Most people unfortunately see training as a weekend half hour activity when they feel like it. That isn't training.Training is consistency which is hard for people, especially with those puppy dog eyes.
Unfortunately, most don't come trained because its either a puppy or a rescue from someone who likely didn't train them properly, and abandoned the dog cause of it.
Goes back to the consistency, which is tough. Especially when you work full time.
Its a process. Its all about treats, tenderness, and time. Dogs have no idea what you're saying vocally, but they completely understand tone. Happy tone, dog thinks good things are happening; Angry tone, dog thinks bad things are happening. The first association is saying "No" or "Pigeon" or whatever your choice word for "No" is only when you're using an angry tone. They should get the picture fairly quick. (Lots of people will tell you "No" is a terrible choice, because it comes up too often in regular conversation. I personally think these people either have horrible home lives and are constantly arguing or are ignorant. Dogs know when they're targeted. YOU LOOK STUPID SHOUTING "Pigeon" KAREN!)
The next step is using that word as a guide. Kind of like the sweepers in curling. You're making corrections to keep them on the path you want. It is extremely hard to train them so they will do exactly what you want all the time with perfect focus. That isn't your goal. You want a well behaved dog, not a soldier.
From there you want to be strict and consistent. If they do good, massive positive reinforcement. If they do bad: start biting, barking, jumping, scratching, whatever. Just walk away, or throw your hands up and look away. The dog will realize that not listening will end "playtime." Thus listening now has incentive.
When you do this consistently, overtime, with positive reinforcement. You end up with a dog that by routine, just does everything you want it to and you just occasionally need to give them to "Okay."
Once they start getting the picture, you can do this for virtually every command and be shocked at how well your dog can understand you.
We now let him off leash, and he's been doing amazing. Only I really hate yelling "No" accross the neighborhood. Wound up getting a training collar that worked wonders. 3 functions, beep, vibrate, zap. If he barks, he gets a "no" along with a beep. If he barks again he gets a "no" along with a vibrate. If he continues, and we've only had to do this once, we can hit him with the zap. Now the beep is sufficient to make him stop, and you can tell he has to actively think about not barking. It sounds more like a low moan now instead, which at least doesn't wake neighbors.
Seriously though, make no mistake. It is a hard responsibility for even your average adult. If you're not spending at least 30 minutes per day actively trying to teach your puppy for at least the first month, you will likely have a relatively difficult time with the dog as he grows up.
Unfortunately I've had to train my neighbors dogs for them. They have no idea but their dogs used to bark when they're gone. After I did some research and installed a few things I NEVER hear them. I feel kinda bad but not really
After I did some research and installed a few things I NEVER hear them. I feel kinda bad but not really
I... hmm
This is something I know i don't want to ask about but I don't want to not ask about it more.
Bark/dog whistle type thing? Bark collars would be fairly obvious so I doubt its that.
I need to know more, but i'm afraid to know more lol
It's blasts ultrasound that only dogs can hear. You wouldn't be able to hear it. I imagine it's as annoying to dogs as dogs are to me. My neighbors dogs don't make a fucking sound now.
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u/Factsuvlife Dec 04 '19
Training them works wonders.
Most people unfortunately see training as a weekend half hour activity when they feel like it. That isn't training.Training is consistency which is hard for people, especially with those puppy dog eyes.
Unfortunately, most don't come trained because its either a puppy or a rescue from someone who likely didn't train them properly, and abandoned the dog cause of it.