The aim of training is to teach the dog to submit to human direction. This attitude of humbleness will assist the owner in accomplishing anything s/he wishes to with the dog.
The skills I teach help the dog make the critical mental shift that enables him/her to deal more constructively with the relationship between the owner and the dog. The dog learns, for example, how to submit to the owner’s requests without challenging him/her. They are preparatory skills necessary in helping to resolve nuisance behaviors such as digging, jumping up, etc.
Training includes the following:
- Leash Work ; no pulling, change of direction, stop and wait
- Sit and wait
- Down and wait
- Stay and wait
- Come when called
Teaching the dog patience is a major component of the training.
The speed of the training will vary with each individual dog. In general, it takes 12 repetitions to reliably teach each skill. Leash work is ongoing. The time needed to teach a skill is not dependent on the intelligence of the dog. They are all smart. Rather each dog has a level of will which makes teaching a skill either harder or easier. A dominant dog with a strong will will need more time to learn the skills. The dog must willingly obey each command 3 times before moving on to the next one. The “down” command is the most important because it demands complete submission from the dog. As a result, this is where we may see some rebellion from him/her.
The success of the training or the degree to which the skills stick, will depend on
- The strength of willfulness or dominance tendency in the dog
- The length of time the dog has been without training
- The commitment of the owner to follow up on and reinforce training skills taught by the trainer.
Family members who will be handling with the dog, along with the primary handler/owner, must also be taught how to work with the dog.
Dr. Carole Francis-Swayze, Perfect Obedience Dog Training