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How to Teach Clients to Train Dogs

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Teaching Clients with Dogs

Teaching Pet Owners the Basics of Dog Training
Use clear and simple directions when teaching pet owners the basics of dog training.

Dog trainers are expected to take a complex process, such as dog training, and break it into easy-to-understand terms–this is hard! The better you are at breaking complex behaviors into simple nuggets, the faster your clients will retain knowledge. Voila!

But can you effectively explain dog training easily?  Of course, with a few tips!

Before we begin:

In my opinion, dog trainers are expected to possess a higher understanding of learning theory, ABCs of learning (Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence), and so forth. Remember, clients are not expecting to become mini dog trainers. They just want their dogs to stop pulling on the leash and come back to them when called (this is why they enrolled in the class).

You’re not undermining the meaning or power of dog training. You’re actually doing the exact opposite. It takes great skill to understand a complex process and then turn around and explain it in easy terms.

 Three words: keep it simple.

Refrain From Using Learning Theory Jargon

Pet parents zone out when we use learning theory terms. If you don’t believe me, try saying this during your next class, “Let’s teach an incompatible behavior using negative punishment to prevent jumping. To begin, we choose an antecedent, which elicits a behavior for a desired consequence. Who wants to volunteer to go first?” Clients will shrink back and look at one another. They are totally confused. 🙂

Instead, give clear directions in terms pet parents can relate to and understand, such as:

  • “We are going to teach your dog to keep four feet on the floor instead of jumping up. When any of your dog’s feet leave the ground, you’ll walk away from him. Once all four feet are on the ground, you’ll click and toss him a treat.”
  • Clients are learning “feet leave ground, I leave (neg punishment).”  “Feet stay on ground, I stay and click/treat (positive reinforcement).” Voila. Simple problem-solving they can use to decrease a behavior, such as barking and so on. 🙂

Use Analogies Often

I’ll admit it: I’m an analogy queen. I use them for everything 🙂 Analogies are a comparison showing a similarity, which can help explain meaning and how it relates to real life. OK, I may have lost you in that sentence so let me bring you back by keeping it simple.

Politely greet dogs:

  • Refrain from petting dogs on top of the head. This is rude in doggie language.
  • Think about it this way: What if I petted you on top of the head instead of shaking your hand? You would think I was crazy right?
  • Same thing with dogs. Touch dogs under the chin instead.

Give Simple Instructions

Keep explanations and stories to a minimum. A person can only absorb so much knowledge in an hour. A few years ago, I completed a Tag Teaching seminar and it literally changed my life.

When explaining anything:

  • Explain using 5 or less words.
  • Demo using the same 5 or less words (demo with a dog and person).
  • Ask a student to demo using the same 5 or less words.
  • Ask each student to practice with his dog (5 reps).

Example:  Teaching “Touch”

  1. Explain: Dog touches nose left palm.
  2. If students become confused, break down the behavior even further. Nose left palm.
  3. For reps, I ask clients to count out 5 treats (this equals 5 reps).

What are your tips for effectively teaching clients about dog training? Please share!

Dealing With Learned Helplessness In Dogs

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Learned Helplessness

Shut Down Dogs
crazybboy/Adobe Stock

Learned helplessness is the condition where a dog has been repeatedly exposed to a scary stimulus and has learned he no longer has control over the adverse situation. The dog shuts down and becomes helpless, knowing he can’t change the outcome.

Dogs can shut down during group dog training classes, private lessons and even puppy playtime. As your dog’s voice, you should learn what causes dogs to shut down and how to prevent it.

What is Learned Helplessness?

Dogs either fight or flight when they encounter a scary trigger. However, there’s a new response I’m seeing more and more of during my dog training sessions. It’s freeze or shut down. Dogs that have learned to become helpless basically giving up, flop over, and hope the scary trigger goes away and doesn’t hurt them.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]People see the dog giving up and mistakenly assume the dog has learned to stay still or behave. Oh, but it’s far from it.[/perfectpullquote]

Can you imagine being so scared, your entire body shuts down, you go limp, you roll over and you wish with everything you have that the scary thing would leave you alone? Wow. That’s terrible right!?

Well, I’m seeing an increasing amount of learned helplessness in dogs introduced to scary triggers. Many times, dogs shut down at the vet’s office, on a groomer’s table, or during class because they’re so confused or scared that they simply give up. People see the dog giving up and mistakenly assume the dog has learned to stay still or behave. Oh, but it’s far from it. The dog was pushed way too far.

What Does a Shut Down Dog Look Like?

When dogs shut down, they usually become frustrated and display calming and appeasement signals. Dogs will usually begin with subtle versions of calming signals to indicate they’re confused and scared. If the scary stimulus continues, their calming signals become more apparent, such as an increase in panting, salivation and sometimes vocalization. You may also notice their:

  • Tails tucked between their legs
  • Ears pinned back against their head
  • Body weight shrinks backwards
  • Bodies flop on the floor and become very still

What Causes Learned Helplessness in Dogs?

Any number of triggers can cause a dog to shut down, including:

  • Loud echo
  • Sound of a clicker
  • Other dogs being too close
  • Strange smell (we may never discover this one)
  • Chronic anxiety caused from past experiences during dog training
  • Combination of triggers

Shutting Down vs. Learning a Incompatible Behavior

Let’s be crystal clear here. There’s a major difference between shutting down and learning an incompatible behavior—huge difference. Teaching an incompatible behavior means teaching a dog to sit instead of jump or target your hand instead of pulling on a leash.

The dog has a choice in this situation, and is a willing participant in the learning process. Shutting down means the dog is not a willing participant in the learning process, and is so confused he gives up and flops on the floor wishing you (or whatever the stimulus causing him to shut down) goes away.

How to Prevent Dogs From Shutting Down

Whether you’re a dog trainer or dog owner, it’s so important to become fluent in dog body language and notice the nuances before the dog becomes stressed. The moment you notice your dog is stressed by a trigger, look at your dog’s environment for the trigger. What is causing your dog to stress out? Once you identify it, remove it.

If a dog is stressed with another dog too close, ask the other dog to move away from the stressed dog. If the trigger is a loud sound, move the scared dog further away from the sound or use visual barriers to calm a stressed dog.

While some stress is a good thing and is actually needed during the learning process, we’re talking about beyond normal stress levels that border into anxiety here. When you’re stressed or anxious, you can’t learn. It’s impossible. Think about it: If you’re scared of spiders and I hold a tarantula about 3 feet from you while teaching you how to recite Shakespeare, would you remember a word I said? Bingo, that’s the feeling right before you shut down. 🙂

If Your Dog Doesn’t Recover

If a stressed dog becomes even more frantic when triggers are removed, take your dog outside for a walk or remove him from the situation. Then, try to identify exactly what caused him to shut down.

If you’re a dog trainer, ask the owner to step outside the session with her dog and come back to watch until the session ends. Afterwards, ask the owner to list out any known triggers that cause anxiety and begin a simple desensitization program for each trigger. Begin slowly and remember desensitization always works. If it’s not working, it’s not being done right, so take a deeper look at the process. When in doubt, split a behavior, which means make it even simpler.

If, at anytime, a dog becomes worse or does not improve, I recommend partnering with a qualified animal behaviorist.

How do you prevent a dog from shutting down? I want to hear from you. 🙂

Related Posts: How to Train Fearful Dogs

Handling Difficult Dog Training Cases

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Resolve Your Client’s Problem

Handling Difficult Dog Training Cases
Why is this dog getting worse?!

Q:  Help! I’m frustrated and ready to tear my hair out!

I’m working with a difficult dog training case right now, and it seems the dog is not improving. The owner is upset and the dog continues to try to bite me! What should I do?

A: Every dog trainer has those moments so don’t get frustrated. 🙂

Sometimes, I’m too close to a client and her dog so I need to gather different perspectives from other dog trainers.

If I notice a dog is not improving during or after one session, it’s my job to stop and find what will work for this particular dog or puppy.

1. Videotape your training sessions.

Once home, play back in slow motion. You’ll be shocked at specific body language that you or the pet parents are using that triggers the dog. By watching this video, you’ll see what really happens, as dogs are fast. Plus, when you’re feeling stressed, as you want to show results quickly and the pet parents are frustrated, this can be a hot mess of confusion for all, especially the dog. I hate to say this, but this is all too common. You are not alone. 🙂

2. Once you arrive at your client’s home, take 5 slow deep breaths.

Yes, we hold tension. Shallow breathing, holding our breath, and tense shoulders become a cue to the dog that something bad is going to happen. Plus, you’ll let go of all that stress.

3. Refer the dog to a veterinary behaviorist.

These folks work with difficult cases everyday! Once the referral has been completed, the veterinary behaviorist will recommend protocols at home (this is a vital part of teaching new behaviors). This is where you come in: you will be this expert’s eyes and ears. If any questions, partner with him. I wish more dog trainers used this option as we could resolve difficult cases so much quicker.

Best Dog Training Books For Beginners

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Dog Training Books

Dog Training Books
Continue to learn by reading the best dog training books in the industry. dtatiana/Adobe Stock

Written for dog trainers with less than 2 years of experience.

If you’re a dog trainer, regardless of experience level, it’s so important to continue learning. While attending conferences and seminars are a huge plus, reading dog training books provides an in-depth look into specific topics as well as references when you encounter obstacles. As a dog trainer, I highly recommend this reading list with the assumption that beginner dog trainers have an understanding of basic classroom setup, management and curriculum.

Best Puppy Training Book

“Puppy Start Right – Foundation Training for the Companion Dog”
by Kenneth Martin and Debbie Martin

If you’re looking for the ultimate puppy training book, then you must read this book! Dr. Kenneth Martin and Debbie Martin provide information left out of most books about teaching body handling and muzzle training. Plus, they include a good refresher on clicker training and step-by-step information on shaping behaviors, which is a challenging skill for beginner dog trainers. Reading and referencing this book will certainly prepare you to offer the most current information in puppy classes!

Best Learning Theory Book

“Don’t Shoot the Dog” and “Reaching the Animal Mind”
by  Karen Pryor

If you have not read these books yet, then run and purchase them right away! Karen explains a beautiful dog learning theory, variable schedules of reinforcement and how animals learn. A tip: highlight and bookmark your “ah ha moments” so when you’re feeling burned out, take a peek and understand why you fell in love with dog training in the first place! 🙂

Best Canine Body Language Book

“Canine Behavior: A Photo Illustrated Handbook”
by Barbara Handelman

An important skill to learn, as a dog trainer, is how to read and interpret canine body language. Barbara’s book not only explains body language, but the reference pictures are also amazing! This book is HUGE and packed full of pictures with detailed explanations. Tip: when viewing each picture, think through solutions to prevent this behavior from happening. This will teach you to react quickly, especially to an “agnostic pucker”!

Best Teaching Pet Parents Book

“Ebook: The Human Half of Dog Training – Collaborating with Clients to Get Results”
by Risë VanFleet
&
“It’s Not the Dogs, It’s the People!”
by Nicole Wilde

Oh, but teaching dogs are only half of it and it’s so important to understand how to interact, teach and provide feedback to pet parents. In my opinion, this is the hard part! Not only do you need to interpret human body language, you need to also understand how to tactfully explain instructions, several times if needed, to ensure the pet parent understands specific concepts. Well, here ya go — the two best books out there! Don’t skimp by purchasing only one book (it’s so important to read several points of view).

So you’ve noticed, a few topics are missing, such as dog aggression, anxiety and fearfulness. Beginner dog trainers must have a full understanding of the above topics before diving into the deep end, meaning aggression. For my full thought process on this topic, check out these dog behavior articles.

What is your favorite dog training book?

Should a Beginner Dog Trainer Take Aggression Cases?

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Aggressive Dog Training

Training Aggressive Dogs
Grrr.

I’m asked this question by novice dog trainers several times a week. My short answer is no. Shocking, I know, but not discouraging, trust me. Let me explain why I feel beginner dog trainers should not take aggression cases, just not yet.

 Beginner dog trainers must accomplish critical foundation skills first!

What Does Beginner Dog Trainer Mean?

To me, a beginner dog trainer means he’s recently graduated from a dog training school or university, or currently mentoring with an experienced dog trainer. He has learned foundation skills, such as learning theory and how to apply it to everyday circumstances. After graduating, he is now learning how to practice foundation exercises with many different dogs and people, as they are all different.

Focusing on Foundation Behaviors

Foundation behaviors focus on teaching people how to apply basic learning theory to shape polite canine behaviors. That sentence was a mouthful, but this is what beginner dog trainers must accomplish first before accepting aggression cases.  Let me drill down further.

The truth of the matter is clients enroll in classes or hire you because you will “fix” their dog issues. Take that in for a moment, that’s a lot of pressure. Now, ball that pressure up with different dog and human learning styles — yikes! Take all that pressure even further. Dog trainers must be able to offer another way of thinking or different solutions quickly for a particular behavior. That’s plenty of pressure without topping it off with dog aggression.

There’s Plenty of Time, Later, for Aggression Cases

For some reason, dealing with aggression cases is “sexy.” Dog trainers wear it as a badge of honor. Trust me, it’s not sexy when you’re over your head in a difficult situation.

There will be plenty of time later. Right now, focus on different types of adult learning styles, such as visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning, which are part of the larger picture. Then focus on the next layer, which is teaching adults to use logic and reasoning even if this means saying the same thing different ways. It’s also important to interpret human body language.

Does your client really understand what you just said? Interpret his body language:

  • Is he just looking at you or his feet?
  • Nodding or eyes are glazed over?
  • Is he stepping back from you or standing still?
  • Is he smiling or rolling his eyes?
  • Is he participating or shrinking back?

Most importantly, is he able to demo what you just explained to him? That is the true answer! If not, he didn’t understand so it’s vital to rephrase without sounding condescending. Yes, this takes skill and finesse so practice and practice some more. 🙂

Now learn to successfully identify, interpret body language and change thinking patterns for naysayers (“My dog CAN NOT do that”), cynical thinkers (“Treats don’t work”), non-participants (“It’s okay, we’ll just sit here”), chronic interrupters (Blurting out “But, what if…..”) and show offs (“I volunteer to demo again!”).

Then, you have the dogs. Each dog learns differently so learn how to demo different ways to shape, capture and lure a down behavior with different dogs (short, long, pulling, shut down, tall, scared). And if a demo dog moves away from you, it’s okay. Return the dog back to his owner. You’re not expected to have a magic wand so all dogs love you. 🙂 What about pulling dogs? What tips do you have for Larry the Labrador that insists on pulling Grandma around? But Grandma has tried all that, now what?

So now you’re exhausted just reading this. Trust me, there is plenty of time for aggression cases. And if you think all the above is hard, increase this difficulty by 10x and now you have a true taste of  an aggression case. With aggression cases,  you have emotion, frustration and denial. That’s just on the human side.  The poor dog is depending on you to help.

Take your time to learn and implement foundation exercises. It’s worth it!

Dog Training Nation is a dog training blog for pet owners and dog lovers. We cover a range of topics from puppy socialization tips to dog aggression to dog health. It is our hope you share our content to make the world a better place for dogs.

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