| Rules of Canine Learning
I've been reading a book titled "The Dog's Mind - Understanding Your Dog's Behavior," by Bruce Fogle, D.V.M., M.R.C.V.S.. In this book he has a list of Rules for Canine Learning that I thought some of you may find useful as you raise your doggies. This is the list as quoted in the book:
1. Normal dogs can learn at any age up to the time their mental capacities start to deteriorate in old age.
2. They learn best through patience and with suitable rewards. Rewards must be given with or within less than a second of the desired response from the dog.
3. Intermitten rewarding of desired activity produces behavior that is more resistent to extinction.
4. The value of the reward should be appropriate for the desired behavior. Dogs value rewards in different ways. Find out what is most valuable to your dog and use the rewards appropriately.
5. Learning should be enjoyable. Spend ten minutes two to three times each day. Sessions should be separated by several hours. Tired dogs do not learn easily. Mental activity is more tiring to the dog than physical activity.
6. Learning should take place in a quiet environment. Once the correct responses have been made in that environment, you can move to more stimulating environments and repeat the processes.
7. Every dog should be trained to come, sit, stay, down and down stay in that order. If a dog fails at any level, do not punish but simply go back to the previous level. Always finish training sessions on a positive note.
8. Only use your dog's name to get his attention. Use one word commands in training.
9. Once your dog has learned commands from one person have him learn the same commands from other members of the household. In this way he learns that in a dominance heirarchy, he is beneath all the humans in his pack.
10. Punishment can be counterproductive. Use it with care. Natural punishments using your voice and stare can, however, be effective. | 
