Choosing A Dog Training Method That Works

How many times have you heard people complain about the disappointing results they got trying to train their dogs? About how they’ve been to obedience training classes and even hired a dog trainer to come to their house, only to find they weren’t getting the results they hoped for? About how they still can’t curb their dog’s aggression or simply get the dog to obey them?

My guess is, a lot! But the owners are not all to blame. The training method you use will most likely determine the outcome of your effort and the level of success you will have in training your dog. I could give you several examples of training techniques that are either ineffective or plain dangerous.

Like in the case of the dog-aggressive Akita that was enrolled in a reputable training program, or so the owner thought. The owner was convinced by the trainer that the only way to break the Akita out of his aggression toward other dogs was to let a more dominant dog put him in his place. The trainer's dog displayed dominance toward other dogs, so she placed him in a room with the Akita and left the two dogs to work things out. When the trainer heard a window crashing, she opened the door only to find that her dog was injured, and the Akita had been rewarded for another display of aggressive behavior.

In other words, before choosing a particular training method, or a dog trainer who uses a certain training method, carefully review the technique to ensure that it will communicate your message clearly. Certain methods may not have the results you expect because you fail to communicate your intentions correctly.

If a method doesn’t make sense to you, it probably won't make sense to the dog, either. And occasionally, even thinking through a method does not result in a clear understanding of how it works.

For example, some of you might get tempted to follow this inexperienced trainer’s advice, thinking there is some common sense involved.

This trainer circulated a flyer in which he gave free advice to dog owners on how to stop their dogs from digging holes in their gardens. The trainer suggested filling the newly dug hole with water and taking the dog over to the hole by the scruff of the neck to dunk his head right into the water filled-hole. There was a short warning on the flyer, explaining also how this method was supposed to work; the dunking itself would probably not stop the dog from digging again. Instead, grabbing the dog by the scruff and forcing it down to the water would demonstrate the owner’s alpha position over the dog and cure all problem behavior. What the trainer forgot to warn about, is how the dog would learn to mistrust his owner for trying to drown him.

Not to mention, shortly after this flyer was distributed, another trainer was indicted for animal abuse for using this very correction technique.

If you are not sure about exactly how or why a method works, it is probably best to avoid the technique altogether. Even the most popular methods use techniques that may not be suited for every breed or temperament of dog.

An experienced dog trainer can help you evaluate each method in regard to your dog’s individual traits. Together you can choose the appropriate training method that will establish your communication with your dog and get you the results you always hoped for!

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