If you find yourself constantly giving your dog corrections, you may be failing in the way that you issue those corrections. Corrections take on a vital role in training as they help a dog distinguish between desirable and undesirable behaviors. Before we can get into the nitty gritty of issuing corrections properly, we must first understand what a correction is.
What is a correction?
Corrections are ways in which we can communicate with our dogs that whatever it is they are doing is not acceptable. Corrections are not forms of physical abuse and should never be issued in an emotional state. They are instead behavior modifiers, and just like with all forms of training, can either be negative or positive, however positive corrections are generally the norm.
Corrections are genuinely categorized under two sections: physical and vocal. The most common vocal correction is the word “No”, but you can also issue vocal corrections by growling, using “Ah ah”, etc. Physical corrections can take on many forms. Leash pressure, e-collar stimulation, handling the dog by the scruff, are all forms of correct physical pressure. Physically abusing a dog via hitting or other methods is never acceptable. Don’t be that guy Bill.
How to make effective corrections
The effectiveness of your corrections will be driven by your timing and intensity. Let’s look at timing first. Let’s lay out the scene: you come home from work, walk into the house and lo and behold your puppy has peed on the floor. You grab your puppy, rubbing its nose into the pool of urine saying, “Bad dog”. You think that you have taught your dog a lesson, but in actuality your dog has learned zilch. The dog does not associate the correction with the action of the pee and therefore just thinks you’re an ass. Proper corrections must be done immediately. If you can’t correct your dog as it is doing the unwanted behavior, you’ll have to wait for the next time around to issue a worthwhile correction.
The intensity of your correction should be governed by the number of offenses during the session that the transgression has occurred and your dog’s personality. If your dog continually exhibits the unwanted behavior, you must increase the intensity of your correction each time you issue it. The goal of a correction is to correct with enough intensity the first time so that your dog won't repeat the unwanted behavior. This doesn’t mean be severe with your dog, but instead make your corrections firm and to the level that creates change in your dog. The fewer corrections the clearer your correction was. To address the second point quickly, some dogs need physical corrections whereas others melt if you just look at them cross. Know your dog and give them the correction that best suits their personality.
Recap
Corrections are effective behavior modifiers and should not be left out of your training regimen. To everything in life there is a ying and a yang and your pup needs to learn this. Correct when the situation arises, but also praise your dog when they modify their behaviors. Remember that as trainers our number one goal should be to set the dog up for success. So the next time your pup swallows your daughter’s favorite Paw Patrol socks, use a proper correction to help the dog understand that socks do not fall under the category of desserts best eaten warm…
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