Welcome to Week 51!
In Week 50 we talked about how useful it can be to teach your dog to touch your hand with her nose; to teach her "come when called" along with many other behaviors, tasks, and tricks. There are already articles on teaching your dog to "come when called" using hand targeting (Day 14, Training For Success) and how to walk next to you (Week 38, Kids & Pets). This week, let's talk about how to use hand targeting when your dog is stressed; to teach her how to concentrate on you. Read more in this week's Training For Success column, "Teach Your Dog to Concentrate on You – Hand Targeting."
"Of several responses made to the same situation, those which are accompanied or closely followed by satisfaction to the animal will, other things being equal, be more firmly connected with the situation, so that, when it recurs, they will be more likely to recur; those which are accompanied or closely followed by discomfort to the animal will, other things being equal, have their connections with that situation weakened, so that, when it recurs, they will be less likely to occur. The greater the satisfaction or discomfort, the greater the strengthening or weakening of the bond."
— Edward L.Thorndike, PhD. Psychology (1914)
What does this mean? It means:
- Scientific testing—even in 1914—proved that to increase a wanted behavior, reward it.
- You need to teach your dog what you WANT, not just what you don't want.
- And it means that you can learn more in this week's Understanding Your Pet, "Thorndike's Law Of Effect."
Do you live in a community where the traditional physical fence is banned? You can opt for an underground electronic fence or tether your dog to an in-ground stake, but you'd like to explore other ideas. The options may be more than you realize; landscape fencing, deer fencing, garage conversions and more. Let's explore all of them. More information in this week's Perfect Pet column, "Fence Alternatives."
Visualize! Imagine! Set goals! That's what a vision board is all about! Let's create a dog training vision board for your kids and your dog, to help her in training. Read this week's Kids & Pets, "Create a Vision Board for You & Your Dog" for simple steps to create this goal-achieving tool!
Did you know that there is an extensive website library of dog training and behavior articles at MyPetTrainer.com? Check it out!
MyPetTrainer.com and LostMyPet.com want you to have a happy relationship with your dog! We hope you enjoy your Week Fifty-One issue of MyPetTrainer.com.
Together in success,
The staff of MyPetTrainer.com
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