How Do Dogs Learn?

Dogs learn through pleasant and unpleasant experiences. They try to avoid unpleasant experiences which are those perceived as disadvantages, and they will willingly pursue those which are perceived as beneficial. This is why consistency and timing is crucial when you praise or correct a dog.

They learn principally through the facility of memory; therefore we rely on their memory to teach them. This is why repetition is so important when a dog is learning something new. Just like people, the more times he hears and physically does the action, the more likely he is to remember it in the future!

The object of obedience training is to develop the ability to communicate with the dog in a manner that does not violate his dignity and results in an enjoyable relationship between canine and human.

There are two types of training…
Inductive Training & Compulsive Training

Inductive Training is to get a voluntary response from the dog and this is accomplished through body language, praise and food (quite often called "bait training").
All rewards and experiences during training are pleasant, with food being the most gratifying to the dog, and praise being the most dependable to achieve a well trained dog.
What Inductive Training cannot do is override instinctive behaviors such as running away or chasing a female in heat.

Compulsive Training is defined as a state of being forced to perform some action which appears to be without rational reason and can range from mild to strong, depending on the dogs temperament.
Mild compulsion; i.e.; physically placing the dog in a sit; need not be unpleasant. Even if the dog doesn’t understand why he is being made to sit he is still being made to do so.
The dog doesn't understand reason for strong correction but quickly learns what he must do to avoid it. Compulsive Training can be used to train the dog to do something he wouldn't do on his own or to refrain from doing something on his own that's considered objectionable.
The stronger the compulsion, the greater the praise which equals a good experience (it must be a good balance of praise and correction or the training is not fair!).

A lot of people believe a dog is stubborn, but in this case it's usually simply that the dog has strong instinct.

If the dog isn't responding properly... ask yourself these questions...

1. How well trained are you?
2. Are you emotional?
3. Are you consistent?
4. Are you misinterpreting the dog?
5. Are you repeating yourself too much?
6. Are you boring?

Understanding breed characteristics and personality of various training methods can help the dog correctly learn!
Below is the Six Personalities of Dogs. Keep in mind, it is not an exact science but rather a general guideline.

The Six Personalities of Dogs:

Before you begin obedience training you must first recognize and understand what personality your dog has. You can use this personality to your advantage when training, using the proper force of motivation, praise and correction for that specific personality. This will help your dog understand you clearer and also help him learn a lot faster!

1. Fear Biter: A fear biter is often a dog that lacks proper socialization. This is a dog that may show aggression to people when shown fear (this is why it is very important to never be afraid of these dogs!). This dog may only show aggression from afar or do a “nip and run”; where they run at you, usually from your backside, nip at you and then quickly run the other direction. A fear biter should be trained with respect, you should push him fast to keep his brain focused but do NOT push to the point of defensive aggression! You should never use voice or body language to intimidate a fear biter.

2. Aggressive Dog: An aggressive dog shows offensive aggression and thinks he owns the world and will take on anyone at any time. These dogs are very dangerous because they have a full bite (will bite, hold and shake). It’s all about respect when training an aggressive dog and you must first gain his trust and respect. You can accomplish this by pushing him hard and fast. Remember that it is always okay to use proper tools to keep you safe (a muzzle if needed).

3. Hyperactive: At least 50% of all dogs are hyperactive. These dogs are often both overactive physically and mentally. They crave for physical exercise and mental stimulation! Hyperactive can be caused by genetics, but it is most often caused by nutrition. One of the best diets for a hyperactive dog is the “BARF” (Bones And Raw Food) or, Raw diet. When it comes to nutrition, hyperactive is caused by the protein levels in commercial dog food. The protein in a Raw Food Diet is a different type of protein and this is why it is usually best for the hyperactive dog. Remember to study and consult your veterinarian before starting your dog on a Raw diet! If you choose to stick with a commercial dog food brand, check the label. If there is 25% or more protein it is way too much. The ideal amount of protein in a commercial dog food should be at about 22% or 23%. Puppies should not be fed Puppy brand food after 6 months of age because puppy brand foods tend to have way too high of an amount of protein.
To train the hyperactive dog, remember to slow everything down. These dogs tend to make us hyper while training to remember to stay calm. The heel should always be taught first to a hyperactive dog to slow them down. Start it at an incredibly slow pace and make more left turns than right.

4. Happy-Go-Lucky: A happy-go-lucky dog is most often the easiest to train because they are so eager and willing to please humans. However, these dogs tend to not retain training very quickly and easily so repetition is a MUST when training the happy-go-lucky dog!

5. Shy & Under socialized: From seven weeks to sixteen weeks of age is the most important time to socialize and desensitize puppies! Way too many people make the mistake of brining home their new family member before seven weeks of age and most of these people end up with a shy and under socialized dog! During the “Fear and Fright Stage” of the puppy’s life his memory is at his best! If he encounters a scary situation at this age he is bound to remember it forever and will be incredibly hard to train these fears out of him. This is why it is important to properly socialize and introduce him to new environments in a positive manner at this age! Remember that when choosing a puppy the last puppy in the litter to come to you is the most fearful and therefore the last puppy you want! When training this dog try not to over baby him. He should be gently pushed during training and praised a lot when he overcomes fears and does the desired behavior!

6. Basket Case (Combination): A “basket case” dog is one with multiple personality problems. These dogs should be worked with carefully, and you should always first determine which other personalities are combined. Under socialization is most often the main problem with these dogs.