Appleton, WI Dog Training A well-behaved dog will bring a lot of happiness to your life. Hiring the right dog trainer is the fastest and healthiest way to teach a dog to be obedient. There are a few established methods for teaching dogs, but many trainers are moving towards positive reinforcement. Early pooch training theories were based on wolf behavior. The old belief that a dog’s trainer must be his or her pack leader is obsolete. Knowing how all the methods work makes it easier to determine who are the most effective trainers. Many Americans have decided to combat the loneliness of lockdown by adopting dogs. If man's best friend is trained properly it makes life more enjoyable for pooch lovers everywhere. Training solves issues with biting, anxiety, and socialization with other dogs and people. Socialization can solve some excessive barking problems because dogs become accustomed to all types of people and dogs. Socialization Socialization is important to combine with the four techniques for pooch training. It can nip lots of behavior problems in the bud by exposing your pooch to many environments. Additionally, going out with your dog and meeting other dogs and their handlers is fun. The best time to socialize a puppy is from eight weeks old to 20 weeks old. Negative Punishment Taking away a dog's toys (like a parent does with a misbehaving child) is negative punishment. This method is appealing because it certainly makes people feel they aren’t spoiling their dogs. In recent years people have spent more money on pets, especially couples who choose pets over kids. This method relies on the dog’s desire for toys to keep it in line; unfortunately, dogs get bored with toys. Conversely, if a dog gets too upset about losing his or her favorite toy that can cause more misbehaving. Positive Punishment “Stop! Bad boy,” is a perfect example of positive punishment. The theory behind positive punishment is to discourage any misbehaving as soon as it happens. The primary advantage of this method is a dog quickly realizes when it does something wrong. This type of training is more suited for dogs in the line of duty who need to act quickly and can’t afford to have bad habits. Negative Reinforcement Punishing a dog until it does what you want is a good summary of negative reinforcement. This is arguably the least enjoyable training method for dogs to experience due to his or her harshness. Additionally, it’s more difficult for a dog to discover what it’s doing wrong and correct his or her behavior. Using this method, trainers rarely check for the underlying causes of misbehavior. Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement rewards a dog with a treat when it correctly obeys a command. This method has proven to work the best because dogs flourish with the support and compassion of trainers. The other methods are often counterproductive because they erode a dog’s trust in his or her handler. Excessive use of training devices such as shock collars is borderline abusive. Similar to people, dogs prefer to have someone work with them and get to know them. It's better for your dog to listen to you because it likes you than out of fear of punishment. Treats Treats are the key to effective positive reinforcement. Treats are the best motivators for a dog. Dogs love treats and make the effort to learn faster when treats are on the line. It’s important to note that different treats are better in different situations. A simple treat is good for everyday tasks. A tastier or higher calorie treat is great when your good boy does something special. Medium value treats are a balance between the two. An example of each of the above treat values and some great dog treat ideas are below. Be sure to account for any allergies your dog may have when buying treats. Also watch how many calories your dog eats every day to prevent obesity. Charlee Bear Charlee Bear makes great treats for low skill tasks that your dog has done over and over. Original Crunch Natural treats are great for when your dog sits for your friends or performs another simple trick. It’s smart to have a lot of these on hand for when your dog routinely sits. Happy Howie’s Beef Meat Roll Treats are the best medium value treat. They can easily be cut into pieces for small dogs, so they’re great to have on hand. These are quality treats for a reasonable price. Beef Meat Roll Treats are the best option when your good boy learns a new trick. Barkworthy’s Lamb Lung Dog Treats are considered the best high-value treats. Save these for when your dog does something truly special, like save your life. These treats are conveniently non-perishable, so stock up. You and your dog will do great things if you work together. American Journey American Journey treats are a healthy choice for any dog. Their lamb recipe treats have plenty of meat and vegetables to keep a dog's energy up and his or her weight down. Even better, these treats have no wheat filler in them. These treats would also fall in the high value category because of the ingredients and price. Human Food A few types of people food are good for dogs too: apples, blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, strawberries, raspberries, papaya, cantaloupe, cucumbers, watermelon, and bananas. It’s easy to give your pet a small serving of fruit when you have one yourself. Be sure to steer clear anything that involves grapes and pick out all the seeds from anything you give to your dog. Food Allergies/Intolerance The main weakness of treat-based training is ensuring your dog doesn’t eat anything to which he or she is allergic/intolerant. Allergies are caused by immune system reactions to ingredients while intolerances have nothing to do with a dog’s immune system. The most common allergens are meat, dairy, eggs, and wheat. Not all dogs have food allergies, but watch for any strange behavior after your pooch eats such as gas, diarrhea or intestinal issues. Also watch out for ear inflammation and your dog scratching his or her butt. As long as you’re careful, your good boy will enjoy lots of treats. Choosing Appleton's Best Trainer Choosing a good teacher for your dog will improve his or her behavior quickly and make your life easier. There’s no need to worry about frequent accidents while a new dog gets used to you. Giving a dog treats at the right times helps both of you stay happy. Call the best dog trainers in Appleton today!