It might just seem like semantics but this small difference implies a major shift in your thinking about your dog.
When you teach your dog a behavior using luring, shaping, or capturing; we wait to put it to a word until the dog can do the behavior when prompted every time. This lets us pair the word with the behavior so that the dog learns it in just one or two sessions. It is very efficient and easy for the dog to learn. The more words your dog has learned the simpler and faster the process will become to your dog.
When you teach your dog a behavior using escape/avoidance using a word from the start is important to give the dog a chance to avoid the leash jerk, butt push, ear pinch et cetera. In this case you are commanding, “Do it or else”.
The latter is not the type of relationship that I want to share with my dog. I want my dog to trust that I will keep them safe no matter what. They listen when I ask them to do known behaviors to the best of their ability and my training. Whether it is leaping over agility jumps or coming to me even though there is another dog in the next yard. They know that good things come when they listen not that bad things happen when they don’t.
But what will I do if they don’t listen? I try and figure out what I did wrong and learn from my mistakes. Was my young dog off leash when he should have been wearing a long line? Bad human! Did I point my body at the tunnel when I wanted my dog to jump? Bad human! Did my dog get into the garbage when I didn’t walk him and let him wander the house alone? Bad human! Dogs will be dogs until we teach them the rules of living with humans and give them outlets for their natural doggy-ness. Dogs are more than willing to learn if we teach them.
When you teach your dog a behavior using luring, shaping, or capturing; we wait to put it to a word until the dog can do the behavior when prompted every time. This lets us pair the word with the behavior so that the dog learns it in just one or two sessions. It is very efficient and easy for the dog to learn. The more words your dog has learned the simpler and faster the process will become to your dog.
When you teach your dog a behavior using escape/avoidance using a word from the start is important to give the dog a chance to avoid the leash jerk, butt push, ear pinch et cetera. In this case you are commanding, “Do it or else”.
The latter is not the type of relationship that I want to share with my dog. I want my dog to trust that I will keep them safe no matter what. They listen when I ask them to do known behaviors to the best of their ability and my training. Whether it is leaping over agility jumps or coming to me even though there is another dog in the next yard. They know that good things come when they listen not that bad things happen when they don’t.
But what will I do if they don’t listen? I try and figure out what I did wrong and learn from my mistakes. Was my young dog off leash when he should have been wearing a long line? Bad human! Did I point my body at the tunnel when I wanted my dog to jump? Bad human! Did my dog get into the garbage when I didn’t walk him and let him wander the house alone? Bad human! Dogs will be dogs until we teach them the rules of living with humans and give them outlets for their natural doggy-ness. Dogs are more than willing to learn if we teach them.
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