Our group training classes currently take place in Midrand on a Saturday morning. While we do obedience training at WhyzDog, the emphasis is not on obedience shows/competitions.
The emphasis is rather on behaviour and establishing a relationship with your pet. It is about establishing appropriate boundaries and discipline in the home, to develop good canine citizenship and responsible human companions/guardians.
Depending on previous training and experience, new trainers and the dog attend an initial session where behavioural issues that affect training as well as various interactions and issues in the home are discussed.
After the initial training session, new dogs and puppies start one-on-one training. The very first requirement is to be able to get your dog to walk reliably next to you, without lunging ahead or off to the side. Loose leash heeling is the primary foundation for all obedience training.
When a handler and the dog are working reliably with the dog at heel (dog in correct position on left side of handler), then additional exercises are introduced in preparation for progress to a class. New exercises are introduced in a process that builds towards increasingly more advanced exercises.
To start with, it is the humans that require most of the training input. Having to work in a class with your dog reacting to the humans and dogs on either side, as well as trying to get on top of the new concepts, often results in new handlers giving up.
Initially there may be other newbies on the training field, dogs and even partners or family members, but we start new handlers working individually to get comfortable and proficient in the basics. First time handlers usually find there is a lot to take in and concentrate on, so we try to ease the process by not having to contend with keeping up in a class as well as contend with the distraction of other dogs and people right next to you.
WhyzDog trainers will initially demonstrate with your dog, to show you what is required and what is possible, as well as what your dog is capable of. New handlers then take over and progress is at the handler’s pace to start with. As new handlers progress and get more experience they are gradually brought into a class, and then have to contend with the distractions of other dogs and handlers, and keeping pace with the class.
The real training does not really happen in class, but rather at home and in the dog’s life away from classes. Consistent and persistent application of what is learnt in class is the key to progress.
As stated in an earlier paragraph, good training is based on establishing a solid relationship between dog and human companion. It is important to remember that dogs are not machines or robots, and together with their human companions will have “off “days where they are not at their best. Sometimes it is necessary to also just have fun with your dog. Play is important for bonding and training.
Good training should focus on making sure the dog is praised and rewarded for doing the correct exercise and behaving appropriately. If it is only reprimanded and told what it is doing wrong, how is it supposed to work out what you want? Smart dogs figure out how to avoid getting into trouble by avoiding the person they perceive as responsible for the unpleasant consequences.
Fear based training with lots of forceful punishment can result in an “obedient” and sharp working dog, but may result in a fearful dog, and will seldom be a solid relationship.
That does not mean that there will never be correction, but it is not punishment. WhyzDog training will guide you in how to appropriately correct and redirect behaviour to achieve positive outcomes. The aim is to develop an outcome where the dog understands and wants to work. A dog is also never too old to learn. That is a myth in the minds of humans.
If the humans have had a bad day or are irritated, it is not recommended to have formal training session at home. Being irritated very often results in the wrong tone or body language which confuses your dog and sets you up for failure During the initial session we will discuss dogs’ understanding of human language, and how being angry and changing the tone of a word affects training outcomes.
We do a lot of temperament and stability work at WhyzDog training. Handlers and dogs are exposed to a lot of noises and distractions in the form of radio control toys, brooms, umbrellas and crutches to name a few. We do this so that we can show handlers in a controlled environment how to handle their dogs appropriately if they react inappropriately or fearfully. We then also provide input to improve or correct adverse behaviour. Temperament training is something we do on a continuous basis even with advanced dogs.
Leashes et cetera, are available for purchase if required.
Please contact us if you are interested in training. You are also welcome to contact us to arrange to view a class and chat to us at training.
