What’s The First Step in Training?

The first step in changing your dog’s behavior.

Using Management

A dog training plan has immediate solutions that will prevent the rehearsal of the “unwanted behavior.” This goal is a critical part of the training plan that clients should follow after their first private lesson. We will always make the safety and emotional well-being of everyone involved at the heart of this plan. The “unwanted behavior” can often be managed, which is okay if training is not the client’s desire. Examples of using manamgnet are gates, leashes, using food puzzles, chaining your walking path and crate training.

Jumping

Jumping is a natural behavior for dogs, but we don’t want dogs jumping on us, especially if they are big dogs. If dogs jump on small children and even older people, this can be a safety issue. The first step we will ask is for you to use management to prevent the rehearsal of the jumping behavior. Getting creative to find the tools that will provide two layers of safety and prevent the behavior is needed! Some clients initially have trouble making small changes (change is hard), but once they experience the relief of it, avoiding the behavior they’re all in! Your trainer will provide several options and tools for management, and the faster they’re implemented, the faster we can solve your dog’s behavior problems. Every time a dog can follow through with behavior, it becomes reinforcing for them somehow. Remember, every behavior has a motive or a function behind it, so that’s why we use many different tools like leashes, gates, crates, Kongs, distance, and visual and sound barriers to help you reach training goals faster.

Counter Surfing

Does your dog get an occasional free bite off the counter? Management is critical here! We can teach some cues, but it is pointless if we’re not there to say them. We don’t leave the knives and matches accessible for kids to play with, even when we’ve told them to never play with matches or knives many times. Parents put those items away. It’s the same concept for dogs, and they’re not even able to speak and understand our language! Yes, they know a few words associated with behaviors, but they know the why behind no food. A dog’s instinct is to hunt and search for food. Managing their environment by ensuring they don’t have access to food is critical in changing their behavior. Gating off the kitchen, locking up the trash can, and dog-proofing areas where food is accessible is a good management plan.