| Training Philosophy |
| Our Philosophy |
Training needs to be a Win-Win Situation for both Dog and Handler At In Joy Dog Training, we hope to help restructure your perspective so that you work within a framework that makes sense to your dog. We explore the fact that dogs are opportunists and then turn this to our advantage. With a little instruction and some constructive thought, we can figure out how to make your dog want to do what you want. Meanwhile, dogs are presented with worthwhile activities, leading to a dog that looks forward to time spent training--- a win-win situation for everyone! |
To read a more about InJoyDogTraining's philosophy Click on a question: What is Foundation Work? Why is it important for my dog to be highly successful? |
| In Joy Dog Training Hopes: To enrich both your and your dog's lives through training games, while providing you with tools to make training effective & fun. |
| OUR GOAL |
That was the short version.
If you really want to get into it..
There are so many facets to training, on top of numerous skills
required of both dog and handler. Handlers/owners must construct
some sort of structure. To truly approach training positively, you’ll
need to create a system that is consistent, simple, and achievable.
But, before we go any further, let’s establish that a good dog-
handler relationship is the top training priority.
#1 The dog must be game. Before challenging dogs to make
decisions, to respond to cues, to “work” for us, they have to think
that training is a good thing. If your dog thinks, “Hey, this is really
worthwhile, I’ll try and figure out this puzzle”, you’re on the right
path. So, to start, we do a combination of things. First, we focus on
putting “money in the bank”. Let me explain. Say you want to make
your dog think your cue to come is a good thing. First your dog must
connect the word “Come” to really good stuff, like multiple treats,
play, petting, meals, before we can expect them to choose to leave
something really interesting (smells, dogs) and race over to us. Until
that cue has value, in the dog’s eyes, we can’t yet put it to work for
us. As far as our analogy goes, we can’t make a withdrawal until we
have some money in the bank.
A perfect example of this is acquiring focus. The first step isn’t
demanding focus, which usually is more like bribing your dog to pay
attention to food (or jerking their lead (who’d want to seek out that
person?)). Instead, allow the dog take in the environment, and be
aware and reward the moment when the dog checks back in.
Guaranteed, you’re dog will begin to check back in with you more
often. Things that get rewarded, will begin to happen more often.
The next facet is how to begin asking for behaviors. When beginning
any new task, dogs are only asked to perform things that are so easy
they must succeed, which creates confidence (Why is this
important?). Dogs progress to understanding that it pays to play.
Which creates a dog that learns how to earn, and learns to try to
figure things out (learns to learn).
Yes, dogs need to learn how to learn, how to earn, and so do we. We
need to learn how to learn, learn how to teach, turn around and
teach our dogs, and most importantly of all --- LEARN HOW TO
PLAY! But before we go into that last bit, let's talk more about how
to teach. There are, of course, various methodologies. To adhere to
one school of thought, like clicker training, can be limiting. Yes, there
are a lot of wonderful things that are accomplished using clicker
training principles…but why stick to a methodology religiously, when
we know that there are ways to progress training more quickly,
eliminating unnecessary frustration along the way? At
InJoyDogTraining, we pick and choose the best and most useful
techniques, and focus on what works for you and your individual dog.
There is so much to the beginning stages of training, that it’d be
great if those stages came after you gained some experience. But,
they don’t, and amidst all the things you’re trying to juggle on your
road to becoming a savvy dog trainer, you must maintain the fun.
The # 1 thing any person will need to train any dog, no matter what
they’re trying to train, is MOTIVATION. A huge emphasis is put on
how you play with your dog. Motivation is your greatest tool as a
positive trainer, so at InJoyDogTraining we don’t just let you throw
motivation in your training toolbox for later. It will be your #1 tool,
we can’t say that enough. At any point during training, if your dog
looses the desire to play the game (any behavior that we train will be
presented to the dog as a game), abandon the present exercise and
get your dog back into the game! You may not get that sophisticated
move sorted out during that session, but you will have a dog wanting
to try next time you set out to train it. And that’s what it really
about, isn’t it? Plus, this is the route through which excellent
performance is cultivated. Stellar performance is not a product of
obligation, it comes from a true desire to play the game.
If you want to get deeper into it, read more about Foundation Work,
Confidence and Success, and, coming soon, a description of our
approach to training obstacles.
If you really want to get into it..
There are so many facets to training, on top of numerous skills
required of both dog and handler. Handlers/owners must construct
some sort of structure. To truly approach training positively, you’ll
need to create a system that is consistent, simple, and achievable.
But, before we go any further, let’s establish that a good dog-
handler relationship is the top training priority.
#1 The dog must be game. Before challenging dogs to make
decisions, to respond to cues, to “work” for us, they have to think
that training is a good thing. If your dog thinks, “Hey, this is really
worthwhile, I’ll try and figure out this puzzle”, you’re on the right
path. So, to start, we do a combination of things. First, we focus on
putting “money in the bank”. Let me explain. Say you want to make
your dog think your cue to come is a good thing. First your dog must
connect the word “Come” to really good stuff, like multiple treats,
play, petting, meals, before we can expect them to choose to leave
something really interesting (smells, dogs) and race over to us. Until
that cue has value, in the dog’s eyes, we can’t yet put it to work for
us. As far as our analogy goes, we can’t make a withdrawal until we
have some money in the bank.
A perfect example of this is acquiring focus. The first step isn’t
demanding focus, which usually is more like bribing your dog to pay
attention to food (or jerking their lead (who’d want to seek out that
person?)). Instead, allow the dog take in the environment, and be
aware and reward the moment when the dog checks back in.
Guaranteed, you’re dog will begin to check back in with you more
often. Things that get rewarded, will begin to happen more often.
The next facet is how to begin asking for behaviors. When beginning
any new task, dogs are only asked to perform things that are so easy
they must succeed, which creates confidence (Why is this
important?). Dogs progress to understanding that it pays to play.
Which creates a dog that learns how to earn, and learns to try to
figure things out (learns to learn).
Yes, dogs need to learn how to learn, how to earn, and so do we. We
need to learn how to learn, learn how to teach, turn around and
teach our dogs, and most importantly of all --- LEARN HOW TO
PLAY! But before we go into that last bit, let's talk more about how
to teach. There are, of course, various methodologies. To adhere to
one school of thought, like clicker training, can be limiting. Yes, there
are a lot of wonderful things that are accomplished using clicker
training principles…but why stick to a methodology religiously, when
we know that there are ways to progress training more quickly,
eliminating unnecessary frustration along the way? At
InJoyDogTraining, we pick and choose the best and most useful
techniques, and focus on what works for you and your individual dog.
There is so much to the beginning stages of training, that it’d be
great if those stages came after you gained some experience. But,
they don’t, and amidst all the things you’re trying to juggle on your
road to becoming a savvy dog trainer, you must maintain the fun.
The # 1 thing any person will need to train any dog, no matter what
they’re trying to train, is MOTIVATION. A huge emphasis is put on
how you play with your dog. Motivation is your greatest tool as a
positive trainer, so at InJoyDogTraining we don’t just let you throw
motivation in your training toolbox for later. It will be your #1 tool,
we can’t say that enough. At any point during training, if your dog
looses the desire to play the game (any behavior that we train will be
presented to the dog as a game), abandon the present exercise and
get your dog back into the game! You may not get that sophisticated
move sorted out during that session, but you will have a dog wanting
to try next time you set out to train it. And that’s what it really
about, isn’t it? Plus, this is the route through which excellent
performance is cultivated. Stellar performance is not a product of
obligation, it comes from a true desire to play the game.
If you want to get deeper into it, read more about Foundation Work,
Confidence and Success, and, coming soon, a description of our
approach to training obstacles.
Dog Training steps:
- Look at how your dog
views things. - Start "speaking" to
your dog in a
language that (s)he
can understand. - The handler learns
how to teach. - Plan, setting
everything up so that
the dog succeeds. - Visualize. We can
avoid a lot of
unnecessary confusion
by reviewing your
movements without
the dog. - Motivate. Let's get
the dog wanting to
"work". - The dog learns how to
learn (and learns to
earn). - Adjust criteria
- Practice behaviors
- Generalize
- Enjoy the process of
developing behaviors.
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| © 2007 injoydogtraining |
