What Shapes A Dogs Behaviors 

The importance of heredity is often ignored due to the fact that most people get involved in dog training after they acquire their dog; even the best environment can never compensate for a lack of natural abilities. Therefore, if one wants the best prospect for a top dog the heredity should be seriously considered. Since we cannot change our students genetic makeup, we focus our attention to the aspect we do have control over; the environment.

When we use our control over the environment it is very important that we maintain a constant environment. That way it makes it much easier for your dog to recognize when then environment changes. Things like one handler during the learning phase of training. Keeping the dog on a regular schedule for food and exercise are very important in maintaining a constant environment. Also, it is very important to keep your dog away from any situation that may interfere with your dog's interpretation of cues, like access to mean kids or other interference while you're away at work.

Portable kennel dog runs are an excellent way to control the constancy during training, and can provide a secondary barrier away from high traffic fence lines. Tarps around the sides provide a wind barrier and visual barrier from the elements. The second aspect of controlling the environment is consistency. In order to obtain a patterned response, it is very important to maintain consistent cues. It is important that the handler respond in a predictable way, as not to confuse the dog.

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When we teach our dogs, the environment must be free of as many distractions as possible; that way when we give our cue (signal) and manipulate our dog through gentle force, (stimulus) our dog has two choices in response. He can assimilate or try to change the environment by trying to get the handler to stop by playing, growling, snapping, or biting. Or they can accommodate by adjusting to the proper position.

Understanding these two choices for the student, a skillful trainer will make the choice of assimilation even more unpleasant. He will encourage accommodation by immediately rewarding the student for the desired behavior.

The smart trainer will stage the situation where he is in absolute control over all outcomes; either by long line, fenced-in yard, throw chain, electronic collar, an assistant, or any other means to assist in being able to be in control of all outcomes. .