Why does your training style matter for your dog’s future behavior?
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| Dogs are highly intelligent creatures |
That the dog is a loyal, true and affectionate friend must be gratefully admitted but when we come toconsider the psychical nature of the animal, the limits of our knowledge are almost immediately reached.
Despite being so close to humans, every year millions of dogs are submitted to the shelter due to so-called ‘behavioral problems’. 1 out of 5 eventually undergoes euthanization. Behavioral problems thus contribute as a significant factor to premature death in domesticated dogs.
Every dog is trainable:
I have read in a ton of Facebook groups and online forums that dogs belonging to certain breeds are untrainable. I have probably heard this most about Afgan hounds, Basenji, Beagle, Indian Pariah dogs and so many more.
First of all, let me make one point very clear. No dog is untrainable. Every dog can be trained. However, it is up to the guardian or trainer to find out what makes the dog tick. We need to understand that every dog is different and responds to the same stimuli in a different manner. Just the way that people belonging to different countries have different attitudes, but that does not mean that people belonging to a specific country cannot learn a new skill when taught. Similarly, every dog can be trained. Some are easily trainable while others need a little more coaxing and patience.
I am currently working with 9 dogs who live in my locality. They are all Indian Pariahs. Each of them has their own unique personas, so different yet so similar. I will be describing each of their personalities and how to train dogs with such personalities in my next blog post.
The situation with Delta:
I am the sole trainer of my boy Delta. Since I rescued him, I don’t have an accurate idea of his breed. However, by his looks and behavior, he seems to be a Basenji mix. He has a very defined personality. He does not like to do things until he sees himself receiving a reward in return.
Normally, people would say this is a stubborn and untrainable dog. However, I say that such dogs are more intelligent. They like to question everything they are asked to do. They would do it only if they feel it’s worth their effort. This is a sign of higher-level intelligence.
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| Delta is highly intelligent and food-driven |
If other dogs can be trained to follow a specific command in one day, Delta will need training for 3 days to follow the same command unconditionally. On the other hand, with other dogs, I can only expect them to understand and learn one new command at one go, while Delta can learn up to 3 commands at once.
Delta is also moody, so I must judge his mood before starting his training. To train dogs like Delta, respect, patience and understanding of their behavior is needed. If you understand your dog, training is a piece of cake. Unfortunately, most people who return their dogs to the shelter due to behavioral
issues either fail to understand their dog’s personality and behavior or do not dedicate ample time to work and mold that behavior to suit their needs.
In this article, I aim to discuss a recent study which has made an attempt towards understanding the
association between psychological status and personality of the dog guardian and the presence of
behavioral problems in their dogs.
What has been observed so far in relation to dog behavior?
A study done in 1995 in Cambridge University found that dogs who had guardians expressing higher
levels of neuroticism (worry, depression, loneliness, jealousy, anger, frustration etc) were observed to show higher levels of behavioral problems like destructiveness, aggression, sexual mounting and
attention-seeking behavior.
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| How training affects your dog |
Another study done in 1997 found that when the guardians were shy, tense and emotionally unstable,
their dogs (in this case English Cocker spaniels) were more likely to be aggressive. The study was conducted on the search and rescue dogs deployed at the Pentagon and World Trade Centre after the
9/11 attacks, found that the PTSD and depression levels of the handler can be used to predict the development of attention-seeking behavior, aggression as well as separation anxiety in their dogs.
What was done in this particular study?
This study was conducted at the Center for Canine Behavior Studies, Salisbury, CT, the United States of America. As a part of this study, 1564 surveys of dog guardians were conducted. The scientists used questionnaires to assess the personality of the dog guardians.
The surveys were designed to measure the following:
- The personality of the dog guardians (depression levels, emotional regulation).
- Use of aversive training methods.
What are aversive training methods:
Dog guardians who used aversive training methods reported that their dogs displayed
- Owner directed aggression
- Separation problems
- Persistent barking
- House soiling (pooping and peeing when left alone)
- Stranger directed aggression
- Chasing
What was the conclusion of the study?
Thus the bottom line of this study is that positive reinforcement is the only way to go when it comes to properly train your dogs.
It is definitely easier to train a puppy. But just like human kids, puppies are unfocused. You need to
invest time in teaching one command followed by repeated use of that command multiple times in
one day for at least a period of a week to get perfect results.
However, if you are training an adult dog, take the time to understand your dog, his/her likes, dislikes, mood and overall personality. This will give you a fair idea of when to train, which treat to use and how many times to repeat the training until your dog can respond to the command even in sleep.
Bonus tip: When training your dog, make sure to use the command at different times of the day. Make the timing unpredictable, so that your dog learns that he/she must respond to the command at any and every time of the day.
Conclusion:
Dogs are love-hungry creatures. They will do anything to please you if you have their respect and love.
Thus, when you choose a dog as per the training capacity, do not make the decision according to how easily a particular breed can be trained. Decide according to how much time and patience you can invest in training. Even if you want to teach your dog to hug, you need to understand whether your dog is ready for the same or not. Your dog’s personality depends on you, not on the dog. If you are happy, your dog will be happy. If you are sad, shy and depressed, your dog will become aggressive.
Your dog will learn from you, so be a good role model for your pup.
PS: If you like this article, please share it with your friends and leave a comment. Let’s help dog guardians everywhere become a better version of themselves.
61 Comments
This reminds me of the fact that we cannot treat everyone the same way. That even dogs, have differing personalities and prefrences.
My dog is general a good girl. I need to work with her on a couple things. Thanks for reminding me it's not too late to help her.
We have dogs but we havent considered letting them undergo training. I think it's good if we will start when they're still a pup so that it won't be too hard. I honestly believe that training dogs have good benefits and can develop further your relationship with them. 🙂
If I had a dog, it would be something that I would safely consider that he and I would benefit from it.
We're currently trying to train two cats to at least tolerate each other. I never knew how difficult training was until I attempted to follow through with cats. Dogs are difficult, cats are near impossible.
Your passion for dogs truly glows. Dealing with dogs is not different from dealing with our fellow human. Your post is informative. Wish you all the best.
I love dogs! I think all dogs are attainable, just like kids! 😂
We have a pup now who is so hyperactive, and we struggle training him. He is getting better but it definitely takes time and patience.
I like the passion you have about training dogs. After reading your post, I feel that human kids and puppies are the same in so many ways especially about needing love and affection. Another thing is a dog behaves in the same way as a dog owner, it is similar for human kids , kids do what their parents do and not what they say !
We’ve got a puppy right now who we’re working hard to train. She seems to be doing pretty well, and I will say a lot of your comments ring true for her. Thank you for sharing!
Training them are both fun and exciting. It's also a great way to
Training them are both fun and exciting. It's also a great way to
Yep..it is also a great way to bond
Yes…absolutely..!!
Yep.. exactly… your dog tends to pick on your attitude..so one needs to be a good role model
You're welcome…it wil get better with time and patience…if you have any queries.. you know where to find me😊😊
♥️♥️♥️Your blog is amazing and we totally agree with you dear. Dogs are really loving and yes with caring, patience, understanding, knowledge and patience we can train all dogs successfully. Your love and dedication to protect and nurturing pets is so inspiring and wonderful. ❤♥️💕❤♥️❤♥️Thank you so very much for bringing so many positive lights to our world. Much love always dear 💕❤♥️❤♥️❤💕
I agree with all you've mentioned. I remember when my Mom trained her dog. She was strict but I think the dog likes her ways. He grew to be our best loyal dog. No wonder my Mom loves him so much (than us, lol!).
I don't have a puppy right now but will try these methods when I have one. I want to have a [puppy.
Dogs should start rigorous training at a very young age.
This reminds me of the fact that we cannot treat everyone the same way. That even dogs, have differing personalities and prefrences.
Every dog is unique and if mistreated can be immensely affected by psychological ailments..
This article illuminates light on various aspects of psychological toll the dogs can have when compelled to go through various types of trainings..
Superb and extraordinary..
Thanks a lot.. Your appreciation means a lot to me😊
Exactly. Dogs share more commonality with humans than we think. Thank you for stopping by… 🙂
With dogs its never too late. Thank you for stopping by… 🙂
Training your dog develops an unbreakable bond between you and your dog. It promotes non verbal communication as well. Thank you for stopping by… 🙂
Yes…you definitely would. Thank you for stopping by… 🙂
Thank you so much 🙂
Well, cats I don't have much idea about. However, I think they can be trained.Just that the method and approach needs to be different
If you have a hyperactive pup, the best way to train is to first give him lots of exercise so that he looses that excessive energy and his mind becomes calm. Trust me, training him after exercise would be much easier.
Thank you so much dear. Your appreciation means a lot to me.My only aim is to help people all across the world understand these beautiful creatures better so that they can get as much joy as I get on a daily basis being with Delta. Thank you once again.
If you have a puppy, yes! train from an early age. However, if you do decide to adopt an older dog, the hope is not lost. Older dogs can be trained as well.
Dogs understand when you are being mean and when you are just being strict. If you have their respect, they will do anything for you. I am so happy for your mom's pupper. Seems like they have a great bond. 🙂
Yes, you are absolutely right. Every dog is different and deserves care and respect
I am so glad I could be of some help :). let me know if you ever need any help 🙂
This is true to the core. I have seen that many dog owner fails to acknowledge their dog behavior properly. This most often leads to biting incident which could get very serious. I hope your article reaches those dog owner in need.
Always try your best to use some good and rich quality treats for your dogs. Again you can use natural pain relief for dogs because only these treats can save your dogs from cancer, skin allergies, phobias and other harmful diseases. Also by using cbd oil regularly your pets will get relief from arthritis and joint pain problem.
There are methods that are more effective under certain circumstances than others. Things to take into consideration when choosing the most effective method for you and your dog include: your personality, your dog’s personality, your goals, your abilities as a trainer, and your experience as a trainer.
For example, if you are not happy with a particular method of training, for whatever reason, then it is unlikely you and your dog will do well with this method. Your dog will pick up on your reluctance and either share your dismay or take advantage of the situation to do as he pleases.https://esacare.com/best-trainers-certified-therapy-dog/
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