Puppy Training Methods
Please review the following links:
- Training Your Dog Yourself
- Classroom Training
- Residential Training
- Link to Royvon Dog Training Schools
The early stages of your puppy's life, from 8 weeks to 6 months, is pretty consumed with establishing your relationship and the basic rules and routines of living in the same household. Basic or not, everything you do is shaping the habits and expectations of your puppy. It's ok to make mistakes, and it will happen from time to time, but what's important is learning from your mistakes and learning how to make better choices the next time. And, by the time your puppy is 6 months old, you both should be ready to face formal obedience training. Here you have two main choices: train your dog yourself or with the help of professionals. However, within these choices you do have options - The following option overviews outline important features and benefits to help you make the decision that's right for you.
Training Your Dog Yourself
Dog psychology and training is a skill, a well-seasoned profession. Dogs, over time, have taken a lot of abuse through irresponsible ownership and training. Some breeds have gotten bad reputations as a result, and quite often at no fault of their own. The time and energy to research a proper dog training procedure, let alone practice is more than most people can spare. And, when executed incorrectly, it puts unnecessary wear and tear on your dog, not to mention can be very frustrating for you. But, there is a lot of good information out there and if you are up for the challenge and committed to consistency, it can be a very rewarding and bonding experience for you and your dog. However, if you do choose this route, remember to ask yourself throughout the process, "Am I training my dog, or is my dog training me?" If at any time the answer is unclear, find yourself a professional.
Classroom Training
Classroom training is an excellent way of providing socialisation for puppies. Socialisation is one of the most important features of a happy, well-adjusted dog, and there is no such thing as over-socialisation. Unfortunately, however, there are consequences to under-socialisation, and there is a time in your dog's life when it becomes harder and harder to break bad habits, such as fear biting and other aggressive tendencies, due to under-socialisation, especially during these very formative years.
On the downside, the misconception with classroom training is that many dog owners are under the impression that they can show up once a week, and over a period of time, have a trained dog. Classroom training is not intended, and won't work this way. Training in a group with an instructor means interactive teaching, learning and endless repetition - you are the student with your dog. Exercises executed in class, need to be practiced at home - a lot! Expect to spend one day a week in class, and have at least two, good practice sessions per day over a three month period to reach success with this method. And, with all training methods, on-going practice is always important.
Residential Training
There are very few downsides to putting your dog's training in the hands of a professional, and not surprisingly it is the most highly recommended, efficient and effective method of training. It does cost more money than books or a classroom course, and it does require your dog to spend a short period of time away from home while in training, but the results and the wear and tear on you and your dog are well worth the investment.
Residential training is so effective primarily because controlling the distracting influences of your dog's environment immediately puts focus on the attention of the trainer. This attention then becomes an inherent, repeated reward that helps to mold the communication procedure process. Thus, training is an enjoyable experience from the get go, and new distractions can then be introduced without disturbing the interest your dog has with learning and ultimately being predictably obedient. While in-home trainers can be effective, they can not control outside influences when they are not handling the dog during the training process. There is also very little socialisation, where Residential training is full of such needed interactivity.
Professional, residential training is gaining popularity because the results are speaking for themselves. The growing acceptance of dogs, especially in public places is all due to the luxury of co-existing with dogs that demonstrate complete control - because they are under complete control of their owners. Furthermore, less dogs are in need of rescue because owners who take this route are less apt to get to the point of abandonment out of frustration.
For complete information on how professional, residential training works, please visit www.royvon.co.uk
These web pages were brought to you by the Royvon Dog Training Schools, because at the end of the day what's really important is knowing that we've enhanced the life of a dog!
