Natural History

Posted in good dog advice | Tagged dog training, Patricia McConnell | 6 Comments

6 Responses

1. on March 15, 2010 at 3:03 pm Jen

   Have you heard of Natural Dog Training?
   http://naturaldogtraining.com/about/

   It is a lot like play/hunt, to the dog. It was difficult for me to grasp at first but I think for my Shiba Inu, who have a natural prey drive tendencies that act as a reward when you allow them to fulfill a fixed action pattern. It is amazing the results that follow when you allow a dog to naturally be a happy, satisfied dog!

   I’ve implemented a lot of positive reinforcement methods with natural dog training methods and I’ve never felt more in-tuned to my dogs.

   Dr. McConnell’s methods of using play to teach are sort of a like a precursor into the mind frame of ‘natural dog training’. It takes tug to a whole new (productive) level.

   
   
   • on March 15, 2010 at 6:51 pm retrieverman

     I’ve never heard of this method.

     Boy, we’re getting advanced very quickly as these new methods develop.

     
     
2. on March 15, 2010 at 8:38 pm EmilyS

   99% of agility dogs are taught via play.
   I know that many detection dogs are taught via play

   
   
   • on March 16, 2010 at 2:21 am Viatecio

     Drug- and explosive-sniffing dogs are chosen based on ball drive. If looking for just a sniffer dog (not a dual-purpose sniffer/bitework dog), the trainer will head to the shelter armed with a tennis ball. Most Schutzhund dogs and K9s are taught the basics using ball drive, and if you look at the “Dogs For Sale” on many working dog sites, the owner will go so far as to state the ball drive “level'” in any particular dog or puppy.

     It’s actually not a new “modern” method.

     I’d much rather use toys and play to train the basics than food. They’re interactive, can be used again and again, and don’t run out.

     
     
3. on March 15, 2010 at 9:19 pm Anton Woldhek

   I train my dog with “natural tracking” type scent training. He loves it.

   
   
   • on March 15, 2010 at 9:25 pm retrieverman

     What kind of dog do you have?

     
     

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