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Welcome to Dynamite Dog Training Services
How do dogs learn? How do they acquire obedience skills and develop behaviour? In short, "The Laws of Learning" govern this process and understanding this is crucial if we expect to be their teachers and trainers.
So, all dogs are subject to these "Laws of Learning" which means that we have a choice to make in how we train. We can either reward the dog for responding correctly or we can punish the dog for responding incorrectly. We can also use a combination of the two. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, within that framework, there are many variations and many important factors to consider.
How we communicate, how we motivate and how effective our timing is are three of the most critical elements that will have significant impact on the results of training. Learning this and developing your skills in these areas will greatly improve how readily your dog learns.
At Dynamite Dog my focus is on positive reinforcement training. This does not mean that it is exclusively treat training and it does not mean that we let unwanted behaviour go unchecked. Whether in a class setting or a private one-on-one session, I can help you to become a more effective trainer and help you to reach your training goals more quickly.
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If you have a dog that has a fearful response to a particular stimulus or event and you are employing (or are thinking of employing) "correction-based" techniques to overcome the behaviour, then I would ask you to reconsider for reasons I will try to outline here.
For the purposes of illustrating a point, let's imagine that we have a person (rather than a dog) that is afraid of red cars, as irrational as that may be. Now imagine that I walk around with that person throughout the day and every time she sees a red car and exhibits some form of fear or anxiety, I kick her in the shin and yell at her. Do you think such tactics will work to dispell her fear or will it have the opposite effect? Indeed, she will become more anxious and stressed at the sight of a red car or even at the thought of one. If, on the other hand, every time she sees a red car, I hand her $50, how will that affect her psychological and emotional response? Rather than fear, red cars will begin to invoke positive feelings for her.
It seems like common sense when looking at this hypothetical situation with a human subject, but when it is a dog, often that common sense evaporates. Please consider these positive behaviour modification techniques and give them a chance to work - because they do work if implemented properly and consistently!
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On July 31, 2011 we said our final farewell to a beloved member of our family. Brandi was one month shy of her 13th birthday when she succumbed to leukemia, a disease that has taken too many too soon, and although we knew this day was coming, it has not made it any easier to accept. With her passing still so recent, there is only tremendous sadness, heavy hearts and a void in our lives that is as big as a house. Everywhere we look and everywhere we go there are reminders that she is no longer with us, renewing the pain and bringing fresh tears.
Time, though, is a wonderful salve. We will miss her dearly, that is for certain, but in due time, the pain that is so raw now, will gradually recede like the tide, leaving behind memories that we will cherish forever. Slowly, the tears will turn to smiles and the sadness to laughter as we remember all the wonderful moments that were shared. The one thing that will not change, is the feeling that we owe Brandi a debt of gratitude for the depths to which she enriched our lives. I hope that we managed to do the same for her. Thank you Brandi - we love you!
Brandi August 28, 1998 - July 31, 2011 |
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