The truth is there are so many dog training schools that offer their services to anyone willing to pay them. The problem though is not all schools will meet your standards or your expected guarantees. Here are some points of considerations when trying to choose a good school for training your dog.
Reputation
Reputation has different meanings to different people- for some it is the capacity to yield good results regardless of the means, for others it is the popularity of the school itself which makes it highly recommended. But reputation, in general, is a good gauge as to how popular the name of the training school and the appeal of the training methods it uses. It also reflects how many people have trusted on them.
To find a school with excellent reputation you could ask around or search through websites. Veterinarians usually have several names of schools and trainers to give you, your dog breeder could also provide you with some references and ASPCA or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals can provide a list of registered names that are sure to use humane methods approved by the organization.
Methods of Training
Any self-respecting training school uses responsible dog training methods. The school must have equal concern to your dog as you do, treating your dog one of their own. Beware of schools that employ trainers who still use old training methods such as yelling or hurting the dogs for there exists many of this kind.
A good school should use humane techniques that promote positive training and limits the use of risky negative reinforcement techniques. The former covers praises and the use of dog treats in recognition of the desirable behavior while the negative reinforcement techniques include practices like alpha rolling, choking and yelling.
Sufficient knowledge
The knowledge on training of the schools must range from the oldest unreliable method to the latest training techniques for dogs. Having extensive orientation in this field would optimize the capacity of your dog to learn since it would be exposed to all possible trainings to which it could respond well.
In researching for training schools, secure information regarding the latest seminars that the trainers attended to and the up-to-date facilities they have. Remember that you would pay hefty amounts to get your dog trained, it is but proper that you and your dog receive proper compensation for your investment.
Another thing that you should keep in mind is that the school's exposure to widespread training. There are schools that claim of specialization while others advertise that they have sufficient knowledge on all fields of dog training. Your choice should depend largely on the scope of knowledge the training school has.
Classroom Set Up
There are two types of classroom set-ups- group classes and private lessons. The main advantage of the group class is that it promotes socialization and good behavior in the presence of other dogs. Also, when the owner trains alongside his dog, the owner could benefit from exposure to other handlers' mistakes and techniques.
On the other hand, private trainings could not yield these advantages. There is also a good chance that the transfer of learning and obedience to command given by persons other than the trainer is poor.
It is easy to pick any dog training school but choosing the right one for your dog could prove to be a tedious process.
Wouldn't it be wonderful if all dogs are trained? There'll be no chewed off furniture, no scratches on the walls, no dog poop on the carpet. The problem is, hiring a dog trainer can be rather expensive. And hiring one is not a fool proof guarantee that your dog will "learn" what was taught to him.
What most dog owners do nowadays is to do the training themselves. And this is where dog training aids prove to be useful.
One of the most common tools is the dog lead or leash. These are made up of different materials like leather, cotton web, nylon and chain. Experts advise the use of leather leashes because of its durability and ease in use.
It doesn't cut or burn the skin and is comfortable to use. Aside from these, it is lightweight and does not produce much noise unlike chain. Leather leashes may come in different styles and designs. It is sold in various lengths as well, the most common of which is 6 feet.
Together with the leash is the collar. This may tighten or loosen, depending on the dog's movement. Slip or choke, collars are usually made of leather, and come in a variety of designs like rolled, field and braided. In choosing a collar, make sure that it fits the dog well. It must not be too tight or too loose.
Instead of a leash, you may also use a 15-foot line. This is used to control the dog from a distance.
Other aids include bait bags and pouches. These are used to make it easy for you to hand out motivators like treats and food while training.
After some training time, your dog may show some signs of improvement. At this stage, use of the leash may not be required anymore. This is when some dog trainers use leather pull tabs and shark lines. This is also used in cases where the dog needs to undergo agility training. The dog may feel that he is off-leash, but you are still able to control and correct him by giving the tool a slight pull.
Another aid used in training dogs for specific jobs is the whistle. Because the sound can reach far distances, this aid is ideal if training is done in large spaces such as farms and forest areas and in noisy areas.
This aid is usually used when training dogs for hunting or gathering herd. Scent bands and dummies are also used together with the whistle. Dummies such as grouse, quail and pheasant wings are used to hold the scents. The scents make the dummies smell like real fowl.
Other aids include halters, harnesses, bells, clickers, pads and ring gates. With advances of technology, there are also new electronic aids available. Among these are electronic collars and invisible fences. While these tools may seem complicated, with enough information they make great training aids.
Training the dog yourself has its own rewards. With the proper orientation on how training is done and the proper dog training aids, your dog can sit, stay and roll at your call. You need to allot some time and space for training.
It may be difficult, but the bond that training creates between you and your dog is one of the most important benefits that training does.
This website uses cookies that are necessary to its functioning and required to achieve the purposes illustrated in the privacy policy. By accepting this OR scrolling this page OR continuing to browse, you agree to our Privacy Policy