Learning Methods for Dogs

Four Ways to Teach Your Dog

LURING
The luring technique requires the handler to maneuver a treat around in such a way that the dog, in his attempts to get the treat, will give you the behaviour you are waiting for, or some version of it. You reward as or immediately after the command was obeyed, depending on whether it’s a new behaviour or an established one. It is important to fade luring on any cue as quickly as possible to avoid reliance on treats.

MODELING
The modeling technique involves physically manipulating the dog into the desired position. (e.g. Pressure on the back-end to encourage a down). If using modelling it is important to remember to incorporate the luring technique at the same time, to avoid the training session being negative, repetitive and boring for the dog.

CAPTURING
The capturing technique is used when the dog offers the desired behaviour in its finished form (or very close to it) without any cues on its own (e.g. Laying down. All dogs lie down eventually). You must click/mark and reward. This method takes a very long time, but over time you’ll have a dependable behaviour that you may begin to put on cue.

SHAPING
In shaping, you click for small approximations of the eventual desired behaviour. When the “small approximation” is being offered, handler must raise the criteria and begin looking for something a step closer to resembling the eventual behaviour. Over time and many repetitions with increasing expectations you will eventually have shaped the behaviour into the finished product. With the shaping method, you will see most definite indications of thinking an processing.

See also  Can You Believe a Cat Could Do This to a Dog?

Heather McFarlane
Owner/Trainer
Mindful Mutts and Mongrels

Get Our Best Dog Magazine Articles
Enter your email address below and never miss out on our very best dog content


Comments

  1. Dear Sir,

    just few days ago my lil brother found a puppy in our street and it seems a ‘labrador’. but we have a ‘samoyed’ already and our earlier dog is deaf. but i think now she is not happy to bring a new dog in the house. she is getting irritate with this new change. but i think our new puppy is very aggressive, he always tried to have food of bow bow(earlier dog) and whenever they are in the same room so our new puppy tries to attack on her upper body or on her legs. and she always tries to ignore him. but he is very agressive to her. and if we tried to oppose him so he tries to attack on us back. and whenever he found the door opened so he tried to get outside from the house. and there is one more bad habit of him that whatever (door mat, carpet, clothes, book etc.) he found on the floor so he urinated on it. and whenever we took him out for a round so he never do anything outside. please help us to get it out from this new problem. and is it fine that we have brought a new stray puppy from outside for our earlier dog and for us?

    thanking you!

    regards,
    mona

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Don’t Miss Out

Get our very best dog articles direct to your inbox!