As a professional dog trainer, I regularly see a lot of people working with their dogs. A common error people make when things don’t go well is changing criteria in the middle of training to help their dogs be successful. At first glance, this might make sense, but today we’re talking about why it’s a huge mistake, where it could lead you, and what you can do instead.
In the episode you'll hear:
- Why criteria will help your dog and reduce frustration.
- The reason changing your strategy is better than changing the goal.
- How consistently reinforcing the behavior you want creates clarity.
- Why to remember that ‘sometimes’ is ‘anytime’ for dogs.
- How to create calm confidence and set training up for your dog’s success.
- About splitting things down to grow correct behaviors without changing criteria.
- Examples of changing strategy with weaving and targeting in agility and trick training backing up.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages
- Podcast Episode 172: How To Teach Your Dog Anything With My Training Plan
- Podcast Episode 114: Dog Agility Training: 3 Big Mistakes All Dog Owners Should Avoid
- Podcast Episode 141: Average Or Better Dog Training Question: What Did You Just Reward?
- Podcast Episode 27: Do Dogs Need Rules?
- YouTube Playlist: Loose Leash Walking with Susan Garrett
- Crate Games Online
- Podcast Episode 110: Is Your Over-Aroused Dog Just Over-Faced In Training?
- Podcast Episode 139: Remove Confusion And Build Your Dog’s Confidence With One Simple Dog Training Habit
- YouTube Playlist: Target Training for Dogs with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 87: Canine Fitness: Why ALL Dogs Need It And 3 Easy Exercises To Start
- Podcast Episode 32: 20 Easy Ways to Exercise Your Dog at Home
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
I absolutely LOVE your analogies! They help people really understand “the why” when you compare things to “human behaviours”. LOVE LOVE this one… Change who your Grandma is and go to a different house! So often, people need to have those examples to realize how important the concept is. Otherwise, we humans can tend to think the trainer is simply “nit-picking” or that it’s not “that important”. What is better, you always use humour and present your ideas in such a friendly and non-judgemental way. Thank you for all you do!!!
This is so timely! Ive been struggling with the back-up and now see how I can better help my dog know what it is that I want. Thanks!!!
I cant believe you just did this podcast! I am doing freestyle dance with my 17 month old standard poodle and he recently has lost DASH and hangs back or just doesnt do the moves UNTIL I repeat the command. I had creating scenarios of giving the command twice AND not building excitement at the beginning of each session with a toy or game. And rhen I accepted anything he offered! Talk about unclear criteria!!!! Thank you Susan.. this is so timely you could have created this just for me since this all came to light this week!