The Three Most Important Components of an Effective Dog Training System, the Lose The Leash Dog Training Method: Motivation, Structure, and Consistency.
Whether a dog owner has just brought home a new dog, or they are ready to begin improving the relationship with an older dog, owners have a lot to consider when figuring out just how they will accomplish training their new or old best friend. From tried and true methods, to wacky gimmicks, to systems that just don’t work, there are so many ways to train dogs that owners (and their dogs) often end up so confused that limited to no results are accomplished. The reasons for the failure in any training system can quickly be analyzed to reveal that the failure most probably occurred due to lacking one of the three critical components (for both dog and owner).
When evaluating a dog training method, one of the most important factors is motivation. Motivation most often comes from what psychologists and trainers call positive reinforcement. Simply put, it is what everyone looks forward to about dog training, often taking the form of treats, toys, or praise. Not every dog has the same motives for working, so selecting the correct motivator, or lure is critical for training. Now the limitation to simply using a lure is that it isn’t always alluring…This is where the structure comes in.
Structure comes in the form of showing the dog what to do. A lure can, in many situations, offer enough motivation and structure of what to do but eventually, a dog will probably need some guidance. An example of the need for structure is when a dog bolts for the front door while being trained with a lure to perform a command. Although the dog may have a firm understanding of what a command should mean, the overwhelming influence of the doorbell may override the lure’s ability to motivate the dog to perform. In this case, something must be used to stop the dog from bolting to the door. A leash, physical touch, standing in front of the dog, or simply asking again for a behavior (giving a command) may represent enough structure to keep the dog performing a desired task. Without the structural component, the dog may run to the door, thereby only learning to repeat the mad dash next time. The occasional ‘mad dash’ is what is ruining our consistency…
Consistency is probably the most important factor that can have a positive influence on a dog’s behavior. The consistency of ‘doing’ what is right can only be learned from ‘doing’ what is right (practice makes perfect). Expecting the dog to figure out on his/her own what to do in a confusing situation will slowly eat away at the performance of the desired behavior. The proper application of motivation and structure can help the owner keep the consistency, but it is up to the owner to stay consistent.
By using this model for a foundation of training, a dog owner, and dog, can build and maintain a happy and successful relationship. Punishment is not needed in this model, and both owner and dog will confidently understand and uphold their roles in a household. Understand that all components of this model are required to achieve the most success, and your dog will thank you for it!
“they work with you to solve it in a manner that keeps the dog happy…”
Rob and Erin, were both very patient with my Fur-kid Jasper. They were able to get Jasper to respond to their instructions with a smile on his face, much faster then I was ever able to. They are good listeners. When you have a behavior problem that needs addressing they work with you to solve it in a manner that keeps the dog happy and responsive. I enjoy our training sessions as much as Jasper does!
Kelly
“They take the time to individualize training…”
They responded immediately to our request for information and were very sympathetic to our needs. An amazing program for teaching dog manners. They take time to individualize the training and create the best learning environment for the dog and owner.
Jen
“Any Dog Can Be Trained”
Many other trainers wouldn’t even see my husky/wolf hybrid because they said they were feral dogs. Erin told me right off the bat that any dog can be trained:) I was so relieved. My dog is so gentle and loving and has great manners and listening skills thanks to Erin and Robs help. I highly recommend them for any dog! Plus, they are always available by phone to help with any questions you may have.
Shannon B.
“We had a big breakthrough today at park class”
Our shelter dog, River, who is clearly unstable has made some really nice progress under the training of Rob and Erin – Although we have a long way to go and we are just in the beginning stages of training – we had a big breakthrough today at park class – River for the first time did amazing at not attacking other dogs that would walk by her! Yay
Summer S.
Rob and Erin are the best…gifted trainers.
The owners, Rob and Erin are the best. They are truly into what they do and are gifted trainers.
Bryan P.
Dog Training Testimonial from Allan H.
Erin and Rob are great people who passionately love animals and love to share there love of that with their customers!
Allan H.
Fun Facts About Dogs
Here’s some fun facts about man’s best friend
Survivors of the Titanic included two dogs: a Pekingese belonging to Henry Sleeper Harper and a Pomeranian belonging to Miss Margaret Hays.
The oldest known breed of dog is the Saluki, which is an Arabic word meaning noble one. These dogs were raised as hunting dogs by ancient Egyptians.
The oldest breed of dog native to North America is the Chihuahua.
That whole one year in a dog’s life is the equivalent of 7 in a human’s isn’t exactly true. A more accurate calculation is as follows: At one year, a dog is the equivalent of 16 human years; at two dog years they are 24 human years; at 3 dog years, 30 human years; and for every dog year after that, add 4 human years.
Every minute, dogs take ten to thirty breaths.
The only mammals with prostates are humans and dogs.
There are 42 teeth in a dog’s mouth.
Whippets can reach a maximum speed of 35 miles per hour.
The Taco Bell dog is actually a female, and her real name is Gidget.
One of the very first animals domesticated by humans was the dog.
The oldest known dog lived to be 29.
The “spring” in Springer Spaniel referred to this dog’s ability to spring or startle game.
In Flemish, Schipperke translates to “Little Captain.”
The Lhasa Apso was used by monks to guard temples.
The Doberman breed was created in the 1860’s by Louis Doberman, a German tax-collector who created the dog to protect him while he worked.
Most people think that dogs sweat by salivating, but they actually sweat through the pads of their feet.
The name Pug is believed to have derived from this dog’s resemblance to the pug monkey.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not color blind but can, in fact, see color. However, their color scheme is not as vivid as ours and can be likened to our vision at twilight.
You might expect that a Great Dane can eat a lot of food. In fact, they can eat up to 8 ½ pounds a day!
Cats can see a lot better than dogs. In fact, dogs first distinguish objects by movement, then brightness, and finally by shape.
Among dogs officially registered with kennel clubs in the U.S., Labrador Retrievers are the most popular breed followed by Rottweilers and German Shepherds.
All dogs, regardless of breed, are direct descendants of wolves and technically of the same species.
A dog’s whiskers — found on the muzzle, above the eyes and below the jaws — are technically known as vibrissae. They are touch-sensitive hairs than actually sense minute changes in airflow.
Dogs are capable of locating the source of a sound in 6/100ths of a second by using their swiveling ears like radar dishes.
Dogs have a sense of smell that is one of the keenest in nature. Humans might smell a pot of stew cooking on the stove, but a dog can distinguish the smells of each individual ingredient, from the beef itself to the potatoes.
“He was out of control, attention starved and desperately needing obedience training…”
When we rescued our 118 lb, 9 month old mixed breed dog from the pound he was out of control, attention starved and desperately needing obedience training. Having previously had giant breed dogs, my husband and I attempted to train him ourselves using methods that worked for us before. We then tried treat training, click training, choke collars, prong collars and “no pull halters” with no positive result. In a final desperate act to avoid returning him to the pound, we called Erin. After an amazing demo with her well trained dog, we signed up. It took some work to retrain how we dealt with him and many hours of dedication, but today we have a 210 lb, 3 year old companion that listens and is a joy to be around. He has come so far and we really could not have done it without Erin.
-Elizabeth
