Common dog training techniques explained

Whether your dog has behavioural problems or you'd just like to exert greater control over your pet for its own safety and that of others, spending time training your animal can be extremely rewarding. Dogs are smart creatures and are not likely to forget lessons once learned, especially when these are reinforced, and by investing effort and attention in the proper training you could be living with an obedient canine in no time.



While owners have been training dogs to perform simple tasks for centuries, it was during the Second World War that modern training began, developing the notions of negative and positive reinforcement to encourage dogs to follow instructions and thereby avoid the threat of punishment or receive a reward. This doesn't simply mean yelling at your dog if it jumps on the sofa, as without a direct connection being made in the dog's mind between the sofa and the punishment, the animal could interpret this response in any way, or respond aggressively.



Although animal activists often urge against negative reinforcement training, trainers argue that dogs have a high tolerance to pain, and that employing choke chains or shock collars is a humane and extremely effective method of teaching them to obey simple commands. However, these methods certainly aren’t for everyone, and those who wish to create a happier environment for their animals may prefer positive reinforcement techniques - for example, giving your dog a tasty treat when they lie down, which will encourage them to lie down more frequently.

Positive reinforcement training can face the same drawbacks as negative reinforcement though, in the event that dogs fail to make associations between their behaviour and subsequent rewards. This is why some trainers and owners employ devices such as clickers, which emit a distinctive sound immediately after the dog performs the desired action, to make the association clearer to the animal. The criticism that dogs trained in such a manner will not behave the same in the 'real' world, when snacks and treats are not so readily available, has been disproven by the number of dogs used by organisations such as the police and health care, which demonstrate obedience throughout their lives.



Training your dog can be one of the most responsible things you do as an owner. However, if your vet determines that your animal's behavioural problems require specialist treatment or medications, you should check whether your pet insurance provides financial assistance towards the cost of such treatments.