Pack Rules and Boundaries

Consistency and positive reinforcement are crucial elements in training working dogs to ensure their success and effectiveness in their roles. When it comes to dog training techniques for working dogs, these two factors play a vital role in shaping their behavior and enhancing their performance.

Working dogs, such as police dogs, search and rescue dogs, herding dogs, protection dogs or service dogs, require specialized training to fulfill their duties effectively. Consistency in training methods ensures that the dog understands what is expected of them consistently. By using the same commands, gestures, and cues consistently, trainers establish clear communication with the working dog.

BACK TO BASICS
For most of us, our dogs are furry members of the family. Although they may be part of the family we must establish boundaries, rules, and their role in the pack. From puppyhood to adulthood, dogs continue to learn new behaviors. The basis of achieving a respectful, well-mannered dog is to have a clear line of communication. This allows for not only building an unbreakable bond with them but further secures a solid foundation of basic skills.

As a dog is acclimated into your “pack” questions to think about are: How will you start the process of successfully integrating them into your pack? How will you establish yourself as the Alpha dog? How do integrate your family into the pack and the hierarchy?

Once you’ve answered those questions and have a plan, it’s go time! Establishing communication with your other pack members, outlining their boundaries with the dog, and opening a clear line of communication between all pack members and your dog can make or break a harmonious pack relationship.

Utilizing consistent training methods means my dogs know what to expect from me with my clear and consistent commands, and they are willing to keep trying until they get it right to receive the reward.

DO YOU SPEAK DOG?
Your dog does not speak English or any language for that matter. We sometimes expect them to understand the common language spoken in our house and with our friends. When the dog does not do what is asked, we sometimes can become frustrated and resort to adding words to the command, repeating the command multiple times, yelling the command, and even physical contact to force the dog to perform the desired behavior.

This does not communicate anything other than to put our dog into a fight or flight mode. Fear is not a good motivator to start building trust. You need to build confidence in your working dog so that he has faith he can understand and give you what you want. A good working partnership with a confident dog will develop a synchronous, life-long bond.

Consistent use of commands, timing, and reinforcement is the golden key to success.

ESTABLISHING YOURSELF AS THE ALPHA
Dogs are eager to learn and please the alpha of their pack. How you become the alpha is learning to clearly communicate and understand it doesn’t happen overnight. I have taught my two German shepherds English, German, and hand signals to communicate with them. I had to first establish consistent training sessions with positive reinforcement.

My two shepherds Diesel and Sniper have total night and day personalities and what drives them. Diesel is from Czech working lines and Sniper is from American working lines and is a son of a K9 officer. Diesel is my cool, composed, methodical working dog that walks in a room with a confident swagger. With Sniper, he is a super high-drive, salivating, eyes dilating let’s work or I may lose my mind type of dog.

So how do I communicate and work with polar opposite personalities? My favorite training technique that I have been very successful with is the use of clicker training. I give a cue (only once), I wait for the behavior, I click, and I immediately reward. It is very effective if your timing is correct. I do not ask 7 or 8 times, I do not raise my voice, I do not force my dogs into doing what I want.

CLASSIC CONDITIONING

Have you ever heard of the Pavlov dog experiment? The discovery of classical conditioning happened by chance. When studying dog digestion, Pavlov discovered that the canines’ bodily responses to food gradually changed over time. The dogs initially only salivated when their food was presented to them. Later, though, prior to receiving their food, they mildly salivated. Pavlov noticed that they were drooling in response to sounds that were always present before the food arrived, such as the sound of an approaching food cart.

Pavlov set up an experiment where he rang a bell just before giving the dogs food in order to test his idea. The dogs initially did not react to the bells. The dogs gradually started salivating at the sound of the bell alone. The same concept applies when you have conditioned your own dogs by using your cue, click, and treat.

Utilizing consistent training methods means my dogs know what to expect from me with my clear and consistent commands, and they are willing to keep trying until they get it right to receive the reward, or the positive click, and my praise, of course.

POSTIVE REINFORCEMENT IS POWERFUL
Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool that motivates working dogs to perform desired behaviors. Rewarding them with treats, praise, or playtime when they exhibit the desired behavior encourages them to repeat it. This approach creates a positive association between the behavior and the reward, strengthening the desired response over time.

By incorporating consistent training techniques and positive reinforcement strategies into working dog training programs, handlers can shape desirable behaviors while building a strong bond of trust with their canine partners. This bond is essential for effective teamwork between handler and dog during high-stress situations where quick responses are crucial.

In conclusion, consistency and positive reinforcement are indispensable components of successful training for working dogs. These techniques not only shape desired behaviors but also foster a strong partnership between handler and dog based on trust and mutual understanding. With these foundations in place, working dogs can excel in their roles with confidence and efficiency.

Recommended Products