Why train your dog?

 

     There are two main reasons why people seek to train their dog.  The first one, and most common, is that your beloved pet is “out of control”.  They pull you down the street, dig up the garden, bolt out the front door, jump all over your guests, bark constantly, leave “gifts” in the house, steal food and chew your $500 shoes.  The second reason is that you have just acquired a puppy, and you want a polite pet.  Regardless of the reason, you’ve come to the right place.

 

     At Cannon’s Canines I teach practical obedience for the real world. I train ALL breeds, sizes and temperaments of dog, you’ll find no breed discrimination here.  The school is presently offering all levels of obedience training classes, behaviour modification, games classes and personal consultations. Classes are taught at our indoor location, or outdoors on the streets, in public parks, and so on.  Here we teach obedience in real world situations, so that you can have stress free walks with your dog, regardless of the distractions.  Our various levels of training teach owners how to control their dogs and hold their attention while out in public amongst distractions such as kids, cars, squirrels, bikes, other dogs, skateboards, and discarded food to name a few.

 

    Remember, training allows you to give your dog more freedom!  A trained dog is a happy dog.  Your dog will feel confident and secure knowing what is expected of him, and you will feel secure knowing your dog will follow your commands.  He will also be a welcomed pet and as a result, be able to go just about anywhere with you.  With a little effort and some determination, better days are ahead.  The bond you develop with your dog cannot be compared to any other relationship known to humankind!

 

Methods

 

     Cannon’s Canines believes in training your dog where you take your dog, in the environment where you need it to respond. We use a variety of techniques to teach commands and eliminate unwanted behaviour. Cannon’s Canines uses a balance of both positive & negative reinforcement, and “training through drive”.  Dogs repeat what they are successful at, and cease the behaviours that are unsuccessful.

 

Positive reinforcement:

 

     Positive reinforcement is a reward or payout when the dog does something correctly.  This can be verbal or physical praise, such as “good dog” or a scratch under the chin.  It can also be a reward in the form of a treat or toy.  Positive reinforcement is important because it gives the dog motivation to continue the behaviours we desire, and it MUST be given EVERY time the dog does something right, even if he’s made a mistake one second before.

 

Negative reinforcement:

    

     Negative reinforcement and “corrections” cause the dog to cease its behaviour.  These can be voice corrections (a loud “ANGH”), a collar correction (a quick pop on the leash), or an automatic correction from a “booby trap” or bark collar.  Negative reinforcement is important because it sets up boundaries and helps the dog to understand what is unacceptable behaviour.

    

     

Training Through Drive:

 

     This is the utilization of drives (instincts or desires) to motivate your dog into following your commands. We will be using your dogs natural drives to motivate them into doing the things we want.  This will produce a dog that is HAPPY to work for you.  They will focus on you and look forward to what you will be asking of them next. 

 

     Training should be fun for your dog and exercise his mind.  By rotating the forms of positive reinforcement, we keep our dogs on their toes, excited to find out what’s coming next.  He will give you his attention and this will help to form a closer bond between you and your dog.

 

     Not all dogs are alike, and therefore methods are varied depending on the size, temperament and special needs of each individual dog.  For example, a shy introverted dog requires more motivation and praise, whereas an extroverted willful dog requires a firm hand.  Keep in mind that the advice I give for one dog in class does not necessarily apply to the other dogs. 

 

     The key to any training, regardless of the method is timing and consistency.  If you have an open mind, and are coachable, you can train your dog, regardless of the breed.