Posted on

What is Behavior Modification in Dogs

dog behavior modification

What Is Dog Behavior Modification In Dogs?

To understand how to modify a dog’s behavior you must first understand how the dog’s brain works. For over 25 years we have been focused on training dogs not only for protection training work but for behavior modifications to help dogs fit into their families better.

Operant Conditioning

In operant conditioning, your dog learns to “operate” in his environment because his behavior is maintained by consequences being either reinforcement or punishment.

For instance, in the case of reinforcement, if you tell your dog to “sit” and upon sitting down, you deliver a cookie, your dog learned that compliance in “operating” results in a pleasant consequence; the cookie. If you reward the behavior often enough, especially during your dog’s initial stages of learning, you will see an increase in the sitting behavior.

B. F. Skinner, the father of operant conditioning, in his Skinner box experiment, delivered food to rats that engaged in a target behavior which was pressing a lever. After careful observations, he came to the conclusion that “behaviors that are reinforced, tend to be repeated and strengthen, whereas, behaviors that are not reinforced tend to extinguish and weaken.”

In the case of punishment, if your dog is wandering in the woods and gets sprayed by a skunk one day, he may be shocked enough to avoid going near the black and white animal once and for all. He may, therefore, decide to “operate” in his environment by running the other way upon spotting one. In this case, according to Thorndike’s law of effect, “responses that produce a discomforting effect become less likely to occur again in that situation.” A behavior, is therefore, said to be punished when it occurs with less frequency.

Therefore, to sum things up, the environment around dogs may lead to behavioral changes because of consequences.

Classical Conditioning

This method is a great method for behavior modification In classical conditioning, a stimulus signals the occurrence of a second stimulus. The father of this form of learning is Russian scientist Ivan Pavlov. In a study on digestive processes, Ivan Pavlov was evaluating the role of salivary glands. He employed several dogs for his experiments, and as good droolers, the dogs were salivating abundantly at the sight of food. This is a normal, natural response known as an “unconditioned response”. The dogs, indeed, did not have to learn to drool at the sight of food, because this is innate. However, as time went by, he noticed that the dogs started salivating even when no food was in sight. Indeed, they were drooling at the simple sight of any person wearing a lab coat! How did this happen? The dogs simply learned to associate the people working there with food. To further prove these associations, Ivan Pavlov started ringing a bell before feeding food, and with time, the noise of the bell alone had dogs drooling. The bell which was a neutral stimulus (meaning it initially meant nothing to the dog) became a conditioned stimulus (the dog learned to associate the bell with food) causing a conditioned response (the drooling). There are several conditioned stimuli surrounding dogs each day. Following are examples of conditioned reinforcers:

  • The sight of the leash. To dogs a leash initially means nothing (neutral stimulus), but with time, they start associating it with walks (conditioned stimulus) and gets excited at its sight (conditioned response).
  • The doorbell. To a dog the noise of a door bell means nothing at first (neutral stimulus), but with time, he starts associating it with people coming inside the home (conditioned stimulus) and starts getting excited/nervous/anxious (conditioned response).
  • A clicker. To a dog the clicking noise of a clicker means nothing initially, (neutral stimulus) but after charging it by pairing it with treats, the clicker is associated with threats (conditioned stimulus) and the dog is all happy as soon as you take the clicker out of your pocket (conditioned response).

Classical Conditioning

  • Ivan Pavlov is considered the father of classical conditioning.
  • The behavior the dog engages in is involuntary (physiologic or emotional responses are automatic reflexes).
  • The dog develops an involuntary response to a conditioned stimulus (the dog drools at the sight of the food bowl because it has learned to associate it with food).
  • The dog is passive and learns without performing any voluntary actions.

The Four Training Methods that Work.

There are various methods dog trainers use for behavior modification, and dog behavior experts resort to in order to make a dog operant.

Note: It is important to point out that in behavior terms, the words positive and negative are not used to mean good or bad, but rather, positive means addition and negative means subtraction. Also, as mentioned earlier, the term reinforcement denotes a behavior that increases in frequency, whereas, the term punishment, is not used to entail anything hostile, but simply denotes a behavior that decreases in frequency.

  1. Positive reinforcement: In this case, positive means adding something so to make a behavior increase, (reinforcement). Example: you start giving (add) attention when your dog jumps.With time, the behavior of jumping increases.
  2. Negative reinforcement: In this case, negative means removing something so to make a behavior increase (reinforcement): Example: you stop staring (subtract) at your dog in a threatening way the moment he looks away. With time, the behavior of looking away increases.

Common Dog Behavior Modification Techniques and Terms

Following are some common and not so common behavior modification terms used when dealing with dog behavior.

Desensitization

This means to make a dog less sensitive to a trigger known to cause reactivity. It takes several small steps in carefully planned increments for it to work. To grant success, the trigger known for causing reactivity needs to be presented in such a way as to be less threatening. This entails working from a farther distance, making the trigger less noisy, keeping it still rather than moving etc. After repeated exposure done under threshold levels, the dog should demonstrate a diminished emotional response to the trigger. When the desensitization process is performed incorrectly and the dog is exposed to the trigger at a high level of intensity, the opposite may take place which is sensitization. On the other hand, the effects of systematic desensitization can be amplified when accompanied by ‘the cherry on the sundae”, which is counter conditioning.

Extinction

The process during which a behavior stops from occurring. When a behavior modification dog trainer reached their goals they call it extinction of the bad behavior, it eventually extinguishes; however, extinction bursts are not uncommon. According to dog trainer Steven Wrigley, extinction bursts are sign that the training/ behavior modification program is working. If for instance, a dog was used to pawing at the owner to be pet and the owner complied most of the time, once the owner stops petting, the dog may reduce the behavior of asking to be pet but at some point the pawing may increase considerably. This is an extinction burst which is the dog’s way of saying ” hey, I am here, don’t you see me? I guess I must increase my pawing and nudging behavior since it is no longer working”. How to deal with an extinction burst? By continuing to ignore the behavior and avoiding to reward. Rewarding at this point would prove deleterious.

Management

When a behavior problem takes place, it is important to reduce the frequency of the behavior. The more a dog engages in an unwanted behavior, the more it reinforces. For instance, if your dog raids the thrash can at night when left unsupervised, it is easier to simply install baby gates, invest in a trash bin with an irremovable lid, or close the kitchen door to prevent access to the trash can. Management may sound obvious, but countless dog owners allow their dogs to be set up for failure by not engaging in what are simple, almost obvious behaviors. Some more examples on how to manage unwanted behaviors:

  • Crating a dog to prevent him from tearing apart the couch when unsupervised
  • Installing a pen to prevent a dog from escaping
  • Keeping shoes away from dogs that chew them
  • Avoiding exposure to other dogs when a dog is clearly aggressive towards other dogs
  • Investing in a no-pull harness for a dog that pulls

It is important to recognize that when feasible, management should be a temporary solution to a problem. The goal should be to use management for some time while working on dealing with the underlying problem. This means that if your dog chews your shoes, you should keep them out of reach when you are away, but you must also train your dog that they are not appropriate chew items by training your dog the leave it/drop it command and by praising your dog when chewing the appropriate items (chew toys).

These are only a few of the many dog behavior modification techniques employed by dog behavior experts. Each trainer/behavior expert has his/her preferred, we are happy to help and evaluate our dog.

Posted on

How To Protection Train Your Cane Corso

Cane Corsos will usually adopt well to being a guard dog naturally. It’s important to train them to be obedient. Here is how:

Many dogs are natural watch dogs; their bark is sufficient to alert their owner to something unusual, and the alarm they set up is a deterrent. In addition, dogs who will fight if their owner is genuinely attacked do not have to be made aggressive to do so. Dog Training  specifically to be a guard dog is hazardous and potentially creates a liability for you. Misguided attempts to make a dog aggressive through abuse will only backfire because the dog will not be loyal to someone who treats them harshly, and if the dog wrongly bites someone you will be at fault. Never train dogs who are basically fearful or out of control. Such dogs may not respond appropriately in non-threatening situations.

cane corso protection training

A Cane Corso should not be selected to receive training as a guard dog unless the dog is basically friendly, stable and clear-headed, and has been socialized well.

1

Socialize your Cane Corso dog puppy from the start. Dogs should acquire a clear understanding of what is normal and what is not, so that they are not fearful and they know when there is a genuine threat. To socialize puppies, take them places with you, and allow them to meet and interact with as many other people and animals as possible, always taking care to keep your puppy safe from negative experiences. Dogs in strange or new environments may sometimes be a little fearful, if they haven’t been well socialized, and this can create a dog who bites from fear or who runs when confronted with anything unusual.

2

Enroll your Cane Corso dog puppy in as soon as possible. It is essential that your German shepherd dog is obedient at all times, but if you want to undertake guard dog training, the need for control becomes imperative. Even though the purpose behind the training is serious, dogs should enjoy obedience work and look on it as fun. Positive reinforcement, the practice of rewarding dogs when they perform correctly rather than punishing them for mistakes, serves multiple purposes by teaching dogs obedience, bonding them with their owners and letting them have fun. It also fulfills their need to work.

3

Teach your German shepherd dog to stop barking on command. Begin by teaching your dog to “Speak” on command, and give a treat and much praise for barking. Next, use a command such as “Quiet” or “Enough.” Give immediate praise and a small treat when the dog is quiet. This training eventually gives you control over the dog’s bark. Have your dog sit while barking. Cane Corso dogs are intelligent and will normally learn quickly.

4

When your dog barks at strangers encourage them when they come to your house. You can develop this trait by making a show of going to see why the dog is barking, offering praise, then giving the “Quiet” or “Enough” command. React positively when your Cane Corso dog alerts you to unfamiliar people or objects at home, but do not allow this behavior to develop away from home. Your dog should be unconcerned about neutral or friendly strangers you meet when you are out walking.

5

Build your dog’s alertness at home by having people the dog doesn’t know act as though they are trying to get into your home or yard. When your Cane Corso dog barks, the intruder should look at the dog and then flee while you hold and praise your dog. Do not allow your pet to chase the fleeing stranger. Praise your dog highly for letting you know someone was in your territory, and stop the barking as soon as the person flees. This strengthens the dog’s confidence.

6

Walk your Cane Corso dog on a leash around the perimeter of your property regularly to identify your territorial boundaries. Do not allow your dog to bark at people who are outside your property. Do not allow your dog to chase people under any circumstances.

Posted on

Why We Do Not Use E Collars

Why We Do Not Use E-Collars

We all want results when we begin dog training and some may try to convince us that E-collars work well. in 99% of the cases, we will NOT use E-collars to train our dogs. We feel that dogs are results-driven, we’re looking for the quickest and most efficient ways to achieve those goals. But how we chose to get there, will make a world of difference for the dog and for his relationship with his owner. E-collars can sometimes be effective in stopping problematic behaviors, in the short run, but can also have many side effects that could be worse than the behaviors they’re trying to address. I’ve been training dogs for so long, I have used shock collars before and I understand the reasons why people use them.

why we dont use ecollar shock training collars

I have read many reports advocating for the use of e-collars. E-collars are sometimes compared to Their advocates have claimed they are a gentle and perfectly appropriate teaching tool; leading to a happier dog and contributing to enhancing the relationship between dogs and owners.

As much as I believe that today’s e-collars are meant to be safe in normal uses, we feel they may also cause some fear-driven behaviors as a bi-product of this method. The reason why e-collars can be effective is that they are so unpleasant that the dog will think twice before repeating the behavior that got punished. We have seen many dogs shocked by other trainers that end up with us and their aggressive behavior is not gone its just hidden, we then notice other behaviors like crouching and fear-based behaviors when the previous trainer was shocking the dog.

I have seen these devices work, however, I have also watched many dogs get stimulated for no reason at all. Many dog owners will not trigger the device at the right time and therefore will not create the intended behavior modification. They may stimulate the dog by accident, thus making the unpleasant sensation random and unavoidable.

growling dog shows emotion

Even in the best of worlds, if only experts were to use such devices, I would still choose to stay away from them. With today’s advances in animal behavior science, we can no longer accept the simplistic interpretations of so-called dominant/aggressive reactions. Most aggressive behaviors are emotional responses to what is considered a threat to what they value, including their own safety. So punishing in any way will only increase the underlying fear. If we apply a very strong inhibitor, we will stop the behavior, but we haven’t taught our companion that the situation is safe, on the contrary, we have just made it worse. The quick fix now has the potential to create even more problems down the road. The dog may one day put teeth on the intruder without prior warning since barking or growling has been inhibited.

When it comes to training the dog to come when called or stay on a property (in the case of invisible fences), the application of punishment, even when effectively used, also has side effects, as it will also generate stress and negative emotions about the situation itself. Those dogs will continue to show signs of stress anytime the owner is present, even outside of the training situation A relaxed dog that is not on the constant lookout for an unpleasant feeling will be less likely to display many problematic behaviors, including those we’re trying to stop.

 

E-collars can Create Fear in Dogs That Is Not Easy To Reverse

Technology can often support our training and give us quicker results, but let’s make sure of its positive effect on the dog before we adopt it.

We need to step away from the old disproven belief that dogs learn best when shown who’s boss through means of punishment and examine the true effects of e-collars. Since our understanding of canine psychology has vastly increased over the past 10-15 years and has given us more effective ways to treat behavior or training issues, we can no longer justify the use of e-collars. Such devices have been shown to affect the dog’s well-being as well as our relationship with them. Like many others today I never want to use e-collars again.

 

Posted on

How To Train Your Large Dog

large dog training

No one wants a Cane Corso jumping up on them, and a Great Dane could knock you over by pulling on a leash!

 is essential for large and giant breed dogs because the safety of you, your dog, and your guests is at stake. Life with your large dog will also be much more satisfying if your dog knows who is boss, and is rewarded for obeying the rules.

REWARDS VS. PUNISHMENTS

Large dogs can be easy to train and very obedient if you start early, are consistent, and develop clear rules. Giant breeds respond much better to positive reinforcement (rewards for good behavior) than punishment for bad behavior. These dogs can be very sensitive, and have the added risk of fighting back if they dislike the punishment. The best defense is good prevention: teach your dog acceptable behaviors, rather than fighting bad habits.

bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb

If you do have to break bad habits (like pulling on a leash) it’s important to determine the dog’s perceived reward for his behavior, and either remove it and/or replace it with a more desirable behavior. If you take an active approach to training and focus on teaching good behaviors you and your giant pooch will get along fine.

BIG DOG

Giant breed dogs pose obvious problems. Not only do they take up more space, but their height may allow them to reach food on a table or accidentally knock off cups on coffee tables with their tails. Some large dog owners may feel threatened due to their dog’s size and strength, but a commanding attitude will help your dog remember who’s in charge. Rather than trying to be a pack leader, you need to be the rule-setter: you control the food and make the rules. Be sure to be consistent so that puppies can become respectful family members. 

TIPS TO TRAIN LARGE BREED DOGS

  1. Heeling and walking on a leash:It’s essential that your dog learns to walk with you and not pull on the leash. Dogs have an instinct to pull or chase smaller animals, so you have to find better behaviors to reward them for. Reward your dog whenever heeling or walking properly, and if needed, tell your dog to sit (the opposite of pulling), and reward the sit. Your dog can learn to walk with you if you use a few techniques and tricks:
  • Use non-retractable leashes to teach appropriate walking distances.
  • Using a Gentle Leader is a humane way to keep your dog from pulling and help them learn to walk at your pace. The extra leash piece goes over the dog’s mouth, causing frustration and discomfort, but not pain, if they’re pulling. Your dog will quickly learn that in order to control their muzzle they must adapt to your pace.
  • Keep a treat in one hand (same hand each time) next to your dog when you go for a walk. If you reward sitting/heeling with this treat, your dog will learn to heel by watching your hand and hoping for a snack!
  • Finally, save the favorite treats for those perfect heeling moments during the walk—to make your point. Waiting to feed your dog until after the walk will make treats even more enticing.

 

  1. Sit and Stay:A well-learned sit command can keep you and your dog out of bad situations. Get in the habit of making your dog sit and stay for every feeding, and wait until your dog does it correctly. If you switch up the “staying” time, they will learn to wait for your command, instead of waiting a period of time.
  2. Not jumping up:While it might be cute for a Miniature Schnauzer to jump up and greet visitors, a jumping Mastiff could hurt or scare someone. Rather than getting angry, reinforce a different behavior for your dog to greet visitors: teach your dog to shake or sit when people come to the door. Not only will your dog stop jumping, but they will look like a very polite pup, waiting to shake hands with the guest.

These commands are also extremely useful when you groom your pooch. A simple bath can become an impossible task if you have not trained your dog to be obedient.

You and your dog can master these important steps, and then you’ll be able to move on to other tricks and keep your breakables and everyone safe.

Posted on

Fully Trained Cane Corso Protection Dogs

cane corso protection dog

FULLY TRAINED CANE CORSO PROTECTION DOGS FOR SALE

Cane Corsos in training

At Hardcore K9 we are not about Police K9s or military dogs. We focus all of our attention on Cane Corso dogs for personal and family protection dogs. These great dogs serve as excellent family companions for one person or a whole house full. Each one is trained and tested to be people friendly and good with other animals. And every dog we sell is guaranteed in the contract to be healthy and suitable for your unique lifestyle. We know of no other kennel with an iron-clad guarantee that matches ours.

We have several very nice Cane Corso Personal Protection Dogs in training for sale. The level of training varies from simple obedience to fully trained protection K9s. Pricing for protection dogs is based on many factors. Obedience only d0gs means the dog will be a wonderful companion and watchdog. He’ll be fully trained in obedience on and off-leash with distractions and you will not need a collar to shock him if he doesn’t follow commands.

A fully trained personal or family protection dog will defend you or the family under any circumstances. The dog’s obedience will be very good on and off-leash. In addition, the dog may be titled in KNPV, French Ring or Mondio Ring. To get our seal of approval the dog must be nothing short of amazing. Prices for this type of dog will begin at $30,000.

Remember that most of our dogs never make it to the website because they sell first. If you want a Hardcore K9 please contacts us.

Posted on

How To Train A Dog For Personal Protection

Updated on February 22, 2019

Coach Gerard, has been training dogs for over 30 years.

A Personal Protection Dog Is Trained to Guard You at All Times

Do you typically walk alone at night? Are you in need of a personal protection dog, one who will attack another person if needed to protect you?

According to the US Army Field Manual, an attack dog cannot make friends with anyone but his or her primary handler. An attack dog is fed by a single handler, exercised by a single handler, this dog is also never touched or given affection by anyone but the handler.

Is this really the kind of dog you want? Most dog owners do not want a dog that will only respond to them. They want a dog that the entire family can enjoy. Even a person who is alone most of the time cannot guarantee that she will be home every day.

Do you want to own a good personal protection dog and also have a great pet? Do the goals contradict one another? These training methods are not for everyone, nor are they suited for all dogs. A dog selected for personal protection needs to be well socialized, confident but not aggressive, and have an interest in his owner’s every move. In Schutzhund training (schutzhund is the German word for protection dog) some of the dogs are still good household members. This is unusual, though.

Most are not.

Teach Your Dog Obedience Commands

The first thing you need to do is teach your dog basic obedience commands: Your dog must respond to all basic obedience commands. He should sit, lie down, and come to you 100% of the time when called. Your dog should heel without a leash. In addition, your dog should learn and respond to the “bark” and “leave it” commands.

Socialize Your Dog

You also need to socialize your dog so that she does not fear new and unusual situations. This is best done at the sensitive socialization period (up to about 16 weeks) but of course this is not possible for all dogs.

Socialization can take place every time you take your dog for a walk. If you see a strange object, especially if the dog is nervous, take her closer so that she can investigate. Your dog also needs to recognize what a normal pedestrian looks like and not feel threatened, or feel that he needs to threaten, any other person he happens to meet.

Teach Your Dog to Bark on Command

Encourage your dog to bark at the approach of any stranger. A dog that barks at a stranger can be more effective than a dog that responds to an “attack” command but does not bark.

Some dogs are not good at learning this command. I have a Pit Bull that I trained to bark at the word Urubu (vulture) since she gets excited and barks at them on the beach. Now, when I want her to bark, I just say the word urubu.

Take note of what your dog does naturally and sometimes he will respond.

Barking comes naturally to many dogs, but you may need to teach your dog to stop barking when given a command. When he has barked once or twice, you can tell him to sit and then order him to stop. If he does not stop, order the dog “down.” It is very difficult for a dog to bark when he is on the ground.

Teach Your Dog to Defend You

For the next step in the training process you need to find someone the dog does not know. The “stranger” approaches during the walk, walks up and challenges your dog. He can be wearing a dog attack suit, an oven mitt, or even a quilted blanket on his arm, but he may not even need it. When you give the command and your dog barks at him, he needs to act afraid and run off. Your dog will become more confident.

Personally, I think this is a good place to stop. Your dog has already learned to bark and appear threatening to anyone that threatens you when out walking.

If you decide to go further, please realize that a dog that has been trained to attack is not a great pet to have around the house. There are many anecdotes about docile family attack dogs and there are also many anecdotes of attack dogs that have injured someone in their household (usually one of the children). There is also the possibility that your dog might bite someone who is just coming up to talk to you; you can be sued and might lose everything you have because your dog is a trained attack animal.

The next time a different “stranger” approaches your dog and makes threatening gestures he will probably start barking even before you give him a command; if you want to proceed you should loosen (but not release) your dog’s leash.

You can then allow him to go up and grab the stranger’s protected arm. (You may need to encourage him by telling him “get him” in an excited voice, but some dogs will go ahead and approach the stranger alone.) If your dog does not approach the stranger, that person should put his padded arm close to the dog, threaten the dog, and encourage him to bite.

Important note: If the dog cowers or shows fear of the stranger at that time he is not suitable as a personal protection dog.

Teaching Your Dog to Back Off

This is really one of the most important parts of training a personal protection dog. He must be willing to protect you but he must always be willing to leave the person alone.

As soon as your dog puts his teeth on the stranger he should be told “leave it” and given praise.

Important note: If your dog does not respond to the “leave it” command at this time he can become vicious later and you will not be able to control him; you must stop considering him for any personal protection training

protection dog
Personal protection dog training. | Source

Breeds and Other Considerations

Some dog trainers do not recommend personal protection training for Rottweilers, Pit Bulls, Mastiffs, Dogo Argentinos, etc. These dog breeds will protect naturally and additional training is not usually necessary.

It will do you absolutely no good to try to train a Basset Hound or a Chihuahua; so long as you can control the dog I do not see a problem with training any of the other breeds.

I do not believe you need to surrender thousands of dollars for a personal protection dog, but you do need to realize that training your pet is going to change his personality. Your dog may fail to serve as a personal protection animal and still be an excellent animal. The statistics of the (SBK), a group that often tests dogs used for personal protection, indicate that the majority of dogs that are tested using the Dog Mentality Assessment Test do not pass. I have never had a Siberian Husky that would serve to protect me. My Pit Bull cross seemed to understand the requirements almost right away. Not one of them was a better dog than the others; they were all individuals and had different skills.

Do not forget—a personal protection dog may also be a liability where you live. If he were to bite someone, and it became known that he was a protection dog, you would be more likely to be sued. You would be more likely to lose a lawsuit if your dog has been trained to defend you.

If you do not have total control of your dog do not even consider this type of training!

Consider if you really want a personal protection dog, and if that is what you really need, before you proceed with any further training.