Just bring up the subject of training a dog in a large group of people and you’ll find that everyone has an opinion on how it should be done. Some will use choke chains, others may use treats and so on. With all the information available to us today on the subject and techniques, it might become a bit overwhelming. So it is important to ask yourself, what do I expect from my dog?. Is my dog going to be a family dog only?, or a competition dog in agility, hunting, fly ball or more?. For each category suggested the training may be different.
Know your dog
Realize that all dogs are not the same when it comes to their personality and demeanor. Some dogs will not tolerate heavy handed training. Others will cower, and release their bladder if you raise your voice and yell at them. By observing your dog and how he reacts to the leash, collar, loud noises, your voice, a ball, and or treat, will help you determine what training process will be best beneficial for your dog.
The Hollywood Pet Resort encourages all dog owners to take the responsibility in teaching their dog the basics when it comes to training. Every owner should strive to help their dog learn the basics in everyday manners to better the relationship. This will enrich both you and your dogs life, as well as those around you. As mentioned above there are many different ways of teaching your dog the basics and we hope that each dog owner investigates all the options available today.
Our Training
Our facility at The Hollywood Pet Resort is just one way your pet can learn the basics of training for the family dog. Here is a brief outline of how and what we do.
The Hollywood Pet Resorts philosophy is, C. P. R. - Consistency - Praise - Repetition. Did you know it takes a dog 30 times of repeating an act before it becomes habit?
Equipment we use
Collars Leads - 25 feet, 50 feet, 75 feet and 100 feet Non-Fat Treats - food inducements Balls Toys Voice Key Words Distractions Sign language
Stage One Training
Voice commands - Key Words with Food Inducements
We keep our command words down to one or two syllables at most. The following commands are taught in the order given below.
Dog’s name. A dog should respond and give eye contact when they hear his or her name. The Key word, “yes”, when the dog obeys the command and “no”, when the dog does not follow the command. Sit Come Heel Sit Stay Down Down Stay
*With these command words we will vary the pitch in our voice. Pitch is important and helps the dog to realize when he has done it right or wrong, with or without food inducements.
Our First stage is always done with food inducements. This helps the dog learn key words, voice and commands quicker with a positive reward reaction.
Example 1
Yes - when the dog obeys the command given, we use our pitch high and excited No - when the dog disregards the command, a low monotone pitch is used
Two Second Rule - with praise & food inducement
When we command a dog, at that moment the command is fulfilled we reward that behavior. Timing is everything and should be done within two seconds. We do this by using a high pitch voice with the key word “yes”, coupled with a food inducement in the first stage of training.
We use training leads that are different lengths when training the dog. These work great when the dog is further away and we need to give a slight correction if the dog does not listen to the command. It also helps with the timing of the correction. The correction is administered with a quick pop on the lead coupled with the word ,”no”.
Once the dog is ready for the stay commands we choose a release word. We find the word, “ok”, is good to use. It is a simple yet a positive word.
We take one command and work with it for one week or until the dog has mastered it. Keeping in mind that training should be fun and always positive. Our training time does not extend more than 20 minutes at each session, with no more than 3 to 4 sessions per day.
In an controlled environment we introduce the dog to as many loud noises, other dogs, animals, vacuums, cars, trucks, and people wearing different attire. Hats, long coats, uniforms, umbrellas and so forth will not become a big deal to the dog if introduced correctly.
At first training is done in an enclosed area, back yard, garage, house. Once the dog has mastered the command we may move on to the next. It will usually take a dog eight to twelve weeks to learn all of the above mentioned commands. When the dog knows all the commands mentioned above, then this is a good time to test our training. We do this by taking the dog to an area it is not familiar with. A park, a front yard, field or so on. We start out by using your 25 foot lead. We take one command for the time period of 20 minutes and work with him, always making sure we have one foot on the lead. This is incase the dog gets distracted by what’s going on around him. If he does then we can make the right correction at the right time to bring his focus back to the command given.
We observe and find out what motivates a dog. Some dogs will do anything for a treat, others a ball or favorite toy. Once the first stage is learned we mix up the rewards for obeying the command. This keeps it fun and entertaining for the dog.
We play games with the dog once these commands are learned. We have a lab mix that loves his tennis ball. We will put him in another room and give him the command word, “sit stay“. We hide his ball in another room then use the release word, “ok”. Then we tell him to find his ball, he goes into a smelling frenzy looking for his favorite ball. These games keep the training fresh and challenging for both us and the dog.
When dogs learn basic training they become better dogs. A well mannered trained dog can go anywhere and be a pleasure to be around. Dogs need boundaries and rules to lead a more happier life. We as their owner can experience a tight bond and wonderful relationship if we give our dog the training it deserves.
If you have any questions on the subject of our training, we would like to hear from you. Please when emailing us, use the heading “Training Question” so it does not get erased with the spam. Our email address: admin@thehollywoodpet.org Or visit us at: www.thehollywoodpet.org - “Where Cold Noses Meet Warm Hearts”
Disclaimer: All information on this site is
provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice
provided to you by any health care or other professional or
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