The students of the latest Dog Tags class started their second week of training by applying their new knowledge of how dogs learn in hands-on training sessions with four Washington Humane Society (WHS) shelter dogs. This week, Rico, Colette, Wally and Sarah all had a chance to learn some new skills. Well, perhaps not Sarah. Having resided at the shelter for more than 6 months now, Sarah has participated in several training programs and used her opportunity in this week’s class to show all of the new dogs how it’s done! The students and dogs practiced the cues “watch me”, “sit”, “down”, “stay”, and the release cue “take a break”, which lets the dog know the exercise is over and it’s time for recess! All four shelter dogs that participated in the class picked up the skills quickly, though it was clear that each dog learned at their own pace and by a different motivation. The students used their knowledge of different rewards learned in week one of the program to figure out how to motivate each individual dog.
Working with shelter dogs can be both rewarding and challenging in a group class environment. The students of Dog Tags have the wonderful opportunity to be exposed to a variety of different temperaments and breeds. This exposure will be invaluable both when using the skills acquired in class with their own personal pets and when considering a potential future career in dog training. However, there is also a quick turnover of animals in a shelter environment, and the students will often be working with different dogs at each lesson. Furthermore, some of the dogs that come to WHS have been abused and neglected or under-socialized. These factors can sometimes make it difficult to get a dog comfortable enough to train in a class environment. This week, Rico seemed to have the greatest challenge overcoming his environment and learning the new skills. Though very smart and food motivated, Rico found the Dog Tags class a little overwhelming. The students working with him often found it very difficult to keep his attention on the task at hand. Instead of choosing a different dog to work with, the Dog Tags instructors incorporated Rico’s behavior into the lesson. Students were instructed in how to stand and approach a fearful dog. Often times, a little change in posture and approach is all you need to make a dog feel more comfortable. Once the students learned how to stand and move in a way that Rico found less intimidating, Rico responded to the training and by the end of class he had mastered the “down” cue. The students learned a lesson in how to manipulate your style of training to fit a dog’s individual needs, an essential skill for all dog trainers. If you would like to help WHS continue programs such as the Dog Tags, please consider making a contribution today by clicking here
WHS would like to wish Rico the best of luck in his new family. He was adopted shortly before this was submitted!
Submitted by Jordana Todd, WHS Animal Caretaker
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