I can help you train your dog faster and better than you think
I can help you.
Let me back up a second and explain what’s going on. It’s been a busy week for yours truly.
Went to the new Jimmy Buffett play in Providence, RI, did the Best of the Best Customer Appreciation Day Party and I had the opportunity to spend the weekend watching and learning from an extremely skilled dog trainer.
The trainer has an incredible background. He is a 20-year veteran of Belgium’s biggest metropolitan police department. He covered everything from puppy behavior and development to the highest levels of training and off-leash control.
Even after all these years of working and training dogs, I truly believe to be the best at anything you can NEVER stop learning and make it a point to attend at least three seminars a year. This was one of the best I’ve been to.
It is interesting to watch and learn from other trainers, but what is equally interesting is when your beliefs are confirmed by someone you respect.
You see, this seminar had a large circle of trainers and handlers there. There were pet dog owners, Ring Sport (a form or protection and obedience competition) competitors, Boston Police K9 handlers, and dog trainers like me.
The second part of each day was the working portion of the seminar. Handlers would bring their dogs out and work with the instructor and he would provide feedback to improve on their training.
Before any of the dogs were brought out, he made an extremely important comment. He said: “If your dog does not take food from me or if your dog is not motivated by a ball or tug toy, I can’t work with your dog.”
And that, my dog loving friend, is the secret to teaching your dog anything!
Training a dog boils down into two parts:
- What behavior do you want your dog to do?
- What behavior do you want your dog to STOP doing?
Teaching a dog to do a behavior requires reinforcement.
Stopping a behavior requires punishment.
Yes, it is simple. Not always easy, but it is that simple. I know what you’re thinking. Dog training seems so confusing. You can be rest assured what you read is exactly what you need to know to train a dog.
In today’s hard hitting, information packed, highly entertaining message, I want to focus on numero uno – “What behavior do you want your dog to do?”
To teach a dog to do a behavior requires reinforcement such as a food reward, a toy. And here’s the key – this reinforcement needs to be something which will actually motivate your dog to do a behavior.
If your dog does not have a strong food drive or has zero interest in balls or toys, it will be difficult to teach him to do behaviors.
Can you train a dog that has no desire for food or toys?
YES! You can.
But…
…it is much more difficult and the process is not very fun.
See, if your dog does not work for the food rewards, you now need to use pressure. You must physically manipulate your dog into a sit or down.
Not much fun for the dog or handler. And you can see the difference. A dog who works under pressure is not a dog who is enthusiastic about training and you can see it in the dog’s performance. They will do it, but they are not digging it.
Which is why the trainer at the seminar would not work with the dogs who were not motivated by positive reinforcement (food).
He refuses to use only pressure to get the dog to work and made it very clear.
So the SECRET to training your dog is to BUILD your dog’s food drive. Build your dog’s toy and ball drive.
Which I will talk about in upcoming videos I have planned for you. You have subscribed to my YouTube channel right? You don’t want to miss any so make sure you run over and subscribe now.
And… if you need help fast, no worries. Because you can schedule a free consultation with me and we can see what you have going on with your dog.
Setting up a free consultation is easy.
You can call 774-319-6351 or you can go here to schedule online: Free Dog Training Consultation
All the best,
Eric Letendre’s Dog Training School
1180 STATE ROAD
WESTPORT MA
774.319.6351