August 5th, 2010
By Eric Letendre
I was sitting at home yesterday when I got a phone call from the local new station. They were calling to ask if I would be willing to go on the afternoon show and talk about dog training.
Never one to turn down an opprotuinty to go on TV, I agreed to be there on Friday. I’ll let you know how it goes.
They asked me to share with the audience some tips on dog training and behavior. She also asked me to send some key points on what I was going to talk about, so I decided to share with you first what I am going to talk about.
You see, I have been teaching for years that the focus should not be on the dog. The real focus has to be on the owner.
Years ago while attending a seminar, the great dog trainer John Rogerson stated: “If you want a good dog, learn how to become a good dog owner.” That one simple statement changed the way I looked at dog training.
I had been taught that the dog was always at fault if the training did not go well. Your dog won’t sit, down or stay?
The dog is being stubborn.
Your dog is pulling on leash or won’t come back when called?
The dog is being dominant.
Your dog won’t pay attention?
The dog is neurotic.
Everytime the dog did not perform, the dog was blamed.
Here’s a question for you.
Is it the dog or the trainer?
I was orginally taught a dog training method that was very popular in the 1950′s. Put a choke chain on the dog and give a correction. If dog does not respond, increase the intensity of the correction. If correction does not work, increase the intensity of the correction, If the hardest correction you give does not work, label the dog as dominant, stubborn, neruotic, genetically defective, or make up a label.
As you can imagine, this led to a lot of problems; dogs that developed aggressive behavior, dogs that became scared, dogs that developed destructive behavior and dogs that simply shut down.
The amazing thing is that there are still trainers out there training the same way.
Anyway, I am going to share the four steps to becoming a good dog owner on the show.
The four steps are:
1. Good management skills
2. Exercise
3. Leadership
4. Train using positive reinforcment
I will expand a little further in my next email. I’ll also let you know how the TV show goes, so stay tuned…
All the best,
Eric
P.S. If you really want to learn how to become a great dog owner, check out: The Dog Training Inner Circle
June 3rd, 2009
By Eric Letendre
Back in the 80′s, I landed my first job working with dogs. I worked as a security patrol dog handler at a large inner-city hospital that boarded on one of the worst neighborhoods in the state.
The training back then was extremely harsh. Training consisted of choke collars, prong collars, electronic collars and NO TREATS!
For some strange reason, some trainers still train today using extremely harsh and cruel techniques.
I definitely think that electronic collars have a role in dog training – it’s just that the foundation for all of your training should be based on trust and POSITIVE reinforcement, because using negative methods will effect your dog.
NOT using loads of positive reinforcement is the second biggest mistake that I see.
Spend eight to twelve months reinforcing your dog’s behavior with treats, praise and toys. You’ll be amazed at how your dog responds and remembers the commands.
Spend twelve months punishing your dog’s behavior with overuse of an electronic collar, scruff shakes and harsh tones and see how your dog responds. You’ll be amazed at how grouchy your dog becomes.
Don’t be surprised if your dog develops a serious aggression problem.
Once a dog has developed an aggression problem, it is very difficult to bring him back from the dark side.
"But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny (or your dog’s).
Yoda – Star Wars, the add on about dogs is mine.
All the best,
Eric
P.S. Looking for a way to train without worrying about your dog going to the dark side, surf on over to:
October 7th, 2008
By Eric Letendre
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From The Desk Of
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Turn up the speakers on your computer, click the play button and listen to my message about choke collars…
This text will be replaced by the flash music player.
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September 25th, 2007
By Eric Letendre
The Truth About Dog Training
A while ago I put up a series of videos on how to choose a dog trainer. What a lot of people don’t know is that there is no regulations for dog trainers. Anyone can say that they are a dog trainer.
That’s why i put up the video series – to help dog owners find the right dog trainer for them. One of the most important points that I make in the videos is that using negative reinforcement can backfire on you.
One of the big problems with prong and choke collars is that cross asscoitations can happen. Here is an email I just recieved about this problem:
Hi Eric,
Love your web site!
Your video clip #3 in the Truth About Training explains my situation perfectly.
I listened to bad advice about training at the time my 5
month old male border collie who was pulling like crazy on
the leash.
I used the pinch collar for about 2 weeks. What
started happening was redirected aggression, he was
biting me when he saw a dog because I was essentially
biting him with the collar.
I stopped using that collar and started to go to a
private trainer that used positive reinforcement.
I have seeing the trainer for about 2 months now and
we are working on obedience and dog behavior.
He has aggression toward other dogs, as explained in your
video, and he is very interested in cars and has
chased 2 of them but not in a few months.
He is doing great with obedience. He can do all the basics,
sit, stay, down, come, back, etc.
My question to you is what is your technique for
correcting a dumb training mistake that you refer to
in clip #3, cross associations that come about because
of negative reinforcement?
Thank you so much,
Laura
Whenever a dog makes a negative association we need
to spend time training your dog to make a positive
association.
This is done by rewarding your dog in the presence of other dogs.
At first it may be a little difficult and you may want to use a gentle
leader to get some control over your dog around other dogs.
Given enough time you can start to change your dog’s behavior. If
there is a good positive obedience training class in your area you
may want to attend the class with your dog.
All the best,
Eric
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Eric Letendre is a professional dog trainer from the United States. For more than 20 years, he has been developing dog training techniques that have worked for dog owners all over the world. Eric operates from a home office or a laptop while traveling and draws on his experience and passion for dog training to show others how to develop a dog that is truly “Man’s Best Friend”.
Eric is the author of numerous reports, the E-Book “101 Ways to Hack Your Dog’s Behavior,” “The Amazing Dog Training Man Book,” and produced and stars in his DVD “Secrets of a Professional Dog Trainer.”
