Training Your Dog to Follow Commands Amid Distractions
The first thing people consider after adopting a dog is, naturally, the name. Now that you have settled on a name, you need to start considering how you are going to train your new friend. Dog commands can be wide and varied. People are able to train their dogs to follow commands ranging from the basic functioning commands (i.e. Heel, Sit, Stay and Down) all the way to advanced behaviors like retrieval, scent detection, and service assistance.
The proverb: “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is false and misleading as any dog, even an 8-week old puppy can pick up behaviors and learn to follow commands.
Distractions Proof The Behavior
Dog training presents unique challenges for folks in cities or those who are living in apartment complexes. The lack of a fenced or private backyard creates a scenario where you have to do a majority of activities with your pet in public areas. Naturally, this can create a lot of distractions for your pet. There is, of course, the matter of crowds in public places like parks. The other obvious factor is the presence of other canines and their owners. Many dog lovers fail to recognize their own need for obedience training. Wildlife such as squirrels and birds can often serve as distracting factors in your pet’s ability to follow your commands. Despite these naturally occurring distractions we still need our dogs to remain focused and follow our commands.
The following three tips can serve to accomplish training amid distractions so that your dog can follow those commands anywhere. For starters, increase the frequency and value of reinforcement. The idea is to improve the reward your dog receives upon successful completion of a command in a distracting environment. Timing and quality are important when praising. You could also try and apply the Premack Principle. This is a theory of reinforcement(i.e rewarding good behavior & addressing bad behavior) that states that a more probable behavior builds reinforcement for less probable behavior. With regards to dog training, incentivizing a high-value reward could prevent your dog from engaging with distractions.
Note that AlphA and Omega does not use treats for rewarding basic functioning commands. The reward is your physical praise. Train your dog to work through distractions, and don’t allow yourself to become distracted by your dogs’ distractions! Ignore environmental distractions and focus on what you are training and communicating to your dog. Start slow, gradually increase the level of distraction.
Real Life Training/Real Life Results
Watch Erin speak about her experience here.
In conclusion, you should not be apprehensive about bringing your dog out of your apartment for a walk in the city park. For dog training programs and resources, AlphA and Omega offers individualized dog training obedience programs that are best suited to your and your pet’s
needs. At AlphA and Omega, our philosophy is “Training ONE CLIENT-ONE DOG at a time”.
We work with you and your pet to improve understanding and interaction, ensuring a safe and happy relationship between you and your pet. For basic, functioning commands, we do not use clickers or offer treats. Neither do we ignore bad behavior. On the other hand, we do not make funny faces and loud noises, shake cans or spray bottles. We do not utilize intimidation tactics. The team at AlphA and Omega work with you to find the tools and techniques that allow you and your pet to communicate effectively with one another. We offer services in the Cleveland, OH and Tampa, FL regions. Contact us and get your training evaluation today!
