Tips for PREPARING for a DOG TRAINING CLASS This video goes over tips for what to bring, what to train and what to consider before going to a dog training class with your dog.
It also covers how to deal with whining, barking, frustration and over arousal during class.
What treats to use when training your dog or puppy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6P_MYUhd_BY&vl=en
Settle on a mat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yr1olzgidMw
This dog training tutorial covers how to get your dog to begin listening to you in new environments and working for food (a great exercise to do before a training class):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLr3ame9Ptk
#dogtraining #puppytraining #dogtrainer
Hello everyone this video is on the Topic of preparing to take your dog to a Dog training class this video was voted Into creation by the channel Kiko Pop Members so thank you Channel Kiko Pop Members for your support it’s greatly Appreciated now to get started besides What the instructor tells you to bring To the class I suggest having a variety Of different treats to use as Reinforcement so uh the minimum amount I Would say at least three different types Of treats however if you have a dog that Really likes novelty and the trainer is Going to be using your dog and they’re Going to be other other people in the Class using high value treats and Perhaps dropping crumbs your dog is Going to start finding if your dog Enjoys novelty these other distractions More reinforcing than the treats you Have so having a library of different Treats can be extremely helpful to pick And choose and you’re providing the Novelty so with my own dogs I will Sometimes go and buy special treats at The store and then only open the bag in The class so the dog is very interested In what I have and it’s an it’s an Exciting novel surprise when we get to a Class you can have a backpack if you’re Going to bring a bunch of different Treats or a little cooler bag and store The treats in there and then you can
Pick and choose and experiment in the First few classes and then you might not Need to bring that many different treats The next few times in fact if you have a Foodie a dog a dog that just loves food You might just you might just bring one Treat I don’t want to say Labrador but I’m thinking Labrador you might you know Kibble carrots roast beef they might all Be high value treats to your dog so you Wouldn’t have to do this variation but Some dogs are really really interested In novelty treats so also depending on The dog’s personality some dogs might Find a really high value treat at the Start to it exciting I’m thinking Labrador again So so that treat could uh over excite The dog and you might use a medium or Low value treat to begin with and then Move to high value where with another Dog say for example my boy Bliss Um when we get to a new location he’s Social and friendly and so I’m going to Use the higher value treat at first to Compete with the environment and then When he’s more relaxed I’m going to move To the medium and lower value treats to Reinforce calmer behaviors like acetyl But I might not use those high value Treats only at the beginning of the Class to get his interest in wanting to Be with me and not create that Frustration of everything else seems
Better than than being with me on leash When you can’t get to what he wants it’s Also really important to give permission When you ask when your dogs are allowed To greet so if you’re going to a class Environment where your dog is allowed to Say hi to people and dogs first ask the Instructors if if you’re allowed to do That then ask permission from the person And then you can give your dog Permission to say hello and that’s going To greatly reduce the frustration so the Dog doesn’t see seeing other dogs and People as the predictor of the cue to Say say hello and then seeing those cues Or signals that they should say hello is Going to be frustrating when they can’t So the the the predictor that they’ll Say hi is you giving permission and That’s going to greatly reduce Frustration also you want to make sure That if someone says it’s okay and you Let your dog over that if they are Backing away or looking uncomfortable That you you respect that other dog’s Discomfort and and then recall your dog And too bad your dog doesn’t get to say Hi and that’s going to really help the Other dogs in the class Okay so treats bringing different types Of treats Um I do have a video on different uh What treats to use and I’ll link that in The description below and you can watch
That if you’re not sure what type of Treats to use and the treats I talk About in those videos are in that video Is good for for the training class I Suggest bringing a mat to a training Class this can be a little piece of home That you can bring with you to help your Dog feel comfortable now you might not Want to do this if you have a dog that Resource guards beds or space so if you Have a dog that guards you or beds or Space or treats and you keep putting Treats on the mat and that’s the Location your dog’s expecting treats Then I would suggest not having a mat And continuing to move rather than Always be in the same place and each Class choose a different location don’t Always sit in the same Corner because It’s going to help the dog out if They’re having a resource gardening Issue and if if it’s a really big Resource gardening issue you need to Talk to the trainer about it before Coming to the class because sometimes Even if you tell people and other people In the class they’re going to come Closer than you want them to so if you Don’t if your dog is guarding food Within like five feet or guarding you It’s a good idea to do private lessons First and see how it goes before joining A class because it can actually Exacerbate the guarding problem if
You’re trying to learn something new You’re distracted and all these people Are coming around and there’s lots of High value food and stress in the Environment okay to get back to the Subject but if your dog isn’t guarding Food or space or mats or dog beds a mat Can be extremely helpful for the dog to Feel comfortable and know what to do so That mat being there is the situational Cue to relax on it and lay down and get Treats because you worked with it at Home at the park on picnics at a cafe And you you can practice with the mat if You have that dog when you your Attention is diverted from them that They try and get your attention and can Get frustrated say for example bark or Wine or paw at you I suggest going to a Cafe with a friend put the mat down and As you divert your attention away from The dog to talk to your friend you drop Treats on the mat you can also do this Game and then when you want to have a Proper conversation give a high value Chew to your dog you can also give a High value chew on the mat while while You’re learning in the class if you have A dog that can easily frustrate when They’re when they’re wanting to do other Things so you might think of doing that All the other dogs might be jealous so If you are going to give something like That make sure you’re far enough away
That the other dogs aren’t going to be Like pulling to try and get what your Dog is what your dog is getting So that’s really important Then when you do go to the class and say For example the instructor comes over to Talk to you blah blah blah you you want To develop a muscle memory if you have a Dog that gets frustrated when you ignore Them is that as the person is talking to You and you’re talking back you can feed Your dog on the mat for doing absolutely Nothing before they think to start Trying to get your attention and what This is called is differential Reinforcement of an incompatible Behavior so if you were to just ignore Your dog when uh when you’re distracted The dog is going to offer dog behavior How do dogs get our attention to tell us That they want something Well many ways that we would find Undesirable in a dog training class such As whining barking pawing at your leg or Like coming in front of you jumping on You or jumping on the other people Um biting on their leash these could Also be frustration related behaviors But of not getting to do anything but so Instead of just letting the dog uh do These behaviors and then trying to train Your dog not to do them it’s a much Better idea to set them up for success And have the dog understand that when
You’re distracted talking to someone it Means to relax on the mat and get treats Or just chill out the problem with Ignoring these attention-seeking Behaviors is that the dog doesn’t know That doing nothing is what we want so They’re going to try other behaviors to Get our attention and to get the things That they want and they don’t know that We want them to go to a class to just Sit and relax we’ve got gone into a Social environment it makes more sense To want to to do stuff so we really have To help them out otherwise there can be Frustration stress and over arousal and And a lot of offering of behavior in the Old days of positive reinforcement Training a lot of trainers would say Ignore unwanted behavior and reinforce You know what you do want the dog to do But what can happen if you ignore Attention-seeking behavior is that you Can indeed punish the behavior by not Giving it reinforcement so the dog or Using Extinction where nothing is given The dog tries the behavior nothing works That behavior is going to become extinct But guess what they’re going to try a More intense Behavior so instead of Whining and pawing they might move Straight up to jumping on you or barking Louder and guess what’s going to happen In a dog training class you’re going to Get embarrassed and you’re going to need
To get your dog to be quiet and people Will tell you to get your dog to be Quiet because it’s going to stress out The other dogs so immediately you’re Going to have to pay attention to the The more intense behavior and in truth I Don’t think Extinction is a great way to Train I suggest setting the environment Up for Success what do you do if your Dog does start barking or stressing out In a dog training class maybe they start Biting at the leash jumping on you Whining barking well as I just mentioned About Extinction if you’re going to Ignore it it might get worse and if you Ignore it for too long the dog’s Rehearsing it for longer and longer Meaning their brain is making a memory Of doing that in the class so they’re More likely to remember it what I Suggest is also that this Behavior might Be the side effect of stress frustration Uh and and arousal so instead of trying To think about what to do about the side Effect of this the the the real thing You want to think of is how can I get my Dog to feel calm confident relaxed in This class and want to work with me so Instead of trying to work through it I Would just leave the class say oh sorry I need to go to the bathroom or my dog Needs to go for a little while talk Leave the class let your dog sniff Around on the street hopefully there’s a
Street nearby or maybe you can go and Play a scatter game of treats around the Car get that dog walking around sniffing Relaxing And then when you see your dog is much More relaxed go back to the class you Could even choose a different location Because going right back into the same Situation could remind the dog that That’s where they were barking and Whining so this is going to greatly Increase the chances of interrupting the The memory of you know the thought Process of rehearsing that behavior and Then give you a chance when you get back To immediately start reinforcing the Behavior you do want so maybe if your Dog was barking at you every second you Would then come back to the class and And give them a chew a chew stick if you Already know a bit about my training You’ll know that I’ll suggest to bring Your dog in a harness with a leash Attached now I suggest an escape proof Harness if your dog is the type that Might quickly back up or try to get Their foot through the harness so you Would choose something that’s tight Fitting enough that they’re not going to Be able to just back out and run away But The reason that I suggest a harness even If your dog is amazing on a collar is That a class is a very exciting
Situation maybe your dog is going to Start really liking the trainer and so When the trainer approaches they’re Going to pull forward and choke Themselves or if you’re working on Distractions like a leave it exercises Things like that or leave it from other Dogs or walking by distractions if they Are to pull towards the distractions They’re going to start making that Gagging noise where the trick is getting Squished so if you’re going to be Working on reinforcing your dog’s choice To be with you using positive Reinforcement I would use a harness And then I also like clipping the Harness to the front with my own dogs For a class like this not only so that I’m in control of the front of the dog But also because if there’s an emergency And I have the control of the front of The the dog say for example a dog’s Coming running over to my dog’s face Like in a emergency I could move my dog Out of the way if they’re not listening As I go to block block the dog where if You have the uh I know I’m always Thinking of emergencies But but I’m laughing at myself I’m Always thinking of oh no what will Happen if suddenly a dog gets loose and Tries to eat my dog which has happened Previously at um In dog training scenarios so anyway uh
The the if the harness is clipped on the Back of the dog what can happen is the Dog is you know you only have control of The middle of the dog and the rest of The dog can spin around so that’s one Reason that I like to clip it on the Front and also because uh at a training Class even my dog uh okay it was his First class because of covid there Haven’t been any classes that I’ve been Able to go to with him but it was his First class and he did pull he pulled to His friend that he was visiting and he Wanted to pull to the instructor and the Dogs next door and it was cooked to the Front and it was much easier to control Him than clipping on the back there are Lots of exercises and things you can do To practice to set you and your dog up For the class as I mentioned earlier you Can reinforce your dog for doing nothing When you ignore your dog another thing You can do if you’re not that social and You want to go to a cafe and talk to People is talk on the phone and Reinforce your dog for not trying to get Your attention and just relaxing on the Mat that’s a great exercise another Thing is when a noise happens noises are Going to happen at the class something Like a chair suddenly moving backwards Maybe it’s by a road and there’s going To be like a honking horn or trash can Noises or someone passing in the street
And I suggest working in an environment Where you’re you’re reinforcing your dog For seeing distractions or hearing them So Um For me if it’s something that is scary Say for example a sudden bang or or Another dog barking like that or a dog That’s scared of the noise that say for Example a person walk past the street And that dog barked at the person Um and the dog is making a fearful bark I I suggest well for my own dogs I have I say yay So the noise happens I say yay woohoo And then I feed a treat now if I don’t Work on that before the class the dog Might become scared of of these Scenarios but at home I play a noise of A dog barking I say yay I feed the dog a Treat I we hear noises on a walk maybe a Police car goes by yay and I give a Treat and so I’m going to play a little Clip that someone did bark at the class It was my dog’s first class and so when The dog barks I say yay and I feed my Dog a treat and he understands that that The Barking predicted the food so that’s Going to make it way easier for the dog To start to trust you and listen to you When you give information that there’s No problem going on in the class or that That noise is is not an issue good boy Oh yes
Did you hear that did you hear that did You hear it so especially with dogs that Can have issues with like if another dog Barks they bark I would first work on That so you might want to go practice at A park near a dog park where they can Hear barking and feed treats and then When your dog hears a bark and doesn’t Have to bark back that’s when you might Want to start going to the class so if You have a dog that’s so worried about About being in a class environment you Can work on going to different locations Like a mall beginning in the parking lot Then going nearby obviously if you think Your dog is reactive or aggressive you Want to get help from a positive Reinforcement trainer to help you with The training in case you um ask too much Of your dog and you’re sensitizing your Dog rather than working on the issue and Making it better but there are lots of Locations you can go and practice where Dogs are on leash reliable unleash as I’ve said in a previous video going to The front of where a Veterinary Clinic Might be those dogs are reliably being Walked on leash from their cars to the Vet clinic Hopefully if they’re not to get back in The car because you never know the dog Might be sick but you can work there so Your dog is getting used to seeing these Other dogs and and people Milling around
And if your dog can’t relax and take Treats there then I would suggest first Doing private lessons with trainers Rather than rather than going to a class The next tip I’m going to give you is Actually a tip that I used myself my Friend Brenda with her dog Clover texted Me a few days ago and said there was a Class starting which was today and I was Super excited because my boy Bliss he in The past has been a little bit timid Around other dogs like when it’s a large Group of dogs so I thought oh this is Going to be great I go to the class he’s Going to see one of his favorite Dogs that he’s met as a puppy and Favorite person and that’s going to make Him feel uh better in this new Environment and boy did it work he it Was a cgc class and he actually was Super friendly and wanted to meet all The dogs in the class who were also Friendly so we gave each other Permission we you know we asked for Finish permission and all the dogs got To meet and it was super it just warmed My heart and I know that seeing uh Clover like initiated that ah this is Like a social Gathering rather than Showing up in a room full of strange Dogs that are all like why why are we Here that that really helped him Conversely if you have a dog that’s Worried or timid around people meet a
Friend at the class or if friends aren’t Allowed in the class meet the friend Just before the class so you could go to Coffee or briefly just meet someone you Drive by their house say hello to them And then go to the class and your dog is In that mindset of oh we’re greeting People this is super fun and that can Really set them up for Success another One is if you have a dog that barks when Other dog other dogs bark briefly go by The place where you worked on The Barking like near the dog park so the Dog Hears A couple of barks feeds some Treats go to the dog park go to the Class and then if the dog barks it won’t Be the first time they heard barking in Weeks they’ll have just heard barking Getting treats and it’s not going to be A sudden startle as it would be if if The Barking only happened in the class And then the final tip is You know your dog best and you’re the One going home with your dog so it might Not ever happen in a training class but It might it might not be the trainer it Might be another person but someone’s Going to ask you to do something and you Might not feel comfortable with it maybe It is that they want their dog to say hi To you or use you as a distraction or uh You know have their dog say hi to yours And you have this feeling in your in in Your chest that’s in conflict or you say
No in your chest just just say no it’s Super hard in a class environment and I Struggle with that even as a Professional dog trainer I will say yes Even when I don’t want to do something And I might even uh you know let someone Use my dog for some distraction that I Know is not going to be good for our Training so it’s it’s this advice is Also for myself and it’s not related to The class that I’m taking right now but In general when you meet with other Trainers with other friends any sort of Dog training situation or social Situation if you’re in it and in a class And there’s something that you feel Uncomfortable with it doesn’t matter why You feel uncomfortable it’s you and your Dog’s relationship you’re going home With your dog you know your dog best Than any professional trainer because You see your dog every day so if Something makes you uncomfortable you Don’t have to tell the trainer you can Just say hey I’m going to take a break You leave the class you let your dog Sniff or maybe you use the restroom or You go purchase something or you go get Something from your car and then you Come back I hope you found this video Helpful for your training if you’d like To support my work don’t forget to like Comment and subscribe to my channel you Can also become a supporting member of
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