on.  After 10 years I called it quits.  I still had my rescue girl, Cubby, and I kept just one Aussie, Briar.

During my tenure as an obedience trainer, I began to apply some new methods of my own.  Instead of rewarding good behavior with treats, I rewarded them with praise and a kiss.  People at the dog shows were appalled.  I cut out the tricks people like to teach their dogs and went simply for the commands necessary to control and protect.  Dogs need to know how to come, sit, stay, lie down, and stop.  Roll over, shake, sit up, are all cute tricks but unless your dog is going to be on TV these are not necessary commands for your dog's well being.  They are tricks for your own amusement.

When Jon and I got our current two dogs, Roxy and Charlie, we decided together to allow them to act like dogs.  We taught them only the basics and we taught with nothing but our love.  They were given treats occasionally just to show our love, but we only reward them with love when they obey a command.  We found that the more we gave them reasonable freedom, the more they were willing to do to get that loving attention.  Also it seems they learned to understand more things than we had to teach them.  They followed their instincts.  They are loving and sweet.  They are very well socialized.  The only punishment they receive is the silent treatment for an hour or two.  That really gets them more than a harsh word or cracked newspaper.

I call this method "Love Training" and I have even given classes on how to employ this method of training successfully.  Unless you want a circus or show dog, this method works to provide you with a happy, well adjusted, and obedient family member.  Many disagree with me but the proof is in the pudding.  Patience and love are your primary tools in having the best training outcome.

                                        Peace and Love,

                                           Austin/Bill

                                www.wahjr56.blogspot.com

6 comments:

  1. Bill I enjoyed your post, but do you think it is harmful to a dog to teach it tricks? From what I have experienced, my dogs loved to show off and were always happy doing them. I do think Charlie and Roxy are very fortunate to be a part of your family, and you and Jon are fortunate to have them!

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    1. Sandy, I don't think "tricks" are harmful. I think they are unnecessary. There are so many things that dogs do as a natural behavior and different dogs respond to different things. Charlie catches a ball in his mouth. He likes to fetch. I didn't teach him these things. They aren't tricks on demand but they certainly ARE tricks. Most dogs in a sitting position will raise their paw if you hold out your hand. You don't need to say "shake". I enjoy letting the dogs display the tricks they do without being taught.

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  2. Bill, With your love of animals it is no surprise that you are a great trainer. I agree that love goes a long way in training dogs but I also use treats and we teach them the "unnecessary" tricks like shaking hands. I don't think there's any harm in it and our dogs have fun with it. In fact, when we had our terrier/Lhaso Apso mix (Wiz), he loved bananas but our lab (Oz) doesn't care for them. If he had a piece in his mouth, he'd drop it. I'd give Oz a piece of banana and say "give it to Wiz" and he'd drop it and Wiz would scoop it up. I don't actually think I taught him anything -- he would've dropped it anyway but it was a fun morning routine. Keep the animal stories coming!

    Trish
    www.robertssister.com
    caregiving. family. advocacy.

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    1. Trish, see my response to Sandy. As you pointed out, the cutest things dogs do, like dropping the banana, are really just natural behaviors. We can call these tricks but I prefer letting dogs make up their own games and tricks. If we want to talk to them while they display their abilities, that's fine. I still say "catch the ball" even though Charlie will do it as long as I throw it. See what I mean?

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  3. "Love Training"! Sounds wonderful (should be applied to humans as well). I think you've found your way to your rightful place in the animal world--can't imagine you training and selling animals!

    I don't have dogs - just a cat - and cats are a different breed, literally and metaphorically! But I know that loving my cat brings out her personality and gives me a lot in return.

    Sorry to have been absent for a while in reading blogs. Lots of converging responsibilities for a while there. Always glad to make it back.

    Judy Stone-Goldman
    The Reflective Writer
    http://www.thereflectivewriter.com
    Personal-Professional Balance Through Writing

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  4. So glad to have you back, Judy! My life has been so hectic I haven't been writing as much as I would like. Starting this new group Robin's Hope has been time consuming. I never expected such a huge response! Hope you'll join us there. We can always use another cat lover. It's a place for photos, stories, videos, anything animal.

    Love,
    Austin/Bill

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