Training techniques I LOVE to work with;
CAPTURING BEHAVIOUR...The moment you see your dog doing something you'd like to see more often "capture" that moment by giving them a signal that they've just won the lottery and a reward for the behaviour. "yes", "wow", "good boy", "CHA CHING" I've even associated me raising my eyebrows "oh I like that" look, squint my eyes and slow blink or smile as a signal to my dogs that "I sure liked what you did this split second" and at first the reward must be delivered immediately so they can make the association.."hey, she did that funny thing with her eyebrows, and sound from her mouth...and I got a treat for ...hmmm....what was I doing? Oh yeah...sitting! "
Sometimes it's nice to not have to use words, especially when you are in conversation with someone, have a cold, been at the dentist, are tired of talking all day... to let them know you think they're a ROCKSTAR and a reward will be coming!
ie. out on a walk, you stop to talk to someone and your dog sits and chills out, which allows you to have an uninterrupted conversation. I'll take a second to look at my chill-axed dogs and look at them with soft eyes, blink slowly and smile, to let them know that I REALLY appreciate them hanging out while I chat with someone.
PROMPTS... "Prompting involves manipulating the animal or the environment such that the animal performs the response" Pamela Reid, Excel-erated Learning.
VISUAL or ACOUSTIC prompts... such as TARGETING...ie.nose touch my hand, go to a place like your mat, or even using a toy (race through the agility tunnel and waiting at the other end will be your favourite toy!), hand signals, even verbal cues like "sit"....helps to teach a behaviour and lets the dog know what you'd love for them to be doing.
It's a shortcut to shaping a behaviour as you manipulate the environment, or using your prompts, visual, verbal, to make it a no brainer for the dog to figure out what you're trying to communicate. ie.. to teach walking beside you, first teach the dog to nose touch your hand...then start walking and if the dog starts to move ahead, stop, put your hand beside you and have the dog "touch" it....voila! Dog comes back to your side, and you can start walking again....a visual cue for the dog to let them know what/where you'd like them to be = walking beside you :)
PHYSICAL prompts... I'm not into a hands on manipulation, forcing a dog into a position. If I were to use a physical prompt, it would be using body language, like a slight lean towards a dog. That would be more than enough info, to let them know to stay put. Or if I were to start backing away from the dog, it would most likely encourage them to come to me, a physical signal to them that I am as initiating a game of fun chase!
I do not use or promote any hands on prompt methods. The pressure of leaning towards a dog and not making contact would be the most invasive technique I would ever use. When you understand how to use positive methods to achieve your training goals, there's no need to put your hands on the dog and apply pressure physically.
LURE prompts using food, toys.... If you use a lure...it's important to understand how to fade it within a few repetitions. Taking an item of interest to the dog and then moving it in a way that the dog follows the imaginary line and performs a behaviour. ie. If you wanted to teach your dog to sit. Take a smelly piece of food and enclose it in your hand, reach the hand towards the dog and position it a couple inches above the dog's nose. If you've positioned it correctly (not to high so the dog jumps at your hand), the dog will most likely point it's nose towards the scent of whatever is in your hand, and lean back into a sit on their own. The second they plunk their bum to the ground, you'd open your hand and offer the food to your dog.
SHAPING behaviour chains... rewarding baby-steps until you reach your training goal!
ie. Teaching your dog to recall to you, involves many steps if you take a closer look. You could look at this string of behaviours as seperate links on a chain. Your pooch must understand when he hears the magic word "come" he must:
1-Stop what he's doing, disengage from whatever was holding his interest.
2-Turn his body to orient towards where ever you may be.
3-Start making his way over to you, hopefully with loads of enthusiasm!
4-Ignore the world of distractions going on around them.
5-Stop before he knocks into you or races by you
6-Focus his attention on you, ignoring the world around him
7-Wait patiently to hear what comes next.
