There are four fundamental principles that should guide you as you develop a new relationship with your dog.1
All living things repeat behaviors that are rewarding and avoid behaviors that aren’t.
You do not have to punish a dog (or any animal for that matter) to develop or change behavior patterns. Understand what motivates your dog, figure out what is rewarding enough to him that he will want to choose this behavior over any other. Remember this one principle, and you can train any behavior or change any “problem” behavior.
Focus on what you want your dog to do, not on what you do not want him to do.
All you have to do is figure out how to keep your dog from being rewarded by behaviors you don’t want him to do, and generously and consistently reward him for behaviors you do want him to do, and training your dog will be a breeze.
Your dog already knows everything you are going to teach him.
Your dog already knows how to sit, get off the couch, walk nicely next to you on walk (if properly motivated!). Your job as a trainer is to teach your dog the English words that correspond to the behavior, and make performing that behavior very rewarding.
Dogs only have the ability to learn one behavior for per cue.
Consistency ensures success. Discuss with everyone who interacts with the dog and agree on the rules the dog must follow and the specific commands you will teach her. If one family member tells the dog “off” to mean get off the couch or off a person, but someone else uses the word “down” (which the dog has learned means “lay down on the floor”), the dog will not understand what you want her to do.
Sources:
- Miller, Pat. The Power of Positive Dog Training. 2001. Hungry Minds, Inc.
