January 30th, 2010
I was at a local Petsmart the other day looking around for some crates. There was a training class going on and I know the trainer. This isn’t the first time I’ve been at that PetSmart. Anyway, here I am looking around the store and I figured I would need a shopping cart. After all a couple of crates are not that easy to carry.
I head back to the front of the store only to have to weave through 5 dogs doing long downs right in front of the door.
This bothered me greatly because (A) I was there to shop and (B) why right in front the door? What does that teach a dog? To lay there under great stress and fear a correction for moving when a mother and her 2 year old and their dog walks right past them, almost stepping on them?
I didn’t make that last part up. That was not a hypothetical. That was what happened. The dog got up after almost getting run down by a shopping cart holding a 2 year old with a dog on leash beside the cart. The owner runs over, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT” In the most annoying voice you can imagine and pushes the dog back into the down.
I rolled my eyes, walked on, did my shopping, said see ya to the trainer and left. As I was driving home I couldn’t help but think about that dog. Why was it corrected? Why would a pet dog owner need a 45 minute down stay at the main doors of Petsmart? More importantly why would I leave my dog there and go out of site? I was stumped.
I returned to the store a few days later (more shopping for my mongrel horde) and once again, there they were, long downing in the middle of the store in the midst of all the dogs, kids, parents, and shopping carts. I once again was stumped. I asked the trainer, “Why do you teach a long down in the middle of the store?”
The answer? Because I think it is important.
Really, that was the answer. Not an ounce of explanation. It is one of those “just because” reasons.
The long down is a pointless exercise in pet obedience. Why would you ever need to down your dog for 5-10-15-45 minutes with your back turned or you out of sight? There is not one valid reason you would need your dog to do this.
For those reading this that do competitive sports this does not apply to you. Your sport may call for a down-stay with handler out of sight. That is a valid reason to teach it, the sport you compete in calls for it. However a pet dog does not need a 2 hour down stay in the middle of the local pet store while you are shopping or talking to your long lost Uncle.
Every time I go to that PetSmart I see a dog, laying there, people walking around it, petting the dog, small kids running up to the dog, and when the dog breaks, the owners run up, “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT” and correct the dog for moving.
The long down, in pet obedience, really doesn’t serve any purpose. If you are trying to proof your Pit Bull against distractions it is far easier to do this in a moving exercise like loose leash walking or some controlled heeling. Maybe even a recall or two while distractions are around. The point here is, when the dog is just laying there what are you rewarding? Laying there?
When you are working in a moving exercise it is much easier to clearly tell the dog, “Yes! You turned away from that food on the ground and kept a good pace with me! Gooood dog!”
If I put my dog in a 20 minute down stay, walk off, return, what happens if the dog gets up the moment I return? You either have to start over or “play” like it was your idea and release the dog. Either way the dog really didn’t learn much.
There are alternatives for Pit Bull owners who are teaching pet obedience. Like the place cue. Or the “chill out” cue that my assistant dog trainer teaches his dogs. This means, go over to that place and relax a while. I’ll be right here with you, but you have to chill out.
Some clicker trainers call this the “settle” cue. Whatever you call it, it means, go lay down, relax, we’re going to be here for a while. It does not mean, you better lay here under heavy distraction and not so much as twitch a nose hair buddy boy!
That is unfair, completely pointless, and useless dog training.
Best Regards,
Jason Mann
Owner: http://www.PitBullLovers.com.com
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: dog training, pit bull training, Pit Bulls, pitbulls | No Comments
October 3rd, 2008
What I am about to reveal in this post is one of the most highly regarded, “secrets” to training your Pit Bull that I have. You may have even heard or read about it before but I guarantee you missed the power of this little secret.
What is this “dirty little secret?”
I’ll tell you more about that in a moment. First I would like to tell you about my book, The Pit Bull Training Handbook. I wrote this book for Pit Bull owners because there are a growing number of dog trainers in the world that will not work with Pit Bulls.
I know, amazing right, these people are stupid. I get referrals from other dog trainers in my area all the time because they refuse to work with Pit Bulls. It boggles my mind. But that’s besides the point.
I also wrote the book because I personally believe that basic training is the single most powerful way to build a bond with your dog.
The Pit Bull Training Handbook covers basic obedience, puppy manners, leadership, and more. What makes the handbook different is that it truly is Pit Bull specific. This is not a cookie cutter breed book that would work for any breed.
Many of the training concepts are well known but the focus on how to apply them to Pit Bulls is 100% unique.
You will also find things like how to train for the spring pole, how to build drive, and how to develop focus and attention quickly and effectively.
The techniques work for puppies and adult Pit Bulls.
You will also have the opportunity to become part of a growing community of Pit Bull owners by joining the Pit Bull Lovers Private forum. The forum is private, exclusive, and only customers of the Pit Bull Training Handbook have access to it. It is moderated and you will not find a bunch of “game dog” posts or people there. It is full of like minded people who simply want to train their dogs and present a great image of the Pit Bull to the general public.
I guarantee satisfaction and reveal all the steps that I use to train my own dogs and use in my professional dog training business to get results.
For more information about what is inside the handbook visit The Pit Bull Training Handbook website here.
What about that dirty little secret?
The dirty little secret is motivation. Yes, motiviation. As I said before you may have heard about getting your Pit Bull motivated but I guarantee you have never been told how to do that exactly. Well, I’m going to tell you right now.
There are many ways to do this. Pit Bulls, being “gripping dogs” are for the most part driven dogs. Most Pit Bulls have good prey drive and it is this drive you want to tap into. You want to tap into the drive to chase, catch, and grip things.
How do you do that?
Playing games!
Okay, stay with me here because this is the thing that separates the methods I use from the ones you’ve probably read about or heard about from others. One example of how well this works is in my own dog Angel.
As a puppy Angel was not much of anything in regards to drive. She was a “normal” puppy with a decent amount of drive but nothing to special. I started playing fetch with her using a specific ball. Each time we played it was the same exact ball.
Over a period of just a few days she started getting really excited for that ball. As I was teaching her basic obedience I used that ball as a reward. Her desire to fetch and hold the ball grew and grew.
Angel is 9 years old now and her drive for the ball is super intense and her focus is laser pointed. I can get her to recall instantly, get her to sit instantly, lay down instantly, and learning new behaviors is a snap because she is motivated to work for her toy.
You may be thinking, “Jason, this isn’t a secret! Motivation is all over the web in dog training books and well, it’s not nothing special.”
My friend, I guarantee you that you have not seen the exact motivational method that I am talking about here and while it is easy to dismiss, don’t. It is powerful. I talk about this method even further in the Pit Bull Lovers Private Forum which you will be able to access after purchasing The Pit Bull Training Handbook.
When you use a specific toy or type of food to build drive in your Pit Bull, motivation and attention are simple as apple pie!
Without drive you can not get motivation. Without motivation you can not get focus. Without focus you can not get solid obedience. I use this secret daily to “wow” dog training clients and to show them how their dogs, once thought, “untrainable” are in fact, very trainable and within a few minutes of seeing the results they are excited to train their dogs.
The key is to isolate the toy/food. In other words, it is the only toy or food you use while training. They do not get the toy/food at any other time. Your dog will start to crave their favorite toy/food and as a result you will be able to train without conflict.
Try this experiment…
1. Decide on a toy. A tug, a ball, or whatever. Tugs and balls are best from my experience.
2. Only play with your dog using that toy for 7 days. Play for a few minutes at a time.
3. Do not let the dog keep the toy. Once you are done, put the toy up.
4. Watch your dogs behavior over the next 7 days. I’m not a betting man but if I were I would bet you will see a change (for the good) in their motivation for the toy.
If you want to use food, follow the same process as above but instead of a toy, use your “secret” food.
Until Next Time,
Jason, Angel CGC/CTD, Honey and Patch CGC
The Most Complete Pit Bull Web Site Online
Categories: Pit Bull Blog |
Tags: dog training, pit bull, pit bull training, Pit Bulls, pitbull, training | No Comments
