No Place for Anger in Dog Training
9 December, 2007 (09:26) | Uncategorized | By: 
Cynthia
There is absolutely no place for anger in dog training. I say this because lately I haven’t been feeling well. Some days I’m good, like today. And some I’m not so good, like yesterday. And when I don’t feel very well my patience gets short and I get angry much easier.
Getting angry at the dogs for not doing what I want them to do, or what I think they should do, is a very bad thing. A good dog trainer will assess what the dog knows and adjust herself to that level and train the dog accordingly, with love and patience. The dog is doing the best he can. Dogs don’t feel spite like we do, they don’t try to ‘get back at us’ like humans can. Dogs are dogs and not humans in suits.
Getting angry at a dog in training says absolutely nothing about the dog, and everything about the trainer. I do not abuse the dogs or hit them or anything, I just get frustrated and have to stop. I have to know my limits as a trainer and as a human because, the gods know, I have some big limits.
Anger teaches the dog nothing except to be afraid of humans. And there are enough bad humans in the world that can take care of that all by themselves. And when we were in Las Vegas doing agility and made Las Vegas hotel reservations, the dogs did their best in the hotels even though the noises can be very scary.
Sometimes I get frustrated with Chase. Like when we were practicing obedience and rally at the last USDAA agility trial. But seriously, what a difficult environment for him. He is a good boy and he tries hard, and it’s not his fault that he gets so distracted and so worked up around agility. It’s my fault, for not doing more drive shaping with him when he was younger.
Chase is a good border collie boy. He does try his best and he loves to work. The smooth collies are also very good and do their best. I love them all. It’s up to me to adjust myself to their level, as they cannot adjust themselves to mine.
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You are so right, getting angry while you are training your dog doesn’t work very good. Just gets the dog to stop trying to figure things out, and generally just means you haven’t helped your dog problem solve it enough anyways.
ladysown’s last blog post..Fixing a Flexible leash
Thanks for stopping by my pet blog.
You are so right, getting angry while you are training your dog doesn't work very good. Just gets the dog to stop trying to figure things out, and generally just means you haven't helped your dog problem solve it enough anyways. <em>ladysown's last blog post..<a href='http://agilitynut.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/fixing...rel="nofollow">Fixing a Flexible leash</a></em>
Thanks for stopping by my pet blog.
You are so right, getting angry while you are training your dog doesn't work very good. Just gets the dog to stop trying to figure things out, and generally just means you haven't helped your dog problem solve it enough anyways. <em>ladysown's last blog post..<a href='http://agilitynut.wordpress.com/2007/12/08/fixing...rel="nofollow">Fixing a Flexible leash</a></em>
Yeah, I do prefer dogs who can problem solve and think for themselves.
Yeah, I do prefer dogs who can problem solve and think for themselves.
It’s so easy to get angry and so hard to be aware of prevent it. We have a very hard time getting our Dixie to sit and stay, also she isn’t too great at staying out of your personal space.. She paws you and jumps on you so much that you get scratched and knocked over.
We tell her no and I am trying to get my boyfriend to stop paying attention to her when she acts like that but he is a softie and will pet her and try to calm her down with attention which is exactly what she was after in the first place…
Talina’s last blog post..Today is a snow day!! It’s still snowing!
It's so easy to get angry and so hard to be aware of prevent it. We have a very hard time getting our Dixie to sit and stay, also she isn't too great at staying out of your personal space.. She paws you and jumps on you so much that you get scratched and knocked over. We tell her no and I am trying to get my boyfriend to stop paying attention to her when she acts like that but he is a softie and will pet her and try to calm her down with attention which is exactly what she was after in the first place… <em>Talina's last blog post..<a href='http://www.harvestofdailylife.com/today-is-a-snow...rel="nofollow">Today is a snow day!! It’s still snowing!</a></em>
It's so easy to get angry and so hard to be aware of prevent it. We have a very hard time getting our Dixie to sit and stay, also she isn't too great at staying out of your personal space.. She paws you and jumps on you so much that you get scratched and knocked over. We tell her no and I am trying to get my boyfriend to stop paying attention to her when she acts like that but he is a softie and will pet her and try to calm her down with attention which is exactly what she was after in the first place… <em>Talina's last blog post..<a href='http://www.harvestofdailylife.com/today-is-a-snow...rel="nofollow">Today is a snow day!! It’s still snowing!</a></em>
They say it’s a virtue — whatever that means!
They say it's a virtue — whatever that means!
It is so easy to get frustrated when we cant communicate with them. Part of training is for you and you have to enjoy it for the dogs to enjoy it too. keep your head up and dont get down on yourself when you dont have good days… You’re human for goodness sake! HUGS!!
Lora’s last blog post..Snow Day
It is so easy to get frustrated when we cant communicate with them. Part of training is for you and you have to enjoy it for the dogs to enjoy it too. keep your head up and dont get down on yourself when you dont have good days… You're human for goodness sake! HUGS!! <em>Lora's last blog post..<a href='http://pawspark.blogspot.com/2007/12/snow-day.htm...rel="nofollow">Snow Day</a></em>
It is so easy to get frustrated when we cant communicate with them. Part of training is for you and you have to enjoy it for the dogs to enjoy it too. keep your head up and dont get down on yourself when you dont have good days… You're human for goodness sake! HUGS!! <em>Lora's last blog post..<a href='http://pawspark.blogspot.com/2007/12/snow-day.htm...rel="nofollow">Snow Day</a></em>
Hi Talina I know what you mean about the boyfriend! My husband is the same way. But it’s fun when he repeats back to me something I’ve told him about dog training like it was his own idea… LOL don’t tell him and I hope he doesn’t read this!
Hi Southernbell, they do! My husband has a lot more patience than I do. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Lora, I do try not to get down on myself! it’s a challenge to adjust myself to the dogs, as they cannot adjust themselves to me. Today we had a really good training day!
Hi Talina I know what you mean about the boyfriend! My husband is the same way. But it's fun when he repeats back to me something I've told him about dog training like it was his own idea… LOL don't tell him and I hope he doesn't read this!
Hi Southernbell, they do! My husband has a lot more patience than I do. Thanks for visiting!
Hi Lora, I do try not to get down on myself! it's a challenge to adjust myself to the dogs, as they cannot adjust themselves to me. Today we had a really good training day!