The Next ‘Best Thing’ in Dog Training

I remember hearing about a conversation with a dog trainer who was asked what they thought made clicker-training so popular. The response was ‘the clicker’. They had a point there and it is to do with the human psychology. We love gadgets. Us humans can’t get enough of them and we kind of fall in love with the idea of what they might achieve for us. E.g. We could mark a dogs behaviour with any number of sounds but here is a ‘tool’ which does the marking. What we need to remember is that the timing of the human holding the clicker will probably be more important than the actual sound of the clicker.

For every product you have seen promising to be the next best or biggest thing in dog training you will see many more. Personally I think clickers are great but have still achieved plenty without one. The last one I had was loaned out never to return so someone else must have liked it too. Like many of us, you may have a closet full of equipment used at one time or another with your dog. Leashes, collars, harnesses, toys… before you know it there’s a whole array of products in your stash.

In the last few years there has also been an increase in on-line training videos, mostly where a customer subscribes for a fee and has access to the videos for an amount of time. These usually begin with a hefty teaser making a lot of suggestions about what ‘their’ dog training method can do for you and your dog. Then you listen to a seemingly endless advertisement before they hit you with the price. We have seen a few of these products and most are quite good but have to admit we’re more often seeing a method which another trainer has described in a book or has demonstrates elsewhere on a youtube video. Times we see a truly original idea it’s time to get out the champagne.

Now we are not saying you shouldn’t bother with these products and it is a great feeling to identify with a trainer. Maybe a certain presenter just resonates well with you. (Personally I would be more likely to spend money on a product from a trainer who has already offered a lot of information for free. I shall name Fernando Comacho as one and no, he didn’t ask us to say that. Fern if you’re reading this I know you’ll approve.) Between owners and their dogs it’s often just a battle of the wills. Dogs are thinkers and feelers. If we appreciate their intelligence we should also appreciate that they have a will of their own and just like children, they are going to want to use it.

Dog training approaches should always address the handler first and determine their current level of knowledge. After that we look at methods. Being in charge around your dog will help you ahead of any tool and you need not be harsh. Letting a dog know who’s in charge can be achieved through subtle behaviours which do not involve touching or using any type of gadget. We’re not talking dominance and submission, just simply being in charge through giving directions, timing or gestures with our own bodies. Establishing where you will appear in your dog’s eyes can be so liberating. Remember that if you take the position of responsibility you can also take a load off your dogs mind. If you choose to use any type of tool with your dog, understand the science behind it beforehand and remember one day, it may also join the ‘gadget’ collection.

Leah & Angela OMeara

Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)