HAPPY HANDLING: REWARD TARGETED TRAINING

By Jolein Van Weperen

Everything you have ever wanted to learn about impulse control during the raising of your dog.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jolein Van Weperen
• Release date: Jan 1, 2014
• ISBN: 9789082354416

Book preview

Happy Handling!

Jolein van Weperen

Reward targeted training, suitable for any dog and owner.

ISBN 978-90-823544-1-6

Cover design: Jolein van Weperen

Text: Jolein van Weperen

Editor: Bianca Hendriks (Klare Teksten)

Illustrations: Liedewij van Eijk

Senior editors: Bianca Hendriks & Grace Innemee

Translation: Liz Luyben (Opgeschreven.nl)

Format and proof reading: Claire Filler

Proof reading: L.A.Viselé, M.Kurpin´ska & E.Filler

© 2014 Jolein van Weperen. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission in writing from the proprietor.

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For Pino 1998-2001

Table of Contents

Preface

Index of illustrations

1 De Laar Dog Academy Training Method

1.1 Our training method

1.2 Giving direction

1.3 A focused dog

2 It pays to praise

2.1 How to reinforce desirable behaviour?

2.2 Ways to reward

3 Train yourself

3.1 TRP

3.2 TAM (TAMing your dog)

3.3 ABC

3.4 Skills for the trainer

4 Tips before you start training

5 How do dogs learn and communicate?

5.1 Using a command

5.2 Body language

5.3 How do dogs learn?

6 The basic exercises

6.1 The Name Game

6.2 Free

6.3 Walking on a loose leash

6.4 The hand cue

6.5 Place

6.6 ‘Happy Here’

6.6.1 Fast food method

6.6.2 Fine dining method

6.6.3 Party

6.6.4 Running/calling

6.6.5 Chasing

6.7 The Reward Zone

6.8 Positive interruption sound

6.9 A game of tug

6.10 Touch

6.11 Seeing a distraction

6.12 Impulse control

6.12.1 Candy machine

6.12.2 Impulse control in daily life

6.12.3 Granny’s Rule

7 House training

8 Crate training

9 How to prevent biting behaviour?

10 Food puzzle toys

11 Food possessiveness and resource guarding

12 Collar or harness?

13 The position of the dog within the family

14 Socializing your puppy

Preface

At De Laar Dog Academy we teach your dog in a positive way that listening to you is fun. In my training method I consciously avoid using reprimands, corrections or an angry voice, because as your dog’s stress levels rise, his ability to learn decreases. I will show you how to guide your dog’s behaviour in small training steps using rewards and get him to do what you want.

I came up with this method through my experiences with my dog Pino. Pino hadn’t felt happy in his own skin since he’d been a puppy and this made him respond aggressively to other male dogs when he was on a leash. I racked my brain but couldn’t figure out why Pino behaved in this way. I made sure he got plenty of exercise and rest. I took the advice of a vet and the owner of a dog academy and tried to change his behaviour by using a choke chain and by emphasizing the things he did wrong. This way of training felt completely wrong to me. There had to be a better way of training as this just made Pino more and more afraid, rather than happier. It wasn’t until Pino died of undiagnosed heart failure at the age of three that I finally found out that pain had been causing his behavioural issues. And so I embarked on my course as a canine instructor in Barneveld. Not having been able to help Pino had frustrated me no end, as I had never come across this type of behavioural issue with my other dogs.

During my canine instructor course I discovered that there is a different approach to dog training. Traditional training can cause some dogs to respond out of aggression or fear. I wouldn’t want a dog to respond to my commands just because he’s scared or aggressive. Training without pressure or force has been shown to be a very effective technique and it doesn’t cause any fear or aggression. For this reason I have made a conscious choice to train my dogs in this manner.

By guiding dogs in a positive way I have noticed that they experience less stress and are generally more comfortable. Commands such as ‘no’ or ‘down’ are superfluous when you offer the exercises to your dog using small steps so that he can always be successful. I have expanded upon this.

With my training I try to teach dogs desirable behaviour and change or prevent undesirable behaviour by rewarding and stimulating the dog’s positive behaviour. This makes a dog feel successful and that’ll make him (and you!) feel great.

Emily Larlham, an internationally renowned dog trainer and well-known for her YouTube channel Kikopup, has visited De Laar Dog Academy many times. She really appreciates our approach:

The way in which dog trainer Jolein van Weperen of De Laar Dog Academy trains is not only humane and ethical, but also trustworthy and based on the latest scientific facts. De Laar Dog Academy doesn’t just focus on well-mannered dogs, but also strives to get you a happy, well-adjusted, confident and relaxed friend for your whole family.

Happy Handling

Jolein van Weperen

Trainer/eigenaar Hondenschool de Laar

Gediplomeerd Gevorderd Kynologisch Instructeur en Gedragsadviseur

Index of illustrations

Reward

E.g. sausage / cheese / chicken

E.g. a game of tug / going off the leash

E.g. digging / sniffing / drinking

Distraction

E.g. a cow / a dog / a baby / carriage / a cyclist

Object

E.g. rug

E.g. harness

1 De Laar Dog Academy Training Method

1.1 Our training method

We train using positive reinforcement and we focus on rewards. We will teach you how to reinforce your dog’s positive and desirable behaviour by using a reward. By doing this, your dog will learn that it’s fun to listen to you and that it’s safe to be around you.

The exercises are diverse, aimed at your daily life and suitable for both you and your dog. Having fun is the main thing during training.

We will guide you in a creative and personal way. Our students find this method to be both enjoyable and effective. Please check out facebook.com/hondenschooldelaar to read our students’ feedback.

Our training program is based on focus and self-control from both the dog and its owner. We will show you how much self-control you have, as your dog’s self-control depends on yours.

We train without any pressure or intimidation. Verbal or physical corrections are superfluous using our method. But that certainly doesn’t mean the dog always gets his way or that we indulge our dogs during their education. We’ll teach you to guide your dog’s behaviour. That is to say, we teach your dog the desirable behaviour in small steps so he will make as few mistakes as possible.

This prevents unnecessary stress and it will improve your relationship, which will help you work together in harmony. After training at De Laar Dog Academy you will end up with a dog that enjoys interacting with you and loves cooperating with you because you’ve taught him that obeying you is fun. Your dog has self-control, walks along on a loose leash and comes immediately when you call him.

1.2 Giving direction

Giving direction to your dog’s behaviour is the most important thing we will be teaching you during our training. In small steps, we will teach you how to guide your dog’s behaviour in a positive way.

Our method can easily be summed up in the abbreviation TRP: Teaching desirable behaviour, Redirecting undesirable behaviour and Preventing undesirable behaviour.

Teaching

Without shouting, using the ‘stay’ command, giving fierce looks or hand gestures, you will teach your dog that his behaviour has consequences. Teach him that he can earn your attention, food or a game by behaving well. This will teach your dog that being self-controlled will earn him lots of great stuff. By waiting calmly by the door of his own accord, the front door or the car door will open so he can get out. Before your dog can start a sniff puzzle or a game of hide-and-seek or gets to pick a toy, he will wait quietly until you give him permission.

You decide what behaviour you’d like to see in your dog. What would you like your dog to do when you eat, when the front door bell rings, when there are visitors, etc.? You will teach him this behaviour by employing rewards such as food, games, temptations and distractions from your surroundings (see 2.2).

Redirecting

You can redirect undesirable behaviour by demanding a different type of behaviour from your dog. Among other things you can use these exercises: The name game (see 6.1), the hand cue (6.4), the positive interruption sound (6.8) the place exercise