Genuine Dog Gear Training Toys Resources » Train Your Dog

How Dogs Learn

Linda Martuch — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:51:46 +0000

It’s difficult for us humans to understand what dogs think. We can’t actually get inside their heads to see what they comprehend. However our knowledge of brain structure and observations of how dogs learn leads us to believe there are things dogs can’t understand and other things they appear to be very good at.

One of the things they don’t understand is ‘concepts’. They can’t conceptualize because they have very small frontal lobes. The frontal lobes are the part of the brain that processes higher reasoning and concepts. Since they lack this part of the brain, we’re pretty sure they think in very specific terms and their abilities to draw some types of conclusions are limited. This assumption is supported by observations about how dogs learn.

What Dogs Know

Humans understand the ‘concept’ of ‘sit’. If someone asks us to sit, we can sit inside or outside, on a chair, a step, at a table or on a log, it’s all the same to us. They can ask us to sit, take a seat, rest a moment, take a load off or put our feet up and we understand all of that in the larger concept of ‘sit’.

Dogs don’t have the ability to take a concept like ‘sit’, and apply it to differing circumstances. We call this global thinking, humans can globalize, dogs are specific.

How To Train A Dog

If you trained your dog to ‘sit’ and only practiced in the house, you might be surprised to find that he didn’t seem to understand that command outside on the lawn. With the change in surroundings and/or circumstances, it’s a different situation to them. Most dogs won’t recognize the signals because those signals only apply to the situation in which they were taught. I say most because some dogs, like guide dogs, which are specifically bred for this ability, have some limited abilities to globalize.

Once your dog understands ‘sit’, you would need to teach another command to get him to jump up and sit in a chair. For dogs, sitting in a chair is different than sitting on the floor. And chairs are different too. An upholstered chair is different from a kitchen chair, to a dog it’s not the same thing. Dogs think in very specific terms.

Training Dogs With Consistency

Many highly trained dogs that compete in agility, or do police work, will only work for one trainer. They won’t work with any other person. Even with the same words, commands and requirements, it just doesn’t add up when someone else is giving the signals. It’s too different because dogs are so specific in their thinking, and perceptions. In their minds, commands come from their trainer, they don’t come from other people. They don’t understand those commands because they didn’t come from the correct source. The good news is that we can easily show dogs that their commands work in all situations simply by practicing in different locations.

How Dogs Think

The thinking that dogs do well, I call ‘connect the dots’. They’re experts at ‘what comes next’. Here’s some examples that I’m sure you’ll recognize. You pick up the car keys and the dog knows you’re leaving. The rattle of the car keys, predicts that you’ll be going out the door. If your dog likes the car and wants to go with you, he’ll run to the door because he’s hoping that ‘what comes next’, is he gets to tag along. You never taught the dogs that the keys mean you’re leaving, he observed it and put one and one together.

What Dogs Remember

Some more examples, the can opener predicts dinnertime. The leash predicts a walk, the doggie shampoo predicts a bath. In each of these cases, your dog has done simple addition 1 + 1 = 1.

One thing, plus one thing, equals one thing. The car keys alone don’t predict that you are leaving. It must be YOUR car keys. If a guest picks up her keys, your dog knows the difference. If someone who never takes the dog with them picks up the keys, your dog won’t respond. So it’s not the keys alone which triggers a response. It’s you and your keys together. Here’s some more equations:

Mommy + doggie shampoo = I’m getting a bath
Daddy + car keys = daddy is leaving the house
My dinner bowl + on the kitchen counter = I’m eating soon

Dogs are experts at this kind of addition, which is very specific thinking.

Doggie Math

Dogs pay attention to food and fun. They’re happy to perform to get the goodies. So we’ll use food and play to get them doing the math we want. Here’s our basic equation that we’ll be adapting to meet our needs:

Mommy (or Daddy) + “What” = Good things for me

All you have to do is show them the ‘what’. With training (experience) the equation can become anything you want, for example:

Mommy says ‘sit’ + my rear meets the floor = treats for me.
Daddy says ‘come’ + I go to Daddy = playtime for me.

All their thinking runs along these lines, their thought processes are that simple. They can add two things together to predict a result and they can do that extremely well. Dogs are expert problem solvers and solving this kind of math is what they do extremely well.

Dogs Need Specifics

The reason I told you about how specific dogs are is because you need to know that to a dog, ‘come’ and ‘come here’ are not the same. ‘Sit’ and ‘Sit Down’ and ‘Good Sit’ are not the same thing either. Dogs do very simple math, the following equation is too difficult for them to process:

Mommy says ‘sit’ and/or Mommy says ‘sit down’ and/or Mommy says ‘please sit down’ and/or Mommy says ‘Sau IT!’ + I sit down = treats.

Dogs can’t do that math. Eventually they might learn all the permutations of the ‘sit’ word separately without your realizing it. But this kind of training will take much longer than being specific and consistent. Using one word, every time, in exactly the same way will allow your puppy to be a star!

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Dogs The Great Observers

Linda Martuch — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:19:39 +0000

I’ve read training articles and general interest stories about dogs, which imply there isn’t much going on in our dog’s brains. I beg to differ. I think that they’re thinking and feeling quite a lot, and learning all the time, especially when they’re young.

Dogs Learn From Experience

Dogs learn from observation, and experience. In the natural world there aren’t any doggie schools, wolves and street dogs learn by watching each other, testing situations and gauging responses. To learn something useful, they experiment, and process the results, positive or negative.

Incidentally this why Time out works so well as a training tool, it gives your dog the opportunity process what just happened.

Dog Families

Dogs live with us instead of their natural canine families, So they watch and learning from us! In the natural world, dogs interact with and have learning experiences all day long, in our world our dogs are sequestered in a house, and only get input when we’re around. You’re the whole world to your dog. You’re the mommy, daddy, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles. What ever they’re going to learn, they’ll get from you, because you’re their primary, and sometimes only, being with which they’re allowed to interact and observe.

Accidental DogTraining

Our dogs are glued to us like we’re the new HD TV. We don’t realize but they are monitoring our reactions and responses, they’re keeping one eye or ear trained on us constantly. And they’re making connections and assumptions all the time. They take in an amazing amount of information and process it the doggy way. Yes folks, Big Brother is watching YOU, except in this case he’s a little fluff ball with a big grin and a wagging tail.

Dog Training, Torture or Treat?

It’s not uncommon, for a student to ask me if training will ruin their dog’s spirit. No, it won’t ruin their spirit, it will ruin their bad behavior and strengthen your relationship, because training is the interaction that dogs CRAVE. Their lives are about interaction, they’re social and pack animals with strong family ties. Training isn’t torture and your puppy won’t be emotionally stunted because training gives them attention and feedback they desperately want.

Dog Connections

Your puppy is observing you all the time whether you’re aware of it or not, and your puppy is learning every moment that his eyes are open. How do you suppose that he quickly learns the sound of the car keys means your leaving the house? It’s because he’s been connecting the dots and learning what things mean without your realizing it. He learned that the sound of the keys predicts your leaving the house by observing what happens and making connections.

Because they’re always drawing connections, you shouldn’t limit your training opportunities to certain places or certain times. Your puppy is always watching and learning from everything you do, take advantage of every opportunity.

Aid Your Dogs Learning Process

Your puppy is constantly looking to you for direction, so you can very quickly have a responsive and obedient dog. Ask for a sit, or down, or handshake with every treat. Insist the puppy waits while you go out the door first. Every time the puppy nips you, bump his nose. Every time he potty’s outdoors you give him praise and/or a treat.

Training is happening every minute that your dog is awake. Choose to take part, interact with him and show him how the people world works. You’ll both be glad that you did.

Links to Puppy Class 101 Articles:

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Secure Dogs Are Happy Dogs

Linda Martuch — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:47:20 +0000

We humans are bigger, stronger and arguably smarter than our dogs so it’s our job to be their leaders. Not only because we’re bigger and stronger, but also because we provide their food. In the dog world that makes us the boss. Dogs are good with this system; in fact it’s their system, and their rules. We’re just living by them. They naturally look to us for leadership, protection and guidance. Because we’re bigger, stronger and we provide them with food.

Where’s The Dog Rules? Or, Trouble in Retriever City

The trouble starts when we humans don’t play by the dog rules. Many dog owners don’t realize how the dog world works, so they fail to accept their rightful place in the pack. They never even realize they are supposed to assume the position of pack leader. Many people think puppies are like people, if you treat them nice and explain things, they’ll behave. That’s true, but only if you can explain things the way a dog can understand and set some rules and enforce them.

Dog Insecurities

The American old west was an exciting and dangerous place because there was very little protection from dangerous people, and few lawmen. Every individual had to take matters into their own hands, make their own decisions about right and wrong, dangerous or safe, shoot or don’t shoot. Its no wonder the people of that era always look unhappy in their photographs. They weren’t happy. They were stressed out from everyday insecurities and worries. Dogs that live in homes without a clear leader live in an old west world, they don’t have the security they need to relax and be happy.

Cowpuncher Puppy

Dogs that live in unstructured or leaderless homes live in an old west world, they have no protection from the dangers of the world.

It’s your job to protect your dog by defining the their rules, rights, and boundaries. If you have a shy dog and you fail to live up to your rightful duties as ‘sheriff’ or ‘pack leader’ by providing the structure your dog needs, he could be insecure and fearful his entire life. Insecure and fearful dogs are generally dangerous. They often growl and bite to defend themselves and their possessions from perceived dangers.

The Well Balanced Dog

If you have a naturally well-balanced dog, with a happy go lucky attitude, you got lucky. Your dog probably won’t have serious behavior problems in the absence of your leadership and protection. If your dog isn’t naturally pliant and relaxed, he’ll need you to provide a solid structure of rules in order to feel secure.

How to Make Your Dog Happy

By setting rules, boundaries and limitations for your dog you’ll be assuming your rightful role of ‘sheriff’. And once you’ve established that you’re the pack leader, your dog will assume that you’re not only in charge of him, but that the whole world obeys you and your rules. Wow!

Pack Leaders Rule

Once again, we benefit from the doggy brain structure! As far as your dog knows, when we control him, we control the entire world! It sounds incredible, but it’s true. Because dogs brains have a limited capacity, once they see us as trusted leaders they can relax and be secure that their entire world is a safe place because we’ve made it so.

All we have to do is set rules we can live with, and keep them. That’s all the power we need to set our dogs free from anxiety for their entire lives, by providing the structure and the rules they need to be happy. You have the opportunity and the ability to give your dog a very happy life, make the rules.

Links to Puppy Class 101 Articles:

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Doggie Sheriff

Linda Martuch — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 17:08:22 +0000

You’re the doggie sheriff; so let’s make some rules. Remember these are always rules, and they’ll always apply so think about them carefully, because you’ll have to enforce them. Here are some suggested rules that you can choose from to get started.

No jumping up on people
No getting on the furniture
No soiling in the house
No chewing on people objects, furniture, clothing, shoes, etc.
No barking after I say “quiet”
Come when called
No biting people
Lay down when I say so
Sit when I say so
Leave things alone when I say so
Stay where I’ve put you when I say so

All these rules have to be taught, but are easily learned. They’re all useful and some of them could save your dog’s life. We’ll cover most of them in our class. But teaching them is your responsibility.

Dog Rules

1. The big dog makes the rules (that’s you). As ‘sheriff’ you control:

Where your dog goes and when (control of movements)
What objects your dog gets or not (control of possessions)
When and if your dog gets to eat (control of groceries)

2. If a dog breaks a rule, the reaction from the ‘big dog’ is immediate and appropriate
3. Once it’s over, it’s over (dogs don’t hold grudges)

Do I Get A Six Shooter?

We know that dogs need and expect us to set the rules and enforce them, but how are we going to do that? Dogs have their own ways of expressing displeasure, giving warnings and enforcing rules. They can grow, snarl, bare teeth, bite, or knock someone over and pin them to the ground. I don’t know about you, but none of these work for me.

Correction Tool Kit

I need a different set of tools and for puppies we need some gentle tools because they’re young and small. So here’s your correction tool kit:

Verbal noise or noise maker like a shake can
Removing the puppy from wherever he shouldn’t be, or take away what he shouldn’t have
Timeout

This short but very effective list includes one sound warning, and two physical ‘corrections’. The sound warning can be any sudden sound noise, even the clap of your hands. If used with an unpleasant facial expression and verbal disapproval, it’s a good enough correction for some sensitive puppies.

To remove your puppy from someplace he shouldn’t be, just pick him up and move him. To take something he has, if he won’t willingly give it up, gently squeeze his lips against his back teeth, and generally they’ll open their mouths to relieve the pressure on their lips and you can get whatever the puppy has when he opens up. For information on Timeout click here(Link Timeout article).

Happy Trails

Ideally, you’ll use training and restrictions to keep your puppy out of trouble in the first place. But puppies are puppies, so you can use these techniques when your puppy does something he shouldn’t. By acting as your puppy’s sheriff, you’ll be giving him a lifetime of security.

Links to Helpful General Knowledge Articles:

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Vision – The Dog Language

Linda Martuch — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:10:40 +0000

Dogs don’t have spoken language capability. They naturally read body language. They can tell if we’ve had a bad day, if we’re stressed, happy or anxious by looking at our faces or the set of our shoulders. I expect they can read tiny changes in our expressions that even other people miss. But we train our dogs to respond to verbal commands, because we’re verbal.

What Comes Next

Fortunately for us, dogs are experts at ‘predictors’, which is trainer speak for connecting the dots or figuring out ‘what comes next’. So when we say “Sit” and the puppy sits, it’s because he’s learned that when he hears that sound and he sits, he gets a cookie. It wouldn’t matter if you said scratch or sniff instead of sit, if you pared those words with a sit and a cookie, he’d sit. But he doesn’t understand language, so you have to teach him specific words.

Don’t Be Deceived

Your dog may love the sound of your voice, but don’t confuse interest with communication. Explaining things in words won’t get the message through. But because they seem to understand our words, and we’re so dedicated to language, it can be hard to understand what really happens when we try to communicate with our dogs. I’ll make up a story to illustrate how dogs trick us into thinking they’re know what we’re saying.

Keep Your Eyes On The Prize

Let’s say, for example, that a student and her puppy are learning the sit command. The puppy has been lured into the sit position 5 or 6 times and has made the connection between sitting and getting a treat. The student says “Sit” and the puppy responds and receives the treat. It seems obvious that the puppy has very quickly understood both the concept of “sit” and the word his Mommy used to ask for the behavior. That’s pretty good for a creature that’s been on the planet for a few short weeks, eh?

Not So Fast

After class, our intrepid team goes home to show off their new skill, “sit” says his mommy and the puppy jumps up for the treat. They try again and the puppy leaps for joy. ‘What’s wrong with my puppy?,” the student is now wondering. He’s already forgotten his lesson! He understood it an hour ago, what happened?

What Really Happens

The puppy had been watching his mommy and the treat and he wasn’t listening to the words she’d said. His mommy stood and held the treat in exactly the same way each time they’d practiced. He’d noticed her movement and body position, but his mommy thought he was listening.

At home, he’s in a different place and mommy is holding the treat differently so he doesn’t recognize the signals. At class he’d tricked his mommy into thinking he understood her words, but he earned his treats by watching her movements. Now that’s dog smarts!

The Biggest Hurdle

We don’t have to train silently, but it’s easy to talk too much. Ideally the only words we would speak while training would be our dog commands, or better yet we’d use dog hand signals.

You may have noticed that while I’m talking to class I use hand signals to communicate with my dogs. I use hand signals because they offer my dogs a clear sign they can read without sorting through the mountain of words they don’t recognize and because hand signals are a language they innately understand.

Vision, The Dog Language

Dogs do learn to respond to words, with time and repetition. But the fastest way to teach your dog is with visual clues because his brain has the ability to recognize and remember them. Vision is the language of dogs, and offering a visual signal with your verbal command will help him to learn faster and remember better.

Links to Puppy Class 101 Articles:

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New Furry Dog Toys

Linda Martuch — Tue, 27 May 2008 16:48:27 +0000

Excitement and safety are always priorities here at Genuine Dog Gear. I’ve designed our new furry dog toys: the Ram Tuffys and Rabbit Tuffys specifically to be safe, while creating a top speed excitement in your dog. I’m happy to report that they’re doing their job.

Not your Mama’s Tug Toy

These Tuffy’s are not beginner tug toys. I’m not implying that you’re going to get hurt using them, but they do create a very high degree of desire in dogs. If you’ve got a chewer and you’re not watching closely, your dog tug toy will wind up in bits and pieces in a heartbeat.

Additionally, if you have a couple of aggressive or competitive dogs in your household, you’ll want to keep a close eye on these as they could easily start a fight. These are not the kind of dog toys you can turn over to the dogs. You’ll definitely want to be involved in the games.

Rabbit Rules

Dogs love rabbit. I guess it’s their natural instincts. There must be something in the smell that just goes click for them, like chocolate, fresh baked bread or the smell of money does for us.

I’m guessing it’s a fundamental survival/hunting drive that kicks in for them. It doesn’t matter what the mechanism is that gets their wheels spinning. All you need to know is that this rabbit fur dog toy will drive your high rev dog up the right tree. If you’re looking for a good dog toy to push your dog training to the next level, I recommend this one.

Sheepy Love

A Sheepskin dog toy may be preferable for your dog if you have a herding breed as opposed to a hunting breed. We put sheepskin in a lot of our tug toys to create drive and it works very well. If your dog hasn’t seen furry dog toys before, I recommend starting with sheepskin and working your way up to the rabbit dog toy after your dog has seen the sheepskin for a while.

The same is true if you’ve been dog training with rabbit fur dog toys. Your dog may really respond to the novelty of sheepskin.

Fur Origins

Sometimes we get asked where our fur comes from. So, if you’re wondering, our sheepskin comes from New Zealand and the rabbit fur comes from France. In both cases, the animals are raised for the table and the skins are harvested as a part of that process. Neither of these skins comes from the orient or a third world country. We buy our skins from American companies who import them for resale.

Train your dog

Linda Martuch — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:10:30 +0000

Train you dog to fetch the paper

#1 Take it slow when teaching your dog new behaviors.

#2 Teach your dog to fetch the paper in 5 steps.

#3 Link several behaviors to teach your dog new tricks.

Teach your dog faster with Play

#1 Dogs learn fastest and best when playing.

#2 Have fun and enjoy your dog training, you’ll both be happy you did.

#3 Play motivational games with your dog to improve learning.

Train Your Dog to Respond Quickly

#1 Tips to get your dog to respond quicker.

#2 High Value rewards will get your dog moving.

#3 A Buffalo Toy could increase your dogs motivation.