We've become accustomed to the sight of dogs in public places. Probably everyone has experienced a dog in the workplace, in a park, in a café, etc. Dog owners should therefore always bear in mind the handling and training of their pets. Let's go through some of the best practices and new trends in training with the dog handler Tereza Vajner.
It's of course good to first think about the ambitions that the dog owner has with the dog. Not everyone wants to do sports cynology with their pet. However, every dog should go through basic training. We asked Tereza Vajner about new tricks to get a dog under control regardless of the training level.
Can we talk about new trends in terms of dog training?
I don't think that any new pioneering method has emerged recently. What was confirmed in the twentieth century still works today. I'm referring to behaviourism and the methodology of positive reinforcement training. I'm not sure whether we can talk about trends in this context but it's true that the approach of positive reinforcement training is now spreading into all training areas. For example, in the case of obedience, I think that we've been going this way for quite a long time but sports cynology has only started using positive reinforcement in the last few years.
What changes can you see in Czech cynology?
In Czech cynology, the training is becoming more and more about the dog finding things out for himself and mastering them voluntarily. This is done so that the dog can remember everything better. I have a feeling that the word punishment is starting to become a tabu in the current cynology dictionary. It is being replaced by the phrase 'negative reinforcement'. But I think that a correctly used and timed 'punishment' can be very beneficial. For my dog, for example, punishment is for me to ignore him. What I class to be important, and that's where the difference is, is that after a punishment, I reinforce the dog's specific behaviour which I required from him by praising him, giving him a treat or by playing with a toy, therefore by positively reinforcing it.
How has dog behaviour been influenced by modern technology?
It seems to me that technological gadgets tend to work more like support or rescue when the dog isn't trained properly or is difficult to get completely under control. GPS locators or training collars are of course tools that can also be used for training but more often I see people using them to gain more confidence out on a walk when the dog doesn't fully react to being called.
I'm now going to move away from technological miracles but for me, the best cutting-edge device is still the clicker. Even though it's now widely spread and therefore it's no breakthrough, I do think that the market hasn't seen anything better yet. The timing of the click needs practice as well. It's recommended to combine the click with something nice, a treat or praise. This is the same principle of trained conditioning as with the Pavlovian theory where the reward is usually in the form of a treat or praise. What's great is that the training can be done at a long distance because the dog can see your clicking. You can use it to split more difficult tricks into more phases. I still see a lot of potential in that.
How did the Covid-19 pandemic change dog training
I've noticed that on-line training sessions are still very popular on social media and aren't declining. Personally, I have no experience with this, I've never attended one and have no plans to organise anything like it. I'm a little sceptical about it and do not believe that it can fully replace classic training. I feel that, logically, it's too general and you as a trainer can't ever be certain how a certain dog reacts to something and what he comes up with. I always approach dogs individually and am convinced that it's important to start socialising them from when they're puppies, which is another thing that cannot be done on-line.
Every one of us has for sure encountered diarrhoea in our fuzzy friend. Usually, there’s nothing to fuss about, the body reacts to food that it isn’t capable to digest or that didn’t do it good. However, it is good to know, when we are capable of...
I have been sharing with you my experience with dogs and other animals for quite some time now and it occurred to me to wander a little bit into history as well, but into an interesting one! I’d like to introduce you to several well-known dog...
Allergy is a disproportionate reaction of the immunity system to common stimuli. It cannot be cured, but we can suppress its manifestations. In the last years, allergies in pets and dogs especially are on the rise. Currently, about 10% of house-dogs...
Today, we are going to take a look at the Feline Infectious Peritonitis - FIP, an utterly exceptional virus illness that always has a fatal end. Most of the cats get into contact with the viruses that cause FIP in their lifetime, even though the...
We can divide dog owners into two groups. The ones that allow the dog in bed and those that feel that this is no option. Let’s take a look at what such bed sharing with a dog actually entails.
If you like going on treks with your fuzzy friends, geocaching is something precisely for you. This way, you will liven up your trips and maybe you even discover places that you wouldn’t have found otherwise. I and my pack can’t get enough of it.
Contrary to dogs, cats have a strong bond with the place where they live. That’s why moving is very stressful for them and this stress may cause a number of diseases. It’s a good idea to plan everything well, so that you could make the situation of a...
Even though the dogs went through long years of domestication, they still retain fundamental instincts as we do. They might not be as strong as in wild dogs, but they still play a very significant role in the life of a dog and in their behaviour. So if...
Even though it’s been a long time since our four-legged furry friends lived a feral life, they still have the laws of the pack rooted deep down inside them. It is not acquired behaviour, the need to live in a pack is determined by genetics. And if...
It is no news that the dog isn’t only a pet and that it can also help saving human lives in various catastrophes. But have you ever thought about what it means for dogs to become rescuers? You haven’t? Well, then it’s the right time to set off together...
The usual pregnancy period in female dogs is indicated at about 58 – 65 days, the average is 63 days. In case of the nutrition of a pregnant female, possible changes in diet can be likened to the changes in diet of pregnant women. Pregnant female dogs...
The most frequent reason why your dog starts to gain weight is simple, as in most of people: they consume more energy than they spend. Some owners wave their arm at a well-intended warning that their pet has gained weight, stating that the dog is...
