Dog training is an application of behaviour analysis that applies the context of antecedent behavioural outcomes and events to modify the dog’s behaviour, either to help it take on certain behaviours, perform specific tasks or engage effectively in modern domestic life. It is based on the principle that dogs can be taught how to behave according to human standards. It is a form of indirect training that helps to develop the dogs’ inhibitory system. The training helps the dog to develop its ability to know what is right or wrong and not just follow orders blindly. Dog training can be divided into three main areas: behavioural training, structured training and companion training.
The three main areas of dog training are behaviour, cognitive learning and conditioning. The other areas overlap within these three main areas. Conditioning is used to teach dogs how to react to specific situations or events. It is very important to teach dogs how to respond to their masters and owners in specific ways depending on the event or situation that requires training.
Obedience training is an essential part of dog training. Obedience can be general, specific or personal. An obedient pet dog is a well behaved dog that is pleasant to live with. The owner gets the satisfaction of having a well behaved dog and the dog gets the advantage of living with a friendly master who guides him properly. Obedience training involves discipline, communication and socialisation skills.
The second area of dog training is owner instruction. Owner instruction deals with the instruction of a dog to behave in specific ways according to the wishes of the owner. Training sessions should be given carefully according to the personality of the dog. Sometimes the instructions can be too strong and can result in the dog complying only out of fear. It is best to avoid direct confrontation when training a dog not to fight with his master.
Clicker training is another method of dog training that helps correct unwanted behavior of unwanted dogs. Clicker training helps a dog to understand the meaning of a click sound and the consequences of its failure to perform a command accurately. Clicker training can be a valuable tool to use in training unwanted dogs. Clicker training helps owners control excessive barking, inappropriate chewing, jumping and digging.
A third aspect of dog training that should be considered is motivational training. Motivational training encourages a dog to learn good behaviors through positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the most commonly used method in encouraging desirable behavior in dogs. A popular form of positive reinforcement is a verbal or physical praise for the desired behavior. Owners often give rewards for simple things like sitting or staying down. Rewarding with food, treats or other stuff can be rewarding and fun to do with your dog.
Operant conditioning is also another of the dog training methods used in operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a training technique that involves a dog repeating a response after being reinforced for it. For example, you might tell your dog “sit” when you see him move forward, this is an example of operant conditioning. This technique is very effective at teaching dogs to understand how they should act in certain situations.
Lastly, one of the most effective dog training methods for correcting unwanted behaviors is progressive conditioning. Progressive conditioning helps owners control unwanted dog behavior through the use of negative feedback or punishment. The idea is to make a dog understand that if he does something wrong, he will receive further punishment for that action. For example, if your dog tries to steal the family dog’s possessions, you would use negative reinforcement to make your dog realize that he won’t get his hands on the possessions. These techniques help owners learn how to teach dogs the right way of doing things.