Article links page
DSA's position on punishment

BASIC TRAINING AND PROBLEM PREVENTION ARTICLES:



REWARD BASED TRAINING:
(a.k.a. How to prevent behavior problems)
  1. Intro to clicker training and shaping- the basis for ALL behavior! 
  2. Applying reward-based training to daily life- It's SO easy! 
  3. How dogs learn-.pdf Knowing how dogs process information will help you communicate to with your dog.
  4. Rewards? What rewards? You don't have to use just food! This list will give you over 100 reward options.
  5. Help your dog choose to be good- instead of teaching the dog to try to "get away with" bad behavior.
  6. Teaching self-control- critical for preventing or solving many behavior problems!
  7. Get your dog's attention! teaching eye contact and leave-it using "Indirect Access".
  8. Dog Body Language 101- (.pdf) Learn what your dog is trying to tell you!
  9. Teaching dogs to greet each other properly- (.doc) Helps prevent and deal with dog to dog aggression
  10. Crate Training- step by step guide- (.pdf) Crates can help with behavior management, so helping your dog love a crate will help their behavior!
  11. What every good dog should know! - (.pdf) Teaching your dog the Dog Scout test behaviors
  12. Training Collars/harneses explained
  13. Training steps:
  • Heel- (.pdf) multi-step method
  • Stay- (.pdf) multi-step method
  • Leave-it- (.pdf) multi-step method
  • Leave-it- post method

     14.   On-line Clicker Training game - Use this 
              computer program to train an animated 
              bird by using operant conditioning and   
              shaping.

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PUPPIES- Start training now!

So you want to breed your dog? 
Read this first NEW

  1. Socialization- How to raise a puppy you will enjoy living with! This is the key to the rest of your dog's life!
  2. House Training your puppy
  3. Critical Socialization Periods from birth to 16 weeks of age- Your puppy needs the most exposure to different environments BEFORE he or she turns 16 weeks old!
  4. Puppy shots? or Training? Educate yourself on the risks
  5. Training is not an 8 week course 
  6. Puppy's first day home- one person's story of her first day with her puppy
  7. Puppies are NOT good gifts! 
  8. How to survive the puppy phase -and maintain your sanity, skin and property!
  9. Top 10 reasons to crate train your pup 
  10. Crate training step by step (.pdf)Teaches your pup to LOVE his crate!
  11. Doggie Outaws - momma don't let your puppy grow up to be an outlaw!
  12. Does my puppy have a problem- warning signs that you may need professional help sooner rather than later
  13. Operation Socialization- http://operationsocialization.com/

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RESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP

  1. Responsible ownership- what does it mean?
  2. Be the smart end of the leash! Responsibility, management, communication and expectations
  3. Pet dogs welcome- how to help your dog be more welcome in public places
  4. Listen to your dog! He might be trying to tell you something important! 
  5. Do you listen to your dog? or is communication only one way?
  6. Notes from Dog Scout class - what every leash holder should know!
  7. Responsible Owner Quiz - See how you rate 
  8. What's in your pet's food- how to interpret the items on pet food labels

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ACTIVITIES FOR DOGS

Beating the heat- Prevention, signs of and treatment for heat stroke

  1. 101 tricks to teach your dog 
  2. Activities for bored dogs 
  3. Agility 
  4. Art of shaping 
  5. Backpacking 
  6. Carting 
  7. Drill Team 
  8. Flyball 
  9. Freestyle Dance (coming soon)
  10. Frisbee 
  11. Party Fun and Games 
  12. IMPROV obedience 
  13. Kayaking/canoeing 
  14. Reliable Retrieve
  15. Running with your dog 
  16. Scent Detection 
  17. Sled Dog Racing 
  18. Treibball 
  19. Water Rescue Training 
  20. Weight Pull 

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CONTINUING EDUCATION
(The High School training curriculum)

  1. Recommended Reading List .pdf
  2. Advanced Target Training .pdf
  3. Teaching your dog concepts- like "left and right", "up and down", "bigger and smaller"
  4. Teaching your dog to walk backwards 
  5. Teaching your dog to find a similar item (matching)
  6. Getting a reliable retrieve 
  7. Worksheet for any training issue 
  8. Sit Challenge Score sheet
  9. Down Challenge Score Sheet


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VIDEOS:
TRAINING VIDEOS

If you have found the information on this website helpful, please make a donation so DSA can continue to provide useful information that helps people all over the world make life better for dogs. All amounts welcome and appreciated!

DOES YOUR DOG HAVE ISSUES OR BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS YOU WANT TO SOLVE?...



START HERE (these apply to ALL behavior issues): 

  1. Critical Info- Is your dog as bad as you think? How to increase the chances of good behavior.
  2. Ten tips for dealing with ANY problem behavior- Excellent advice for addressing behavior problems
  3. Self-Control training - This is the key to all good behavior!
  4. Is my dog stressed? .pdf
  5. Online seminar- You CAN have the dog you want! without force, pain or threats. NEW

Why DSA does not use threat or punishment based training:

  • Why Not Punishment? 

     
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    COMMON MYTHS
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    1. "I have a dumb dog" 
    2. "I need to be alpha!" 
    3. "My puppy is terrible!"
    4. "My dog can't be trained!" 
    5. Common dog training myths  
    6. Why won't my dog always respond to commands?
    7. Where should I get a dog?  

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    JUMPING ON PEOPLE    :

    1. Teaching Self-Control and proper greetings 
    2. Manners badge training - scroll down to section II "Say Hi" 
    3. We also recommend you do a web search for "Flying Dog Press- He Just Wants to Say Hi".  It is a great article! 

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    BOLTING OUT DOORS
    RUNNING AWAY:

    1. Preventing escapes at the door 
    2. Self-Control training 
    3. Recall training- teaching your dog to come when you call 
    4. Emergency Recall  
    5. Top 10 reasons to contain your dog 
    6. Pet ID and loss prevention
    7. Finding a lost dog (.pdf)

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    WON'T LET ME ON THE BED, OR NEAR FOOD BOWL, OR GUARDS HIS STUFF FROM ME OR OTHERS:
     
     

    1. The Bad Dog's Retrieve- how to teach your dog to give you the forbidden items he finds instead of guarding them.

    MORE COMING SOON!

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    PULLING ON LEASH    :

    1. Teaching loose leash walking and heel  several methods offered 
    2. Multi-step method for heel- breaking it down to the finer steps

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    PUPPY MOUTHING/BITING:

    1. Surviving the puppy stage
    2. Also see the articles to the left in the puppy section

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    DIVING ON FOOD OR OTHER FORBIDDEN OBJECTS:
     
    COMING SOON!
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    COUNTER SURFING:

    1. Counter Surfing Solutions  
    2. Counter Surfing at Camp

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    "Hey dude! Where's your car?"
     
    DESTROYING YOUR PROPERTY:

    1. The Bad Dog's Retrieve- how to teach your dog to give you the forbidden items he finds instead of destroying them
    2. Dogs need exercise - A tired dog is a sleeping dog and a sleeping dog doesn't get into trouble!

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    DIGGING:

    1. Dogs need exercise - A tired dog is a sleeping dog and a sleeping dog doesn't get into trouble!

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    DOG WON'T USE A CRATE:

    1. Top 10 reasons to crate train your pup 
    2. Crate training step by step (.pdf)Teaches your pup to LOVE his crate!

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    KIDS vs. DOGS:     

    1. Jr. Scout Program UPDATED
    2. Children and dogs - bite prevention training for both
    3. You dog and the new baby - preventing problems before they start
    4. Bite Prevention Info 
    5. Tri-Fold Brochure on bite prevention
    6. Prevent dog bites to children -ways to keep your child safe
    7. Safety Pledge for kids .pdf
    8. Should I pet this dog? page for kids .pdf

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    CHASES KIDS, CATS, BIKES, ETC:

    1. Dogs need exercise - A tired dog is a sleeping dog and a sleeping dog doesn't get into trouble!
    2. More links coming soon! 

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    BEGGING:
    COMING SOON!
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    MARKING:

    1. Causes and Cures for Urine Marking 

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    AGGRESSION:

    1. Understanding Aggression 
    2. Dealing with a growly dog 
    3. Teaching dogs to greet each other properly
    4. Dog Body Language 101 
    5. Adopting a dog with issues 

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    SHY AND/OR SCARED DOGS:

    1. Protocol for relaxation - by Dr. Karen Overall

     
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  • GRIEF and LOSS

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