Dog Training Tools

Dogs do better if they are trained and there are many dog training tools available to help you accomplish this. They respond very well to training. It is important that the person who is doing the dog training is knowledgeable and will be consistent and patient. ‘Stick-to-itness’ is necessary in order to do a good job of training a dog.

A Good Dog Trainer is Patient, Calm, and Persistent

A good dog trainer is patient, calm, and persistent and will praise when something is done right. A lot of training is done with voice and body movements but there are other tools that can be used to make the job a lot easier.

Dogs like to please their people and that makes them easy to train. They also are playful and love a game of tag and catch-me-if-you-can. A good dog trainer understands that a dog rarely purposely misbehaves; it is more likely that you, as a trainer, have sent either the wrong message or sent the message in a wrong way.

There are Many Tools Available to Help Dog Training

There are many tools available to help training: collars, leashes, treats and toys designed to help your dog understand that you want him to do something specific, a certain behavior asked for by spoken and/or signaled commands. Good eye contact, an evenly pitched voice, patience, timing and praise are all devices that will help your dog acquire the skills you are endeavoring to teach. Did I mention how important it is to be patient and to praise? Repetition is also very necessary. Don’t expect to have your dog sit on command in one day and not have to repeat the steps used, regularly.

Clicker Training

A very popular tool for dog or any animal training is a clicker. It makes a popping or snapping sound when it is squeezed. The secret to clicker training is that when the dog does something you want you click the device and give your dog a treat. The first thing you have to teach in order to be successful with the clicker is that the click means food. So step one would be to wander with your dog and at various times, click the clicker making sure that every time you click you give your dog a treat. It won’t take long for your dog to know that the click means a treat.

Some dogs can be sensitive to the sharp sound of a clicker. If this is the case with your dog, you will be better off to use your voice, backed up by a treat, to let your dog know he has done something you like. If you like the idea of the clicker but your dog is sensitive to the sharp sound it makes, try clucking with your tongue. The end result is the same; you have just allowed for the sharp sound to be softened.

Lightweight Longline

A favorite tool of mine is a lightweight line about eight to 10 feet long. A bit of parachute chord or a lightweight clothes line is ideal. I put a small clip on one end and attach it to my dog’s collar, allowing him to drag the line on the ground. When I teach the recall I can pull on the line as I tell my dog to “come” or “here” or whatever command I use for calling him to me. I make sure to have one end of the line in my hand before I call. Dogs read body action extremely well and the act of reaching for the line can become a cue for the recall. I want the cue to be the command and not my movement. As soon as my dog begins to move toward me, or in some special cases, if he even looks at me, I praise and move backward. Most dogs have prey drive that kicks in when they see something moving away from them so when I move away I reinforce the recall command. I always reward with a click, a treat and praise when I get the action I ask for.

Collar or Harness; You Decide

There are many kinds of restraint devices for dogs. There are different collars and harnesses, some designed to stop pulling or jumping. Make sure the collar is suitable for the dog and his handler. For instance, if you don’t have excellent timing then a harness may be easier to use than a pinch collar. Another thing to consider when you choose a restraint is perception. A pinch collar looks like a cruel device that will hurt a dog when actually, if used properly, it is a very humane device.

Do some research; consider your physical condition and temperament, and the strength and energy level of your dog. Find the best tools to use; tools that make training fun and easy for everyone concerned. A tool is only as good as the person using it.