Training Tips and Techniques
Do you remember your parents swatting the family dog with a newspaper for some misdeed, or rubbing his nose in the mess when he had an accident in the house? These harsh methods used to be how many people “broke” their dogs to house rules, but training techniques have come a long way since those days. Gentle guidance, prevention, and positive reinforcement are the rules of the day, and dogs are better off for it.
The techniques trainers find most effective now are praise, rewards, use of a clicker to signal correct behavior, and use of gentle training devices, such as head halters. These can all be used to motivate desired behaviors. The focus is on communicating with the dog rather than forcing him to obey.
Praise
You probably know from your own life experience that you respond better to praise than criticism. Your Lab is no exception. Saying “Good dog!” in a happy, excited tone of voice lets your Lab know that he's pleased you.
You don't have to reserve praise for formal training situations. Use it any time you see your Lab doing something you like. Is he lying quietly while you read or watch television? Say “Good relax!” (or “Settle” or whatever term you want to use). Is he in a down position on his own? Tell him, “Good down!” Take every opportunity you can to reinforce good behaviors with praise.
Hand signals aren't just for use in the obedience ring. You can use them at home as well. If your Lab is jumping up on you while you're talking on the phone, simply give him the hand signal for sit (hand moving up in the air above his head) or down (hand moving downward toward the ground) and follow it with the hand signal for stay (palm up in front of his face).
Rewards
As with praise, people and dogs work better when they're rewarded for their efforts. A reward can be anything your Lab likes, from a treat to a special toy to a favorite game. You can give a reward immediately for a job well done, or delay it until after the training session. For instance, you might offer a treat when your Lab puppy sits (instant gratification) or pull out a favorite tug toy after he completes a great agility run (delayed gratification). Both types of rewards are beneficial.
When you give treats as training rewards, choose something that your Lab doesn't get every day. Training treats should be small (easily swallowed) and aromatic. Cut-up hot dogs, small cubes of cheese, dried liver, and cat treats, such as Pounce, are all good choices.
Using a Clicker
To use a clicker effectively, you must first teach your Lab that “treat” follows “click.” Click, then give a treat. Repeat this twenty or thirty times, and it won't take your Lab long to make the association. Then start clicking and treating every time your Lab does something you like — sits, lies down, comes toward you, potties outside — even if it's something he's done on his own. Carry a clicker and treats around with you so you can always reinforce the behaviors you want.
Once your dog understands a behavior and starts offering it on his own, you can give the action a name: sit, down, fetch. Start clicking for the action if the dog performs it during or after the time you give the cue word. The same holds true if you're teaching a hand signal rather than a verbal cue. As your Lab's skills improve, increase your standards: Require a straighter sit, a longer down, a come from farther away before you click. In this way, you shape the behavior to what you ultimately want the dog to do. With a clicker and the help of a trainer or a good book on clicker training (see Appendix A), you can teach your Lab all kinds of things.
The clicker is strictly a bridge to a reward. Don't use it to get your dog's attention or as a signal to perform a certain command. Doing so diminishes its value as a training aid.
Head Halters
Head halters have been around for more than a decade, but their use still isn't well known. A head halter works in much the same way as a horse halter, allowing you to control the dog's head. One strap fastens around the neck behind the ears and the other wraps around the muzzle. When the dog pulls, the halter puts gentle pressure on nose and neck.
The pressure exerted by the head halter evokes the same kind of neurochemical response that makes a puppy relax when its mother picks it up by the scruff of the neck or takes its muzzle into her mouth as a disciplinary measure. In the case of the head halter, the dog relaxes and stops pulling, essentially correcting his own behavior. (Then you can click and treat him for walking nicely.) A head halter doesn't cause any pain, and a dog wearing one can still eat, drink, pant, bark, and even bite — although the latter isn't desirable, of course. Brand names for head halters include Gentle Leader, Promise Collar, and Halti.
For a head halter to be effective, it must fit well. Read the directions carefully or work with your trainer to achieve a proper fit. The neck strap should rest just behind the ears, with enough give that you can fit one finger between the strap and your dog's neck. Adjust the nosepiece so that it sits below your dog's eyes. It should be loose enough that it can slide down to the top of the nose, but not so loose that it slips off the nose. The metal ring to which the leash attaches goes beneath the chin.
Be careful not to jerk your Lab while he's wearing a head halter, or you could hurt him. Use it with a regular leash, not a retractable lead, or he could jerk himself if he abruptly comes to the end of the line, so to speak. Take the head halter off when you're not walking your dog.
When you first put the head halter on, your Lab may paw at it or rub his nose on the ground in an attempt to get it off. Ignore his behavior and encourage him to walk with you by using praise and treats. When he learns that the halter means he's going for a walk, he'll come to accept it happily.
Never forget that your Lab needs positive motivational training if you want him to learn well. A treat or a quick game of fetch is always a welcome reward for this breed. A Lab that's forced or bullied into something will quickly become stubborn. Show your Lab what you want and give him the opportunity to learn, and he will bend over backward to please you.
