I have never taken any of our dogs (we have 3) to obedience class; I have always been in charge of training our dogs. I've read a lot about different training methods for specific things, but never really anything about general training. I don't use clicker training and never cared to learn. I just get some treats and work with my dogs (one at a time for new tricks and in a group to work with known tricks).
So I'm just curious how other people train their dogs.
I usually start off teaching 3 tricks, focusing on one. The other two are more just for introduction and used as buffers between the 'main trick of the day' to practice the trick after spending some time doing something else. Once one trick is mostly mastered, I start a new trick as the 'main trick' and add the mostly mastered trick into the mix. Once there are two mostly mastered tricks, I'll add another. Well, that's basically what I do. I modify my training depending on the dog, and it also depends on the age - I never stop teaching tricks (this doesn't mean I train with them every day or even every week, but when I see an opportunity for a new trick, I'll teach it). When he was 5 I thought my Cairn to spin when you say 'beg'.. so I didn't use buffer tricks, I just focused on the one trick. If I'm working with a trick, known or unknown, and they don't do what they're supposed to, I'll let them know that's not right; if I want my dogs to learn stay and they keep walking, I'll tell them 'eh' (which is my way of saying 'that's not right') and they realize that what they did was wrong and they try something else. When they do it right, they get praised.
For certain things I don't really train, but more just get my dog to understand me. When we walk, I'll let my dogs stop to sniff things and when I think it's time to go, I'll say "let's go." There's never a chance for them to not come, because I start walking and they have no choice to stay behind. They just learn that "let's go" means I have to start walking. I praise them a little for walking with me, but don't make a huge deal about it; I can take all three dogs out without a leash and they will catch up to me and walk with me when I say "let's go." I use basically the same method to get my dogs to understand to get off the couch when I say "off." I also used this to teach "wait" (meaning, stay by me, don't go anywhere).
For housebreaking I make sure my dogs get out a lot as puppies and praise them heavily for going outside. When they go inside and I catch them I tell them 'no' and bring them outside. If they finish outside, I praise them heavily. If I don't catch it I just clean it up and pay more attention for next time.
As I said before, I'll change up my methods depending on the dog, but basically, I feel like the major component is consistency. I started this thread to see what other people do and get ideas. I don't plan on changing my method, but who knows; one day I might get a dog that doesn't really get this method; I don't think anything is one-size-fits-all. I'd also like to hear people's points of view on puppy/obedience classes. As I said, I've never been and don't really plan on ever going, but would love to hear what people say because I have an open mind and would like to know more information in case I ever end up with a dog that I feel might benefit from it.
So I'm just curious how other people train their dogs.
I usually start off teaching 3 tricks, focusing on one. The other two are more just for introduction and used as buffers between the 'main trick of the day' to practice the trick after spending some time doing something else. Once one trick is mostly mastered, I start a new trick as the 'main trick' and add the mostly mastered trick into the mix. Once there are two mostly mastered tricks, I'll add another. Well, that's basically what I do. I modify my training depending on the dog, and it also depends on the age - I never stop teaching tricks (this doesn't mean I train with them every day or even every week, but when I see an opportunity for a new trick, I'll teach it). When he was 5 I thought my Cairn to spin when you say 'beg'.. so I didn't use buffer tricks, I just focused on the one trick. If I'm working with a trick, known or unknown, and they don't do what they're supposed to, I'll let them know that's not right; if I want my dogs to learn stay and they keep walking, I'll tell them 'eh' (which is my way of saying 'that's not right') and they realize that what they did was wrong and they try something else. When they do it right, they get praised.
For certain things I don't really train, but more just get my dog to understand me. When we walk, I'll let my dogs stop to sniff things and when I think it's time to go, I'll say "let's go." There's never a chance for them to not come, because I start walking and they have no choice to stay behind. They just learn that "let's go" means I have to start walking. I praise them a little for walking with me, but don't make a huge deal about it; I can take all three dogs out without a leash and they will catch up to me and walk with me when I say "let's go." I use basically the same method to get my dogs to understand to get off the couch when I say "off." I also used this to teach "wait" (meaning, stay by me, don't go anywhere).
For housebreaking I make sure my dogs get out a lot as puppies and praise them heavily for going outside. When they go inside and I catch them I tell them 'no' and bring them outside. If they finish outside, I praise them heavily. If I don't catch it I just clean it up and pay more attention for next time.
As I said before, I'll change up my methods depending on the dog, but basically, I feel like the major component is consistency. I started this thread to see what other people do and get ideas. I don't plan on changing my method, but who knows; one day I might get a dog that doesn't really get this method; I don't think anything is one-size-fits-all. I'd also like to hear people's points of view on puppy/obedience classes. As I said, I've never been and don't really plan on ever going, but would love to hear what people say because I have an open mind and would like to know more information in case I ever end up with a dog that I feel might benefit from it.
