As a professional dog trainer, I can assure you there are six words that your dog training coach never wants to hear. You might think those words are "but he does it at home," and that's close, but they are actually "tired that and it didn't work". We're covering what's going on with those words for you, your dog, and your coach and how to turn it around. Considering alternative dialogues promotes critical thinking and keeps communications open.
In the episode you'll hear:
- What to consider when your dog doesn't respond to training methods.
- Why anyone can call themselves a professional dog trainer.
- What Bob Bailey says about anyone being able to train anything given enough time.
- That when you say, "it didn't work," you might be shaping your coach.
- A better strategy that you can use to get great feedback.
- That none of us know what our dogs are thinking.
- Why you want a conversation based on intentionally clear statements and questions.
- What tactics help if you are the coach hearing "it doesn't work".
- Why dog trainers should consider their role and goal with students.
- That we need to be more intentional about the action we are taking.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 142: Giving And Receiving Constructive Feedback About Your Dog Training
- Podcast Episode 184: Proofing Vs Generalizing In Dog Training To Grow Skills And Confidence
- Podcast Episode 157: Dog Body Language: Understanding Canine Communication Signals And Emotions
- Podcast Episode 182: The Game Within The Game: How To Multiply Your Dog’s Reinforcements
- Podcast Episode 133: Become Your Own Dog Training Coach With This Video Strategy
- Podcast Episode 83: The Dog Training You Do When You’re Not Dog Training
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
I am having a very hard time with people coming to the door. I’ve been playing alot of games from Recallers and Home School etc. They are working wonderfully with my dog. I send him to his place and he just runs there and lays down. I release him and he searches for the treat. I’ve mastered him staying on his place when i open the door and I ring the doorbell with no one there. As soon as someone is there he just looses it and can’t think and just barks and runs to the door. I think I am missing a step to move forward or something. What do I do when he gets up and is crazy at the door? I’ve tried to put him back on his place but I would have to hold him to stay there. He just isn’t listening or thinking when he is in that excited state. Help
I’ve only recently started listing to this podcast (and think it’s great by the way!) so perhaps my question is answered in an older podcast (I will work my way through them eventually). So, I completely understand why you say tell the dog what you want them to do (rather than just saying no to behaviours you don’t like). But when they have an established habit how do you stop it in the long term? For example, my dog will often dig my sofa or carpet when she is tired. In the moment I can distract her away by giving her something else that I prefer her to do (rather than just saying no to her), but how do you stop her from wanting to initiate the (digging) behaviour in the first place? I’m not sure if my tactic to distract away from the behaviour is perhaps reinforcing her? I would really appreciate some help with this as I just don’t understand the best way forward. Thanks 🙂
Wow … that hit the nail on the head for me. I’m one of those who gives it a week and if my dog hasn’t done any better I give up and say it didn’t work for mr. I am subscribed to most of your training … but I don’t follow through with videos or note taking … I have a hard time convincing myself it is well worth the time … yet everything in the comments says it is necessary, and that it works. This video has convicted me that those 2 steps in my homework that I am not doing is why I say it didn’t work for me. I do NEED to take videos and keep notes. Thank you for this reminder. 🐕💖
I love this trainer!