Training Your Dog for Competitions
Competitive dog events are organized to demonstrate the skills of man’s best friend and a trainer’s attention to detail. Weeks are spent by the dog trainer with the pet to ensure that it can accurately execute its commands. Considerable amounts of money will be spent for training supplies and much time is sacrificed in order to fine tune a dog’s agility and obedience training. Dog training books and dog training manuals must also be read when preparing for such an event.
All of this preparation may occur and a dog might seem primed to excel, but when the day of the competition arrives your dog falls flat on its face. What happened to the skills you and your dog worked on so obsessively? Why didn’t your dog respond to your verbal commands?
There are three primary reasons for this:
* Excess Enthusiasm
Atmosphere in a dog competition is unlike anything most owners or dogs have experienced. The other dogs and unfamiliar people can have a negative impression on your dog. This may trigger excitement and an inability to accurately adhere to your commands.
Confusion can also be a product of this unusual environment, which it can be even more detrimental than barely harnessed excitement. Should either (or both) of these situations be observed, you must swiftly alter your technique. Rather than adhering to a rigid training day, you must simulate the competitions atmosphere. Excitement can be lessened to acceptable performing levels by training in the company of other dogs. Become more animated during the dog training sessions to raise the expected level of frenzy and tension.
* Little or No Enthusiasm
Many dogs can exhibit appropriate enthusiasm during training but then balk once competition day arrives. The most obvious reason for this is stress. With so many observers, canine and human both, your dog can fall victim to anxiety. An anxious dog trainer can also lead to a dog’s own anxiety overload. Anxiety leads to lack of motivation and an inability to perform even the simplest commands.
When faced with this situation, you must again turn to simulating the environment of dog competitions. Frenzy, distraction, and unfamiliar training zones can all help to alleviate this issue and make your dog perform much better under duress. Practice lowering your voice and speaking in a more calming tone when making commands. A calm dog trainer results in a calm dog. The dog, with these tips, will be much better suited to overcome the anxiety associated with dog competitions.
* Rewards
Rewards are of the utmost importance when training a dog. Motivation to perform can always be elicited with treats. However, the number of rewards given during competition is much fewer when compared to the number given out during training. While in the competition ring, your dog might under perform simply because there is no reward in hand. Should this be the situation, you must start reducing the frequency with which that award treats during the pre-competition training. Rewards are used as a training tool, not a bribe.
Have a great “dog training” day,
Dr. Alfonso
