Dog Training part III - Communicating with the dog

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Dog Training part III Communicating with the dog
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Fundamentally, dog training is about
communication. From the human perspective the
handler is communicating to the dog what
behaviors are correct, desired, or preferred in
what circumstances. From the canine
perspective the handler must communicate what
behaviors will give the dog the most
satisfaction to his natural instincts and
emotions. Without that inner satisfaction a dog
will not work well.
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A successful handler must also understand the
communication that the dog sends to the handler.
The dog can signal that he is unsure, confused,
nervous, happy, excited, and so on. The emotional
state of the dog is an important consideration in
directing the training, as a dog that is stressed
or distracted will not learn efficiently.
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According to Learning Theory there are a four
important messages that the handler can send the
dog
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Reward or release markerCorrect behavior. You
have earned a reward. For example, "Free"
followed by a reward.
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BridgeCorrect behavior. Continue and you will
earn a reward. For example, "Good".
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No reward markerIncorrect behavior. Try
something else. For example, "Uh-uh" or "Try
again".
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Punishment markerIncorrect behavior. You have
earned punishment. For example, "No".
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Using consistent signals or words for these
messages enables the dog to understand them
more quickly. If the handler sometimes says
"good" as a reward marker and sometimes as
a bridge, it is difficult for the dog to know
when he has earned a reward.Rewards can be
treats, play, praise, or anything that the dog
finds rewarding. Failure to reward after the
reward marker diminishes the value of the reward
marker and makes training more difficult.
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These four messages do not have to be
communicated with words, and nonverbal
signals are often used. In particular, mechanical
clickers are frequently used for the reward
marker. Hand signals and body language also play
an important part in learning for dogs.
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Dogs usually do not generalize commands
easily that is, a dog who has learned a
command in a particular location and
situation may not immediately recognize the
command to other situations. A dog who knows how
to "down" in the living room may suffer genuine
confusion if asked to "down" at the park or in
the car. The command will need to be retaught
in each new situation. This is sometimes
called "crosscontextualization," meaning the dog
has to apply what's been learned to many
different contexts.
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Next Dog Training part IV - Reward and punishment
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To Learn More About Dog Training, go to
http//howtohousetraindog.com/go/dog-traininghtt
p//howtohousetraindog.com/go/theonlinedogtrainer
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