| ‘Positive reinforcement' may be better than coercion
My dog tends to jump up on people when greeting them. He is a big dog so I would like to stop this behavior before he hurts someone. I have been reading books on training and keep finding conflicting methods. Can you tell me whether positive or negative reinforcement works best with dogs?Sincerely, .
KT guide dog is top of the pups
A GUIDE dog funded by Kentish Times readers is facing a key stage in his training to provide a blind person with independence. Ewart, aged 15 months, will this week wear a harness for the first time, five weeks into his programme at a guide dog training centre in Redbridge, Essex. His handler, Daniel Stacy, 28, has spent time bonding with Ewart and helping him settle in. "It's very good going for his fifth week, he's such a good lad," Mr Stacy said. "We have played games and he's been out on his lead on the train and Tube. "He is very obedient and doesn't get distracted easily. He has to be able to sit, stay and walk to heel so that when the harness goes on, it is the only thing that is new. "Then we play games with him in the harness so he makes a positive association with it and relaxes. "In fact he is so good, he is helping me with skill checks that I have to pass to gain my handler qualifications." But Mr Stacy says not every dog responds well to training, with some lunging at other animals and being too easily distracted.
Dog training - Leash and Collar training
There are many different styles of dog training, and finding the one that works best for you is important for creating a dog that is a talented, loyal and faithful member of the family. All successful methods of dog training work to reinforce the relationship between dog and handler, and the foundation of any successful training program is getting the respect of the dog. Fortunately, dogs are wired by nature to seek out leaders, and to follow the direction of those leaders. This article focuses on one of the most popular methods of dog training the so called leash/collar style of training. Other articles will focus on the other popular style of training dogs, often called reward training or positive reinforcement. Both leash/collar training and reward training have been around for a very long time, and they have proven their effectiveness over time.
Canine Good Citizen - recognising good dogs
Nineteen Dog Obedience Clubs throughout New Zealand are offering the dog owning public a new programme called Canine Good Citizen, developed by New Zealand Kennel Club for responsible dog owners wanting positive recognition for themselves and their dogs, in a climate where a very few owners taint the image of all dogs. The six participating clubs in Auckland are: All Breeds Dog Training Club, East Auckland Dog Obedience Club, Hibiscus Coast Dog Training Club, Manukau Dog Training Club, North Shore Dog Training Club, and Norwest Dog Training Club. .
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