Article Categories
» Arts & Entertainment
» Automotive
» Business
» Careers & Jobs
» Education & Reference
» Finance
» Food & Drink
» Health & Fitness
» Home & Family
» Internet & Online Businesses
» Miscellaneous
» Self Improvement
» Shopping
» Society & News
» Sports & Recreation
» Technology
» Travel & Leisure
» Writing & Speaking

  Listed Article

  Category: Articles » Home & Family » Pets » Article
 

Dog Training part III - Communicating with the dog




By Hagar Lagarto

Fundamentally, dog training is about communication. From the human perspective the handler is communicating to the dog what behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in what circumstances. From the canine perspective the handler must communicate what behaviors will give the dog the most satisfaction to his natural instincts and emotions. Without that inner satisfaction a dog will not work well.

A successful handler must also understand the communication that the dog sends to the handler. The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused, nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional state of the dog is an important consideration in directing the training, as a dog that is stressed or distracted will not learn efficiently.

According to Learning Theory there are a four important messages that the handler can send the dog:

Reward or release marker
Correct behavior. You have earned a reward. For example, "Free" followed by a reward.

Bridge
Correct behavior. Continue and you will earn a reward. For example, "Good".

No reward marker
Incorrect behavior. Try something else. For example, "Uh-uh" or "Try again".

Punishment marker
Incorrect behavior. You have earned punishment. For example, "No".

Using consistent signals or words for these messages enables the dog to understand them more quickly. If the handler sometimes says "good" as a reward marker and sometimes as a bridge, it is difficult for the dog to know when he has earned a reward.

Rewards can be treats, play, praise, or anything that the dog finds rewarding. Failure to reward after the reward marker diminishes the value of the reward marker and makes training more difficult.

These four messages do not have to be communicated with words, and nonverbal signals are often used. In particular, mechanical clickers are frequently used for the reward marker. Hand signals and body language also play an important part in learning for dogs.

Dogs usually do not generalize commands easily; that is, a dog who has learned a command in a particular location and situation may not immediately recognize the command to other situations. A dog who knows how to "down" in the living room may suffer genuine confusion if asked to "down" at the park or in the car. The command will need to be retaught in each new situation. This is sometimes called "cross-contextualization," meaning the dog has to apply what's been learned to many different contexts.

Next: Dog Training part IV - Reward and punishment
 
 
About the Author
Hagar lagarto is a long time Pet lover with many articles and websites on the subject.You can get much more info at http://pet.freehostia.com

Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/25725.html
 
If you wish to add the above article to your website or newsletters then please include the "Article Source: http://www.simplysearch4it.com/article/25725.html" as shown above and make it hyperlinked.



  Some other articles by Hagar Lagarto
Dog Training Part V: The Command Voice
When giving commands to a dog, a calm, firm, authoritative voice is most effective. Dogs do not respond well to hesitant, pleading voices, nor to yelling, ...

Rabbits Diet: Is your rabbit eating right?
The typical diet for a pet rabbit consists of water, hay, pellets, fresh vegetables, and its own caecal pellets. Fruit and other treats are given only in very limited quantities, as they can cause obesity in a ...

Dog Training Part I
Dog training is the process of teaching a dog to exhibit certain desired behaviors in specific circumstances. Some examples are: * Teaching a dog basic obedience commands ...

  
  Recent Articles
Air Scent Dogs - SAR Dogs
by Rodrigo Trigosso

A Review of Different Types of Cats
by Jack Moundon

Breeding and Selling Dogs
by Janet

Dog Care: Top 10 Ways To Keep Your Dog Forever Young
by Debra Primovic

Is Pet Insurance Right for You and Your Dog?
by Debra Primovic

Tracking Dogs - The Nose Job
by Rodrigo Trigosso

Tips on Obedience Training For Your Pet Dog
by Benz Slow

Teaching Your Puppy Obedience Lessons
by Benz Slow

Obedience Training For Your Pet Dog
by Benz Slow

Love Boxer's? So do we.
by Elyse Lavery

Secrets of Professional Dog Trainers: Top 10 Tips to Successfully Training Your Dog Yourself
by Dr. Nicholas Dodman

Feeding Your Pet Fresh Foods
by Sherry Massey

Cat Breeds - Choosing The Best Breed
by Susan Richards

Persian - The facts every owner of this cat breed should know
by Robert W. Benjamin

Ragdoll - The facts every owner of this cat breed should know
by Robert W. Benjamin

Can't connect to database