When we are going to bring a new dog home we have to take into account all the factors and one of them consists in the fact that we will have to give it an education, for which we will use the dog training. This training is an important part of the life of dogs, so we must have at least some notions.
We are going to talk about training, types of training and what we have to do to train the dog. It is a very important part of giving you a good education.
Dog training basics
When it comes to learning about dog training, we have to be clear about some basic concepts that help us understand the many ways we have to get a good training for our pet. In this way we will be able to use one or the other and we will know what we are doing and how to do it, since there is not only one way or a valid technique to train a dog.
Training and education
The training is similar to dog education but it is not exactly the same. When we talk about canine education, we refer to teaching our dog certain rules of coexistence and to interact in its environment, which can be done through some learning techniques. In the case of canine training we go a little further, since a dog can be educated, but not be trained in certain qualities. Training is a training for the dog to acquire specific skills or can perform certain exercises. It is a broader and more complete concept than education.
Signs of calm
Dogs have their own language and this is something we have to learn to interpret if we want to communicate with them. We tend to think that they are the ones who have to adapt to us, but knowing how they communicate will help us improve training sessions and coexistence. Dogs they emit calm signals to show us that they are stressed about something and want us to calm down. They can be different signals, such as sniffing the ground, looking away, showing the belly, yawning or licking the muzzle. To find out if it is a calm signal we must take into account the context and thus we will know how to communicate with them.
Latency
Latency is the period that elapses between when we give the order and the dog executes it. If we are doing the training well, this latency period will be less and less until it is immediate. This period is a way to measure progress when training our dog, so it is something that we must measure if we want to be clear about the progress we are making in the case of dogs that have difficult learning.
Clicker
El clicker it is a training toy which has proven to be very effective. What it does is mark the behaviors that are desirable in the dog so that it executes them again and again. The clear and concise sound of the clicker helps the dog to distinguish those behaviors that are desirable. The clicker is normally used when these behaviors occur and a reward is applied after the clicker. In this way the dog relates this sound to something good and performs the behavior to get the clicker sound. It is a kind of positive training.
Reinforcement
El reinforcement can be positive or negative. Positive reinforcement is a reward that we give to the dog when it performs a desirable behavior for it to repeat. The treat must be given immediately afterwards for the dog to relate the two. In the case of negative reinforcement, although it is not a reasonable form of training, it is about giving a punishment when you do a bad behavior so that you do not repeat it.
Timing
El timing is the time that passes between the dog performing the behavior and receiving the reinforcement. The timing must be very short so that the dog knows what behaviors to repeat. It should not exceed five seconds and we are talking about using the clicker or giving a prize.
Punishment
This not the most desirable form of learning, since if we use positive reinforcement the dog will be more balanced. It should never be used in dogs that have fears and phobias. The punishment consists of stopping giving something that the dog wants, such as rewards, being a punishment for omission or making a correction when the dog does something wrong.
Extinction
Extinction consists of stop listening to the dog when we want him to stop performing a certain behavior. It is important when we know that the dog is doing something to get attention, such as barking or chewing on things.
Train with positive reinforcement
This is one of the most recommended ways when training the dog. It has excellent advantagesSince we must not physically bend the dog, it is a simple and fast method that is also very fun for dogs, making them trust us more. Strengthens the relationship and bond between the owner and his pet.
With positive reinforcement what we do is give the dog a reward when it performs a behavior that is desirable, the one we want of all the behaviors that the dog performs. We must give that reinforcement quickly when performing the behavior, since this way the dog will associate the two things. When we give the order, the dog will want its reward and will perform the behavior that we have rewarded again. Over time we have to stop giving that reward so that the dog simply performs the command because it has internalized it. It is good to change the rewards, giving food or pet treats, so that the dog does not always expect the same.
En many times the clicker is usedas it is much easier for dogs to understand this system. Instead of attending to the award, we use the clicker when the behavior is performed, marking it in an easy and fast way. That is why it has become a great accessory for trainers.