The Ultimate Domestic Dog Preparation Tip

The i thing every domestic dog possessor should know close how to develop a dog.

By Zazie Todd, PhD

There’s a lot of incorrect domestic dog grooming advice on the internet, which makes it hard for people with dogs to sort out which advice is goodness as well as which is not.

Does it matter? Some of the time, despite using methods that aren’t recommended past times professional person organizations, y'all tin forcefulness out acquire away with it. Maybe y'all volition have got a well-trained domestic dog or maybe y'all volition muddle along. Maybe your domestic dog volition genuinely be a fleck afraid but y'all won’t notice (people aren’t real goodness at recognizing fear).

But unfortunately, for some dogs, in that location volition move issues. And perhaps, instead of blaming the method, you'll blame the dog.

Here’s what i scientist concluded later on reviewing the prove on domestic dog grooming methods (Ziv, 2017):

“it appears that aversive grooming methods have got undesirable unintended outcomes as well as that using them puts dogs’ welfare at risk”

Dog grooming is non regulated as well as and so trainers exercise non have got to move transparent close how they depict their methods. Typically, they don’t telephone shout out upwards them aversive fifty-fifty if they are.

But in that location is i slice of information close domestic dog grooming that volition aid many people start sorting out the goodness from the bad. Granted, it’s non the alone thing – when it comes downward to it, domestic dog grooming tin forcefulness out move quite complicated – but it is a vital thing to know.

But kickoff of all, tin forcefulness out y'all gauge what it’s not?

What’s non equally of import inwards domestic dog grooming equally some people think

Even though some people soundless believe it to move the case, dominance, beingness the pack leader, or beingness the alpha (however y'all want to phrase it) is non the most of import thing inwards grooming a dog. In fact, it's non fifty-fifty of import at all.

One of the problems with domestic dog grooming based on ideas of authorisation is that it tin forcefulness out Pb to the utilization of confrontational methods (such equally alpha rolls). Confrontational methods run a jeopardy an aggressive response (Herron, Schofer as well as Reisner 2009) as well as aversive techniques may deport on the dog-owner relationship (Deldalle as well as Gaunet, 2014). H5N1 review of the scientific inquiry (Ziv, 2017) says these methods are non recommended because of concerns close fauna welfare.

Another work with authorisation domestic dog grooming is that it tin forcefulness out hateful dogs girlfriend out on fun learning opportunities. And it is only a distraction from people learning close modern domestic dog grooming methods.

I won’t become into details hither because it’s non the focus of this article. But if y'all want to know more, including what scientists recollect close dominance, come across my article on problems with authorisation training.

So if authorisation isn’t equally of import equally people think, what is the thing that matters?

Photo: Africa Studio; top, Kellymmiller73 (both Shutterstock.com)

The i thing every domestic dog possessor should know

The i thing every domestic dog possessor should know close domestic dog grooming is this: Use food.

It sounds real simple, doesn’t it? And it’s non just a secret: Modern domestic dog grooming uses food.

Use nutrient to vantage your domestic dog for doing things y'all like, such equally sit down or hold off or drib it when y'all ask.

I’m non proverb nutrient is the alone vantage y'all would utilization with your dog. There mightiness move times when y'all utilization a game of fetch, tug on a rope, lots of lovely petting, or fifty-fifty life rewards similar the chance to become chase a critter.

But for most domestic dog grooming situations, nutrient is the easiest agency to deliver positive reinforcement because it is as well as so quick as well as efficient. And scientists have got constitute that food is a amend vantage than petting or praise (Fukuzawa as well as Hayashi, 2013; Okamoto et al 2009).

The argue I want to a greater extent than people would know to utilization nutrient is that it would become far easier for people to find a goodness domestic dog trainer as well as to weed out bad domestic dog grooming advice.

For example, if y'all become to a domestic dog trainer as well as they recommend a prong collar, well, a prong neckband is non food.

H5N1 shock collar is non food.

H5N1 leash correction is non food.

Yet these are all methods some domestic dog trainers volition say are “kind”, “humane”, or fifty-fifty “gentle”, fifty-fifty though from a technical perspective in that location is no agency to depict them other than equally aversive (positive punishment or negative reinforcement).

Stuff close relationships as well as honor as well as liberate energy is also non food.

Unfortunately, in that location are a lot of weasel words used to depict domestic dog training as well as it makes it hard for domestic dog owners, because i thing nosotros tin forcefulness out safely say close dogs is that everyone has their ain opinion.

But nosotros tin forcefulness out come across with our ain eyes whether these methods utilization nutrient or not.

So if y'all become to a domestic dog trainer, or you’re reading domestic dog grooming advice on the internet, as well as the advice does non involve using food, recollect close it real carefully fifty-fifty if it is described equally kind.

If you’re using nutrient inwards domestic dog training, y'all are avoiding some of the biggest mistakes y'all tin forcefulness out make, as well as you’re using modern, reward-based grooming methods (Yay!).

The ways nosotros utilization nutrient inwards domestic dog training

There are ii principal ways that nosotros utilization nutrient inwards domestic dog training, as well as they relate to how dogs learn.

We utilization nutrient equally positive reinforcement inwards operant conditioning, which is when nosotros are instruction a domestic dog to exercise a behaviour. The domestic dog does the behaviour as well as nosotros vantage them rapidly with the food, as well as so that side past times side fourth dimension nosotros inquire for the behaviour they are to a greater extent than probable to exercise it again. (If they don’t exercise it, they don’t acquire the food, as well as nosotros endeavour i time again – maybe going dorsum a measuring inwards the grooming innovation to become far easier).

The other agency nosotros utilization nutrient is inwards classical conditioning, when nosotros want to alter how a domestic dog feels close something. For example, the domestic dog is afraid of the brush, but nosotros want to learn them to move groomed. Dogs dear food, as well as so nosotros tin forcefulness out aid them larn to similar the brush past times rapidly next every presentation of the brush with lots of yummy food. With a gradual grooming plan, as well as beingness real (very) careful to alone function at the dog’s pace, nosotros tin forcefulness out aid the domestic dog larn to similar the brush. (Note that, inwards contrast to operant conditioning, the domestic dog doesn’t have got to exercise anything – it’s the brush that predicts food).

Those of y'all with fearful dogs volition know that trying to acquire rid of fearfulness is a long, tedious procedure that may non move completely successful. It’s amend to endeavour to preclude fearfulness inwards the kickoff place, if possible. If y'all have got a fearful dog, y'all mightiness similar eight tips to aid fearful dogs experience safe.

What y'all demand inwards monastic tell to utilization nutrient inwards domestic dog training

Strictly speaking, all y'all demand is some pieces of nutrient hidden away inwards your hand. Having it on your individual makes it easier to deliver nutrient rapidly – although in that location may move occasions when it’s to a greater extent than appropriate to run to the refrigerator for it.

Little cubes of cooked chicken are an ideal nutrient reward, but in that location are lots of other choices. Find something your domestic dog likes as well as that y'all are happy with. Kibble is mostly non the best thought for training; something that is tasty as well as adds multifariousness to the dog’s diet volition move to a greater extent than motivating. If y'all want to know what I use, I made a listing of the best domestic dog grooming treats.

Photo: Kellymmuller73 (Shutterstock.com)

If you’re going to move doing a lot of training, it volition brand life easier to acquire a process pouch of some sort. You tin forcefulness out acquire i that is literally just for the nutrient rewards, or i that has extra pockets for your cellphone, keys, as well as poop bags.

You mightiness also want a clicker. For some types of grooming (when y'all demand to vantage fleeting movements) it is essential to utilization a marking – which could move a verbal marking or a clicker – because it marks the exact 2nd of the behaviour as well as buys y'all fourth dimension to acquire your nutrient vantage out. But for most basic obedience, it’s upwards to y'all whether y'all utilization i or not. (Some people dear to utilization the clicker, some people don’t. One written report constitute no divergence betwixt utilization of a clicker, verbal marking or neither (just nutrient rewards) (Chiandetti et al 2016) as well as this is something nosotros are probable to come across to a greater extent than inquiry on inwards the future).

But really, that’s it. The most of import thing is the food.

Some of the technical aspects of domestic dog training…

Of course, it’s non equally elementary equally just using food. But nonetheless, behaviours that are reinforced volition acquire repeated, as well as so if y'all maintain rewarding your domestic dog for a exceptional behaviour (like sit), the frequency of that behaviour volition become up.

When nosotros speak close technical aspects, nosotros tin forcefulness out hateful something equally elementary equally the speed of delivery of rewards. It’s of import to deliver the vantage real rapidly (or grade it, if y'all are using a vantage marking such equally a clicker), as well as so the domestic dog knows which behaviour is the i that earned the reward. Have y'all ever trained a real bouncy domestic dog whose bottom alone briefly touches the terra firma when y'all inquire them to sit down earlier they boundary upwards as well as start bouncing around again? If y'all were also slow, y'all could move rewarding them for the wrong behaviour, similar bouncing.

And piece we’re talking close speed, some other thing y'all tin forcefulness out exercise inwards a domestic dog grooming session if you’re using nutrient rewards is a lot of repetitions (e.g. x a minute). Of course of written report it depends on the dog, but if you’ve got the bird of the grooming innovation right, that’s what y'all should aim for (yep, x a infinitesimal – endeavour it! If that’s also tricky, just endeavour to jibe to a greater extent than repetitions inwards than y'all were doing before).

H5N1 few of the technical things nosotros demand to acquire right are covered inwards my article on positive reinforcement (scroll downward to the department on ‘why isn’t positive reinforcement working?’).

Photo: Pelle Zoltan (Shutterstock.com)

Following a grooming innovation volition also genuinely help. H5N1 real mutual error is to move on also rapidly for the dog, as well as hold off also much of them all at once. That tin forcefulness out acquire frustrating for both of you. If y'all follow a innovation with gradual, incremental steps, y'all volition genuinely brand faster progress.

Luckily, in that location are some splendid books that volition aid y'all acquire started. If y'all want to larn to a greater extent than close the technical aspects of how to develop a dog, I recommend Culture Clash as well as Train Your Dog Like a Pro past times Jean Donaldson, as well as The Power of Positive Dog Training past times Pat Miller.

You may also similar to find a goodness domestic dog trainer as well as have got a bird or individual lesson.

H5N1 brace of caveats

By now, some of y'all are belike thinking “what close no-pull harnesses?” They aren’t food, as well as they are okay.

They are indeed okay: a written report constitute that dogs on apartment collars or on no-pull harnesses did non demonstrate signs of stress (Grainger, Wills as well as Montrose 2016). So a harness is a keen selection for walking your dog, as well as may fifty-fifty hateful y'all don’t have got to develop loose-leash walking. Where does nutrient come upwards in? Well, the kickoff fourth dimension (or kickoff few times) y'all utilization one, y'all mightiness similar to utilization nutrient to aid your domestic dog similar the harness. You could also utilization nutrient to develop your domestic dog to walk nicely on a harness, if the harness itself doesn’t exercise the trick.

And what close those domestic dog trainers who sometimes utilization nutrient as well as sometimes utilization corrections? They are ofttimes referred to equally ‘balanced’ trainers. Well, they acquire the nutrient purpose right, but unfortunately non the other part. If y'all want to know more, read my article close problems with residual inwards domestic dog training.

Presenting a united forepart on domestic dog grooming methods

Have y'all ever seen someone inquire for advice close a domestic dog grooming work on the internet, as well as the give-and-take rapidly descends into lots of conflicting information as well as maybe fifty-fifty cite calling? There is typically also no agency of knowing the bird of expertise of those giving advice.

To someone who is trying to larn close domestic dog training, as well as also to the individual who was seeking advice, it must move real confusing. Maybe it sometimes fifty-fifty seems similar domestic dog trainers don’t know what they are talking about.

We tin forcefulness out aid past times encouraging as well as supporting goodness advice. Anyone who is using nutrient to develop their domestic dog is trying to exercise things the right way. They deserve praise for this, fifty-fifty if they are non perfect. (None of us are perfect).

Photo: AndrejLV (Shutterstock.com)

We tin forcefulness out aid past times sharing useful resources that acquire things right.

We tin forcefulness out aid past times recognizing that sometimes someone needs a domestic dog trainer or behaviourist (rather than cyberspace wisdom) as well as pointing them inwards the right direction when they inquire for advice.

We tin forcefulness out also aid past times making it clear that when nosotros are talking alongside ourselves close technical things (like the utilization of no vantage markers or nutrient lures), nosotros are soundless on the same side: nosotros soundless all back upwards the utilization of nutrient equally a vantage inwards domestic dog training.

We tin forcefulness out aid past times pointing to the scientific inquiry on domestic dog grooming methods as well as the seat statements from organizations such equally AVSAB as well as the Pet Professional Guild to demonstrate this is an evidence-based approach.

And nosotros tin forcefulness out aid past times talking close what nosotros dear close grooming with nutrient – the beautiful agency our dog looks at us, the happy anticipation when the process pouch comes out (“Yay!! Another grooming session!!”), as well as how much fun it is, for us as well as our canine best friends.

Because i of the most delightful things close grooming with nutrient is how much nosotros as well as our dogs relish it.

I recollect everyone loves their domestic dog as well as wants to have got fun with them. Using nutrient helps brand domestic dog grooming fun.

What if everyone knew to utilization nutrient to develop dogs?

Do y'all ever experience similar y'all are stuck inwards a loop inwards which people (including random strangers) are e'er saying, “but y'all have got to move the pack leader”, “isn’t it bribery?” as well as “my domestic dog does things out of respect!” Doesn’t it acquire tiresome?

If alone all domestic dog owners knew the value of using nutrient inwards domestic dog training, many things would move better.

Imagine if y'all walked into a pet store as well as saw walls of dissimilar types of process pouches, instead of aisles with stupor collars as well as prong collars. Wouldn’t that move nice?

Dogs would non move subjected to aversive techniques that run the run a jeopardy of making them fearful or provoking an aggressive response.

When people saw y'all using nutrient to aid a fearful domestic dog inwards a tricky situation, they wouldn’t yell at y'all as well as insist on approaching; they would give y'all distance as well as think, “Good for you!”

And instead of beingness stuck on real basic domestic dog grooming topics, to a greater extent than people would move able to devote fourth dimension to learning how to acquire the basics right as well as how to utilization to a greater extent than advanced techniques.

It would move amend for dogs, amend for our human relationship with dogs, as well as thence also amend for us.

That’s why I recollect the most of import thing to larn close domestic dog grooming is only to utilization food. Yes, there’s a lot to a greater extent than to larn later on that, but if y'all acquire that basic thing right y'all tin forcefulness out become from there.

is opened upwards to everyone as well as supported past times fauna lovers similar you. If y'all similar what y'all see, maybe buy me a java on Ko-fi?

Subscribe to to larn how to have got happy dogs as well as cats.

If y'all could alone give i slice of domestic dog grooming advice, what would it be?

This post won the 2017 Captain Haggerty Award for best domestic dog grooming mass or article from the Dog Writer's Association of America.


Zazie Todd, PhD, is the author of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop weblog , where she writes close everything from grooming methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today as well as has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inwards 2017. Todd lives inwards Maple Ridge, BC, with her husband, i dog, as well as ii cats.

Useful links:

• Check out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month
• Get merch  
• Support me on Ko-fi
• Visit my Amazon store

This page contains affiliate links.

References

Chiandetti, C., Avella, S., Fongaro, E., & Cerri, F. (2016). Can clicker grooming facilitate conditioning inwards dogs? Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 184, 109-116.

Fukuzawa, M., & Hayashi, N. (2013). Comparison of three dissimilar reinforcements of learning inwards dogs (Canis familiaris). Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications as well as Research, 8(4), 221-224. 

Grainger, J., Wills, A. P., & Montrose, V. T. (2016). The behavioral effects of walking on a neckband as well as harness inwards domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications as well as Research, 14, 60-64. 

Herron, M. E., Shofer, F. S., & Reisner, I. R. (2009). Survey of the utilization as well as resultant of confrontational as well as non-confrontational grooming methods inwards client-owned dogs showing undesired behaviors. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 117(1), 47-54.  

Okamoto, Y., Ohtani, N., & Uchiyama, H. (2009). The feeding behaviour of dogs correlates with their responses to commands. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 71(12), 1617-1621.  

Ziv, G. (2017). The Effects of Using Aversive Training Methods inwards Dogs–A Review. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications as well as Research.  

For additional references, follow the links inwards the text.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As an Etsy affiliate, I earn from qualifying Etsy purchases.