What are your most popular training tools that you use to build a strong relationship with your dog...?

Question

...as a responsible dog owner.

Asked by Anna Webb
www.paws4thought.biz

Answer 1

Treats... toys....lots of love... and a rolled up news paper....

Answer 2

My Brain!

The most important training tool is your brain. It is important that you work out in advance how you are going to teach a particular exercise and how you can modify it if you don't get the result you expect. If your dog does not seem to understand what you want it to do then you must be able to stop and think about it and work out what you are doing wrong.

Knowledge

Before you can start to educate your dog you have to educate yourself. You need to understand how dogs learn; what motivates them and what are the most effective techniques.

Timing.

You have to know what to reward and have your timing spot on so that you reward exactly the right behaviour at exactly the right time so that your dog is in no doubt about what he did to get the reward.

Rewards

Rewards used at the right time in the right amount for the right responses. Rewards can be touch, praise, toys, play, food - some of them or all of them used in any order during training sessions.

There are all sorts of 'tools' like whistles, clickers, target sticks, treat dispensers, training leads, special collars etc. but your hands and voice are the only tools you really need.

If you get the training techniques right and use the right sort of motivational techniques for your dog then training will be a pleasure for both you and your dog.

Teaching and training a dog in a kind, effective way using patience and understanding creates a unique relationship between dog and owner.

P.S. I notice that one answerer, Ginbail, uses a nice soft leather lead to protect his hands and a chain choke collar on his dog's neck !!! Need I say more?

Answer 3

Toys and treats are great, but your dog is really mostly
interested in being with you. Spending time with your playing
is a good way to train them. They can learn to sit and stay
and to come during play time. I used a ball with mine, and
the dog eventually learned to do these things. I used treats
as a reward, and the dog loves the ball, and now my dog
always comes to me with the ball, when she wants to play.

I make her sit and she does, and than I play with her. You
have to do it every day for so long. Also I have small dogs
and I let them sit on the couch with me, and just making
them feel loved builds a strong relationship.

Answer 4

I don't use tools, I work on a strong relationship by always trying to make sure my bird dog lives a balanced life of exercise in the field doing what bird dogs do, proper nutrition to keep her in good health and positive discipline with plenty of praise. If I don't do these three things consistently then my dog is not very motivated to work for me.

Answer 5

The ulitmate training tool has to be food, probably cheese (in tiny pieces) in most cases.
Combine treats with conistant signals and lots of fuss, and away you go.

PS. in reply to a later answer where the person has said cheese is bad for dogs! Some dogs are lactose intolerant, just like some people. That is why I have said 'in most cases'. I have also said tiny pieces of cheese because for one it is very fattening, and two it is very tasty so not much is needed.

Answer 6

An array of rewards (toys, dog treats), a field with a fence around it for recall training.

Advice from trusted sources.

Nothing in life is free. He earns everything he is given, if only having to sit for it.

I don't personally use a clicker, because I can't rely on myself to always have it with me or to always use it properly if I did.

Answer 7

A dogs love is unconditional,use firm commands like sit, stay,down and plenty of treats, when you tell your dog to do something make sure he obeys first time,hand in collar sit,down then treats etc, never hit your dog it makes them
frightened.dogs love to play with toys and chase balls,


I have 2 dogs and take to dog classes 2 times a week i also walk them for 1 hour every day as well training them every day,hard work but worth it,i take a football on my walks they love it, dog owner for 16 years

Answer 8

The best training tool that I use is a 6 foot lead and a chain choke collar. The lead is leather (easier on my hands) and the collar is a toggle collar (it goes around the dog's neck before it closes - thus, I don't have to slide it over my dog's head). I also carry a bait bag, filled with treats that I use to reward my dog when he performs the expected behavior. I / we train all my dogs as often as we can, and we compete in Conformation, Obedience, Rally and we dabble in Agility and field work.

The collar comes off as soon as our training sessions are complete, as I don't want any of my dogs to get injured by the collar when I can't see what they're up to.

Answer 9

Little square doggy treats. Professionals ALWAYS use food to teach and reward dog's behaviors when training them. I watched a dog whisperer show where he invited a hollywood dog trainer on, and he told the audience that dog treats-not high fat or calorie treats, just little ones-are the best way! good luck Anna Webb. You're brave to use your name?

Answer 10

I would say it's teaching them new things. My dog loves to learn new tricks and while I reward her with small treats (Moist and Meaty dog food, given one piece at a time) it's not really about the food for her. My dog always knows when we're on our way to class and even though she likes her treats you can tell she's totally focused on what you're going to what her to do next. She just loves the interaction and the challenge of figuring out what I'm asking of her. And I think the more you teach them, the more they learn to look for what you want from them. They become more in tune with you and more obedient from it.

Answer 11

Attention, whether its playing, commanding and rewarding, or just cuddling. As my gran used to say....dogs always know when they are loved!
By the way...I definately do not agree with the animal behaviourist who gives cheese as a reward. Cheese is not very good for dogs as they find it difficult to digest. Bits of sausage - much better. The long Mathessons ones are great as you can cut them up into small pieces