UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG © 2004 Copyright of Sally Hopkins

UNDERSTANDING YOUR DOG

Rather than give long explanations, or repeat a description over and over again, Dog-Games has made a variety of web pages and links that can be referred to whenever you require further detail on a particular dog-related topic or method of training. They can also be read by themselves in their own right to give insights into understanding your pet dog.

Please respect the COPYRIGHT of all these pages that the author has written.

Aversion Techniques Old fashioned "quick-fix" training methods that often have unforeseen consequences. Dog-Games gives explanations why they can be dangerous and why we strongly recommend that you avoid these techniques.

Calming Signals A brief introduction to the variety of signals and behaviours dogs use to communicate with each other, humans and even to themselves, based on the pioneering work of Turid Rugaas.

Cars Explanations and ideas on how a car can help your dog to relax and remember what it has just learnt after a training session. This page has many ideas and links to make your car more stress-free for your dog.

Clicker A brief explanation on what clicker training is and suggested links to web pages and books that go into clicker training in more detail.

Different Ways of Learning Explanations of how different groups of dogs (not necessarily by their breed) need to be taught in a variety of different ways.

Dictionary This section covers the importance of consistent verbal and visual commands when training and working with your dog. Its sister page is Suggestions for Dog Commands & Signals.

Environmental Photos Not necessarily real photographs(!) - just a way of explaining how dogs perceive the world around them and how they use their Senses to store memories in their brains.

Generalisation Explains why a dog needs to learn to do an exercise or behaviour in a variety of locations and situations once it has learnt and has thoroughly understood the initial training.

Helper or Trainer An explanation of what the trainer or helper does during Dog-Games with the handler.

How Dogs Learn Right from Wrong How to behave in a consistent yet non-confrontational manner to help your dog understand what you want it to do.

Instincts Explains how a dog's natural instincts to hunt, guard, defend and be part of a pack can be used to train a dog and how these instincts can produce behaviour that we humans see as "undesirable".

Kongs & Mental
Stimulation Toys Ever wondered how to keep your dog amused and mentally stimulated while it is at home? This web page lists a variety of different toys and explains how to choose the correct one for your dog.

Latent Learning A very powerful and successful tool when training a dog, yet one that is often ignored or misunderstood in the dog training world.

Lodgers
The situation when a pet dog "lodges" in their household, with both the dog and the human having little understanding or communication between them. They exist together but very rarely "connect".

Memory Explains that a dog's memory and thought processes are very different to that of a human. This section brings together a lot of the other topics listed on this page and explains how dogs learn and perceive the world around them. It also explains how a dog's brain assesses what should be stored in its long-term memory.

Mind Games
A range of simple games that mentally exercise your dog by using a variety of their different senses. These games help develop a dog's concentration, fulfill their working instincts, leave the dog feeling tired but relaxed, and help dog and handler build a stronger relationship by working together as a team - Tuna Tracking, Kongs and Activity Toys, Find It, and Gravy Trail. Various books are also suggested to help you stimulate your dogs mind.

Motivators

As well as explaining what a motivator is and how best to use it, this section has separate pages on how Food, Life Rewards, Praise, and Toys can be used effectively and why it is important to understand the dog's perception of Values of these motivators.

"Nibbles" A training technique that can be used for a variety of purposes and which is particularly useful for "hand shy" dogs, or for introducing a dog to wearing a harness.

On and Off
Switches Explains why dogs need to understand when they are in "work" mode, and when they can rest and relax.

Problems with Retrieve This page gives reasons why a dog will drop a retrieve article, or even refuse to pick up an article and retrieve it, and explains how to overcome these problems.

Senses
By understanding how important senses - Smell , Sight, Sound, Taste and Touch - are to a dog and how they use them to pass information to its brain, we can begin to understand our dogs in so many different situations and circumstances.

Stress

or

FASEDUP

This section explains what stress is (including the Causes and Symptoms of stress). Long-term stress is by far the most common reason for dog behavioural and training problems, and has a profound effect on many dogs health and life expectancy.

There is now a large section of this web site called "Stress Solutions", which lists a wide range of ideas on how to lower dog's long term stress levels.

If you are going to read just one section of this website to understand your dog a little better choose this one about STRESS - it is by far the most important.

Suggestions for
Dog Commands
& Signals Suggestions for commands and signals when training your dog. Why not make a list of your own? (See also Dictionary)

Tester/Witness This page explains what a tester or witness does when playing Dog-Games.

Triggers Dogs brains use a variety of different types of triggers to enable them to live and survive. We can use this knowledge and teach dogs by using a combination of triggers to get the behaviour we want.

Types of dogs Explains why humans bred the different groups of dogs over the centuries. As well as listing the various instincts and behaviour traits of these groups, this section gives guidance on how to choose the most suitable pet dog for your circumstances and lifestyle. This is not a fashion show(!) - Dog-Games is keen to explain to people why the look of a breed is the least important aspect of choosing a dog.

Walking your dog
off-lead An explanation and summary of what a dog is doing when walking or running around off-lead and how to solve the problem of your dog getting lost.

Where & When to Train One of the most important (yet most often overlooked) aspects of dog training is the choice and management of the training area - not only for the dogs but for the humans as well. General Notes on Where to Train Dogs and Where and When to Train Dog-Games explains why.

DOG-GAMES WEBSITE - HOME PAGE

Aversion Techniques	Old fashioned "quick-fix" training methods that often have unforeseen consequences. Dog-Games gives explanations why they can be dangerous and why we strongly recommend that you avoid these techniques.
Calming Signals	A brief introduction to the variety of signals and behaviours dogs use to communicate with each other, humans and even to themselves, based on the pioneering work of Turid Rugaas.
Cars	Explanations and ideas on how a car can help your dog to relax and remember what it has just learnt after a training session. This page has many ideas and links to make your car more stress-free for your dog.
Clicker	A brief explanation on what clicker training is and suggested links to web pages and books that go into clicker training in more detail.
Different Ways of Learning	Explanations of how different groups of dogs (not necessarily by their breed) need to be taught in a variety of different ways.
Dictionary	This section covers the importance of consistent verbal and visual commands when training and working with your dog. Its sister page is Suggestions for Dog Commands & Signals.
Environmental Photos	Not necessarily real photographs(!) - just a way of explaining how dogs perceive the world around them and how they use their Senses to store memories in their brains.
Generalisation	Explains why a dog needs to learn to do an exercise or behaviour in a variety of locations and situations once it has learnt and has thoroughly understood the initial training.
Helper or Trainer	An explanation of what the trainer or helper does during Dog-Games with the handler.
How Dogs Learn Right from Wrong	How to behave in a consistent yet non-confrontational manner to help your dog understand what you want it to do.
Instincts	Explains how a dog's natural instincts to hunt, guard, defend and be part of a pack can be used to train a dog and how these instincts can produce behaviour that we humans see as "undesirable".
Kongs & Mental Stimulation Toys	Ever wondered how to keep your dog amused and mentally stimulated while it is at home? This web page lists a variety of different toys and explains how to choose the correct one for your dog.
Latent Learning	A very powerful and successful tool when training a dog, yet one that is often ignored or misunderstood in the dog training world.
Lodgers	The situation when a pet dog "lodges" in their household, with both the dog and the human having little understanding or communication between them. They exist together but very rarely "connect".
Memory	Explains that a dog's memory and thought processes are very different to that of a human. This section brings together a lot of the other topics listed on this page and explains how dogs learn and perceive the world around them. It also explains how a dog's brain assesses what should be stored in its long-term memory.
Mind Games	A range of simple games that mentally exercise your dog by using a variety of their different senses. These games help develop a dog's concentration, fulfill their working instincts, leave the dog feeling tired but relaxed, and help dog and handler build a stronger relationship by working together as a team - Tuna Tracking, Kongs and Activity Toys, Find It, and Gravy Trail. Various books are also suggested to help you stimulate your dogs mind.
Motivators	As well as explaining what a motivator is and how best to use it, this section has separate pages on how Food, Life Rewards, Praise, and Toys can be used effectively and why it is important to understand the dog's perception of Values of these motivators.
"Nibbles"	A training technique that can be used for a variety of purposes and which is particularly useful for "hand shy" dogs, or for introducing a dog to wearing a harness.
On and Off Switches	Explains why dogs need to understand when they are in "work" mode, and when they can rest and relax.
Problems with Retrieve	This page gives reasons why a dog will drop a retrieve article, or even refuse to pick up an article and retrieve it, and explains how to overcome these problems.
Senses	By understanding how important senses - Smell , Sight, Sound, Taste and Touch - are to a dog and how they use them to pass information to its brain, we can begin to understand our dogs in so many different situations and circumstances.
Stress or FASEDUP	This section explains what stress is (including the Causes and Symptoms of stress). Long-term stress is by far the most common reason for dog behavioural and training problems, and has a profound effect on many dogs health and life expectancy. There is now a large section of this web site called "Stress Solutions", which lists a wide range of ideas on how to lower dog's long term stress levels. If you are going to read just one section of this website to understand your dog a little better choose this one about STRESS - it is by far the most important.
Suggestions for Dog Commands & Signals	Suggestions for commands and signals when training your dog. Why not make a list of your own? (See also Dictionary)
Tester/Witness	This page explains what a tester or witness does when playing Dog-Games.
Triggers	Dogs brains use a variety of different types of triggers to enable them to live and survive. We can use this knowledge and teach dogs by using a combination of triggers to get the behaviour we want.
Types of dogs	Explains why humans bred the different groups of dogs over the centuries. As well as listing the various instincts and behaviour traits of these groups, this section gives guidance on how to choose the most suitable pet dog for your circumstances and lifestyle. This is not a fashion show(!) - Dog-Games is keen to explain to people why the look of a breed is the least important aspect of choosing a dog.
Walking your dog off-lead	An explanation and summary of what a dog is doing when walking or running around off-lead and how to solve the problem of your dog getting lost.
Where & When to Train	One of the most important (yet most often overlooked) aspects of dog training is the choice and management of the training area - not only for the dogs but for the humans as well. General Notes on Where to Train Dogs and Where and When to Train Dog-Games explains why.