Preparation

It is recommended that if you feed your dog an evening meal it be after class.  Your dog will be more willing to work for you if it is hungry.

Be sure your dog has a chance to relieve itself before class starts.  You should always carry a plastic bag in your pocket for picking up after your dog.  We will have a mop available for "accidents."

Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes.  You will be doing a lot of bending over and walking during heeling exercises.

Make sure all Vaccinations are kept up to date on your dog.  A copy, that we can keep, of your current vaccination records must be included with your registration.  No dog will be allowed to participate in any class without proof of current vaccinations.

Equipment for Classes

A training collor that fits properly.  If you are not sure how to properly fit a training collar, one can be fit and purchased the first night of the class at HumDOG.  The training collar is, normally, a flat collar. head collar (Gentle Leader, Haltie, etc.), or martingale.  We do not allow choke or pinch collars in our classes.

A 6' leash, made of leather, nylon or cotton.  With is according to your hand and the size of your dog.  No chain leashes are allowed.

Small, bite-sized treats that your dog really likes.  We have had success with sliced hot dogs, cheese, or freeze-dried/cooked liver.  Carry these treats in a plastic bag which is easily accessible from your pocket or a waist bag (fanny pack).  The waist bag allows you better use of both hands.

For students enrolled in our classes a wide variety of training equipment, including collars, leashes and books are available at our cost.  Look for the equipment table.

Classroom Etiquette

When going through doorways or around corners always have your dog close to your side, on a shortened leash.  Dogs can become startled when coming face to face with another dog.

Class time is for working not visiting.  Please pay attention to your dog in class.  Socializing is for after class.

Aggressive Dogs

We are not able to accept people aggressive dogs in our classes.

If you have a known dog aggressive dog you would be better off with someone who offers smaller classes or individual training.  If your dog acts aggressive towards other dogs the instructor will show you what is expected in the way of corrections.  If this behavior continues to be a problem, according to HumDOG, you will be asked to leave.

Goals of the Class

To teach you, the handler, to communicate to your dog what you what it to do, gain some control over situations that you consider objectionable and to lay a foundation for future obedience work.

How Dogs Learn

Dogs learn through experience (pleasant and unpleasant ones) and principally through repetition.  When a dog's action causes something positive to happen, from the dog's point of view, that action will be more likely to be repeated.  The opposite is also true, if the dog's action causes something unpleasant to happen, that action will be less likely to be repeated.

Obedience Training

Training consists of two parts:  Communicating to your dog what you want and Motivating it to do it.  In training, your dog must learn to understand your language (communications) in the form of commands.  You must learn to understand your dog, because its personality will affect its training.

The second part of training is motivation.  Anything can be used as a motivator as long as it is something the dog really wants and will work for.  I.E. Food, a toy, a ball, your voice, etc.  By far the strongest motivator for most dogs is food.  Using food as a reward for a job well done shows the dog that there is "something in it for him," and can help give your dog a positive attitude towards training.  By giving verbal praise right before the food, your dog will associate the praise with the food reward.  This makes the verbal praise a powerfull motivator, also.

Training with food does not mean you dog will only work with food.  You should start reducing the frequency of its reward once the dog has learned to do a particular exercise.  The food can be gradually eliminated completely, if you choose.

You will use several important tools in training your dog:  your voice, consistancy and patience.  Anger has no place in dog training.  Don't lose your dog's trust by letting anger get in the way of good training.  Remember, you will need a lot of Patience, Praise and Persistence to train your dog.

Unintentional Training

This takes place when we think we are teaching our dog one thing and in reality we are teaching it something different.  Examples of this are:

When your dog shows signs of fear or aggression and you reassure it with petting, while saying "That's OK," "Good Dog," or other soothing words, you are unintentionally encouraging the unwanted behavior.  Care must also be given when your dog whines excessively.  Do not praise, comfort or reward your dog for acting shy or insecure.

Another problem can be "vocal blackmail," which a dog can soon learn to use to manipulate you.  Don't try to stop the dog from barking or whining by giving it a treat to chew or eat.  Dogs realize quickly that all they have to do is "woof" a couple of times and they get attention, affection or a treat.

Each day you are constanly molding your dog's behavior.  When praising, petting or cuddling your dog, the behavior immediately preceding is being encouraged or reinforced.  Pay attention to the actions you are rewarding.  Remember, it is much easier to encourage good behavior than it is to change bad behavior.

Pre-Watch Exercise (Basic Obedience Class Only)

The pre-watch is an exercise you can do to get your do ready for the Basic Obedience class.

Day 1 & 2:  Sit in a chair, in a quiet place, with your dog sitting in front of you.  Have your treats behind you and out of sight.  Hold your dog's collar with your left hand and with your right hand move a piece of food back and forth between your dog's nose and your nose.  Say "watch" and talk to your dog quietly.  When it has watched you for even a second, praise it and reward with the food.  Attempt to increase the time your dog will watch you.  Repeat five (5) times.  If possible do this several times a day.

Day 3 & 4:  Now have your dog sit at the left side of your chair.  Same process of moving the food between you and your dog's nose and build up time.

Day 5 - 7:  Have you dog sitting at your left side while you are standing.  Again, use "watch" with your food going back and forth to keep their attention.

Problems:

Dog jumps up on you or puts their feet on you.  Say "off" and put it back into a sit.

Dog attempts to snap at the food in your hand.  Hold their muzzle, say "Ah!," "Easy" or "Gentle," and then allow them to take the food again.  Repeat the correction, if necessary.