How to Train a Dog

[Willing and Unsure]

Yeah, I know it seems like a simple question and like it's something I should be able to do, but I have no clue. I've been watching my sister's dog for her during the day since I've been home all day. The dog could still be classified as a puppy since she's not a year old yet (getting closer to that, just dont konw when she was born or anything).

The big problem with the dog now is that I can't tell if she's just really stupid or just doesn't care. So, if anyone could help me with ways to teach the dog just about anything (she understands sit, but that's it), I would really appreciate it.

 

[bisexplicit]

Well, if she understands "sit" that means she is trainable.
Have you ever taken any basic psychology classes? Classical conditioning training works really well for animals.
Basically, rewards given out at the proper time are key. So, like to teach a dog to sit you would say "sit" give a hand signal (because sometimes some animals respond better to montions than words) and then push down the dogs back end. When the dog is in a sitting position reward it with a treat and with praise (dogs can sense pitch change). Do this a few times in a row. Eventually, it will catch on. (And this can easily be adapted to other things you want it to do...)

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Well, if she understands "sit" that means she is trainable.
Have you ever taken any basic psychology classes? Classical conditioning training works really well for animals.
Basically, rewards given out at the proper time are key. So, like to teach a dog to sit you would say "sit" give a hand signal (because sometimes some animals respond better to montions than words) and then push down the dogs back end. When the dog is in a sitting position reward it with a treat and with praise (dogs can sense pitch change). Do this a few times in a row. Eventually, it will catch on. (And this can easily be adapted to other things you want it to do...)

See, I thought of all that, but my sister is adamant that the dog not get trained that way. She keeps saying something about the dog having a sensitive stomach and cant have treats (supposedly the dog will have diarrea (sp?) all over the house at night). I'm kind of wondering if there's any other ways? The big thing that I'm trying to teach the dog is to not leave the yard when she gets let out and not to jump up on people.

 

[Halo_n_horns]

See, I thought of all that, but my sister is adamant that the dog not get trained that way. She keeps saying something about the dog having a sensitive stomach and cant have treats (supposedly the dog will have diarrea (sp?) all over the house at night). I'm kind of wondering if there's any other ways? The big thing that I'm trying to teach the dog is to not leave the yard when she gets let out and not to jump up on people.

If the dog is still a pup (Which with many dogs can technically last until they're two years old) and she said that the dog gets the runs from treats, then something in the dog's current regular diet is more likely to blame. Many dog foods are simply to rich in some nutrients, or too lacking in most nutrients, and they'll fly right through a puppy or cause runs or constipation with a catalyst that is usually some sort of treat.

Try switching the pup to one of the all-natural dog foods that has come out on the market. There's one from one of the Van Patten boys, another called Nature's Choice or Nature's Select (something to that effect), but most of them can be fed to pups and adult dogs alike.

As for the training, the advice that you already got is pretty much the best way to do it. I trained my dogs on cut up hot dogs and/or positive reinforcement. When training a dog you don't want them thinking that there's going to be a food treat at the end of every command that they obey. You want them thinking that the positive reinforcement and the food treats are equal in value, and therefore they will get one and/or the other.

However, doing training almost exclusively with food treats at the beginning of each new command is probably the best way to get the dog's attention.

There's also the "click method," there's a book written by a bunch of Budhist Monks about dog training that has proven very effective, and a number of other ways that you can read up on. Treats and positive reinforcement are probably by far the most common way to train.

Good luck.

 

[EJFan]

my dog was a total moron as a puppy... poor guy, he's so cute. he's a dachshund and, like most hunting dogs, has a one track mind that makes it hard to get/keep his attention.

here are some tips for you:

1. if he has a sensitive stomach, just use his regular kibble as training treats. if you're worried about overeating, take it from his meal alotment.

2. to be sure your dog is paying attention to YOU (the trainer) put a treat in your mouth and let it tumble out when you say his name. this will condition the dog to look you in the eye and help him associate his name with you wanting his attention.

3. be sure (like bisexplicit said) to use hand signals. whatever communication you're doing, it's all a foreign language to the dog but most tend to pick up signals faster than words. use both and he'll make the connection soon enough.

4. be patient & persistent. depending on how complex the thing you're teaching is, it could take days for him to catch on... but be sure to end every session with a success. even if you're learning something new and it's not going well, revert to something he does very well at the end before stopping.

5. take pictures. we wanna see him!

 

[Ezzy]

Be positive about what you want to achieve.

Concider a few training sessions at Pet Smart or looking into obedience classes in your library, that are local to you.

It is all a matter of time and effort, but there are several things that you can work on that will help, and things you can make sure you do that will stop you blaming the dog for.

The big thing that I'm trying to teach the dog is to not leave the yard when she gets let out and not to jump up on people.

Unless the yard is enclosed you don't have a hope of getting the dog to stay in the yard on its own. So you will need to go out with the dog and get her used to the area you want her to use.

I have potty trained puppies on several occasions, and I have used the same method sucessfully with them all, everytime the puppy moves from near youand does not go for either food or drink straight away, it is time to go for a walk.

It doesn't have to be a long walk just far enough to get them to do their business, but you have to be able to commit a couple of days to it and be able to wake up and go out whenever the puppy mowes day or night.

After two days or three at the outside, I have had puppies who will come and ask to go out for a walk when they need one, getting them to talk is the hardest part here (joke).

The basic set of commands, Sit, Stay, Down, Heel, are what you want to teach, lots of pet places have beginers training videos at around $10.00 a video if you want to go it alone.


Here is a chunk I pulled from the web about jumping up.

If a dog is jumping up, most pet dog owners will have all hell trying to get a dog to sit. Lets get it right, sorry for being blunt but I shoot from the hip! Most people have never bothered to attend a training school, read a book and now expect to train a dog by letter, well I do not think it can be done.

Dogs react to a trigger like a doorbell for excitement, it is an arrrival of another member of the pack, I must jump to show I am the host. With jumping dogs I like to consider removing excitable triggers. The front door bell rings, before opening the door I put away the dog. I am the host not the dog, this raises my status and reduces the dogs.

I bring my guests in. To me my dogs are not big, to me my dogs do not smell, to others they are big, they smell. I also advise my pet owners that what is acceptable to me is not always acceptable to my friends. It is a good idea to remove all excitability when entering your own home. Try walking in without looking, touching or talking for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes then talk and love you dog. This has removed the excitability trigger.

For dogs that jump up we have to think that a dog will do what is rewarding, if its good he does it, if it is not good he does not do it. Simple as that.

When a dog jumps up, do not be aggressive and knee, simply hold him up by his front paws and in a loving voice tell him you love him. He has jumped up so you react by holding him up. Do not let him down, keep him up as long as you can. By keeping him up, I mean stretching him up, and up and keep talking. He will then start to mouth your hands, then and only then drop him down. Do not place him, drop him.

When he is on all four legs which God gave him, love him to bits, cuddle and talk. Then encourage him to jump again, he might well try, as soon as he does grab the paws and repeat the whole exercise.

It is important to get the timing right, it is important that the whole family learn. Your dog will learn in a few minutes that to jump will make you react and he will not find this rewarding.

Its easy, simple and kind..

Commitment, Firmness, but kindness.

My main advice is contact your local pet store or library and see what is available now in your area.

Take a book out of the library sitstayfetch and "Dog Training Zone" are two I would recommend.

Good luck and please remember the more you train the dog, the better you understand them and they understand you. So commit the time and energy and turn around those troubles.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Thanks all for the suggestions. I'll be sure to give some of these a try. And after I get my computer set up with the camera (I'm still using my parents right now), I'll happily put some pictures up along with the progress.

 

[LadyG]

The monks of New Skete's book..is awesome.

http://www.highbridgeaudio.com/artofraispup.html

Patience and repetition. Like you would do with a toddler. With my two, making a big fuss over them when they "get it right" works just as well as treats.

The hand signals are a biggie. My older dog is now deaf and though she reacts to my facial expressions, she'd be confused as all hell if she didn't know what certain signals mean.

If the yard isn't fenced, then teaching it not to leave the yard is akin to putting a candy out of a child's reach and expecting them not to try to get it.

What kind of dog is this? If it's got any hound/terrier in it..it's going to roam, no matter what.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

The monks of New Skete's book..is awesome.

http://www.highbridgeaudio.com/artofraispup.html

Patience and repetition. Like you would do with a toddler. With my two, making a big fuss over them when they "get it right" works just as well as treats.

The hand signals are a biggie. My older dog is now deaf and though she reacts to my facial expressions, she'd be confused as all hell if she didn't know what certain signals mean.

If the yard isn't fenced, then teaching it not to leave the yard is akin to putting a candy out of a child's reach and expecting them not to try to get it.

What kind of dog is this? If it's got any hound/terrier in it..it's going to roam, no matter what.

The yard isn't fenced in. I know that a dog can learn to stay within the yard without a problem. I had a dog before this one that never left the yard except maybe twice when she was a puppy, and even then she only went to the neighbors yard. So, I do know it's possible to teach a dog that one without a fence, I just can't quite figure out how.

As for the type, she's a cockapoo (half cocker spaniel, half poodle). And she loves to chase the birds.

 

[Undomiel]

I can't remember an awful lot about training my dog cause I was 10 when I got him. He's really clever though which helps. I definetly did the treat thing and gave him a little slap on the nose if he did something wrong. They just pick up on things really. I've since taught him sign language.

Like he'll sit, stay, give the paw etc just with hand signals. He knows a lot of words. Especially ones associated with walks and we can't even spell certain words anymore cause he knows what they mean. He know's when we're going for a drive, he shouldn't eat or drink before. He'll drag me around the house sometimes if he wants something. He's so cute. Yeah I like my dog. I'll shut up now.

 

[BrissieLilly]

Right. I am a vet student and i have trained my TWO cattle dogs to do all of the mundane commands, beg, stand on their hind legs, jumo through hoops, and jump into my arms.

Patience and repetition. Like you would do with a toddler. With my two, making a big fuss over them when they "get it right" works just as well as treats.
The hand signals are a biggie. My older dog is now deaf and though she reacts to my facial expressions, she'd be confused as all hell if she didn't know what certain signals mean.

^THAT is the best advice in this whole thread. Repetition and Rewards.
Don't feed that All-Natural shit dogfood; it's pointless. Good brands include Hills and Science Diet. Purina is well-known, although not AFCO approved, which means that diet trials have not been run on it.

Diarrhoea will not occur if you're feeding small amounts of food, unless the puppy is sensitive to what you're treating with. Diarrhoea occurs when you suddenly change the whole diet to something different.

 

[Willing and Unsure]

Diarrhoea will not occur if you're feeding small amounts of food, unless the puppy is sensitive to what you're treating with. Diarrhoea occurs when you suddenly change the whole diet to something different.

From what I understand, she was born with some kind of stomach virus. It's caused lots of weird problems for her with what she eats. The virus is gone now, and has been for a couple of months, but she still has some sensitivities to a lot of things. Her main food is Iambs Puppy food (since she got off the special medicated food) and she has no problems with that, so long as she doesnt have too much.