Our Training Philosophy
Our Training Philosophy
We train using the principles of behaviour modification described by behavioural psychologists. Simply put, these principles state that your dog’s behaviour is influenced by the consequences of its actions. So, your dog is more likely to repeat the desired behaviour if it receives a reward such as a tasty treat or a fun game (reinforcement), and less likely to repeat a behaviour if ignored or punished (punishment). Research has shown that reinforcement is much more effective in training as your dog learns what you want him or her to do, whereas punishment does not help it learn what the correct behaviour is that you want. We, therefore, teach owners to use a range of techniques that focus on positive reinforcement and consistency of consequences
Rewards
Most dogs respond to food or toy rewards. As coming to training is a very exciting experience, particularly for dogs in the basic class, you need to find a treat that is extra special and helps your dog stay focussed on you.
FOOD
Any store bought training treat will work but we recommend Chunky Dog Roll. You can cut it up to whatever size is appropriate for your dog, it is more economical than other treats, it is made as a food so your pooch won't get sick if they eat to much, and it is used by majority of our instructors.
Other options could include leftover chunks of roast meat, raw mince, sausages, apple, or cheese. Moist food is best for training as it is much easier for the dog to swallow.
TOYS
If your dog has a strong play drive or just likes toys, you can use this to your advantage in training.
Pick a toy that is easy for you to carry as you train (no noisy or squeaky toys please). Keep this toy hidden at home, only bring it out for training, and make sure that you control when playtime starts and finishes.
It can also be used as a play break between exercises as well so if you dog enjoys a toy, please bring it along.
Handling Your Dog
While only one family member can handle your dog in classes at any one time, you are welcome to swap who handles the dog during the evening and on different nights. It is important that if two people are coming to handle the dog, that the handler has the treats and dog, and the other one remains quiet, not distracting the dog. Other family members are welcome to come and watch and listen.
We have a minimum age for child handlers for safety reasons – only children aged 12 years and above are permitted to handle dogs in classes. This means that at no point should the dog be under sole control of the child and the instructor will be giving instructions to the older handler.