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8A – Daily News – Monday, May 31, 2010 Use positive reinforcement to train your dog By LISA MOORE McClatchy Newspapers Many trainers have prefer- ences when it comes to collars and leashes for training a family dog. Some prefer the use of puni- tive collars like choke chains or prong/pinch collars, while others prefer harnesses or no-pull collars like the Gentle Leader. As for myself, I abhor them all. My pref- erence is to work with and train a dog without a leash or collar of any kind. I view leashes and collars as a crutch for the dog owner. Leashes prevent dogs from moving away from their people, no matter how bored or disgusted they are with them. A leash can pull the dog in the direction an owner wants him to go, or hold him back when the dog wants to move forward. Puni- tive collars can subdue an unruly dog, which can give the owner a false sense of control. The real means to a well- behaved dog is based on the rela- tionship you have with him. Dogs are "What's in it for me?" crea- tures. They behave logically, and only act in ways that benefit themselves. For example, if your dog's barking and jumping on the slider results in you opening the door, then that behavior works for the dog, and it will continue. If, on the other hand, barking and jump- ing at the door is ignored, the dog will choose another behavior. If the door opens while he is quiet and standing or sitting near the door, he will repeat this behavior in order to go out. The secret to having an atten- tive, well-mannered dog often lies in knowing what items and activ- ities the dog thinks are important, and doling out those things when you approve of the dog's behavior. If your dog figures that everything that is important to him comes from and is controlled by you, you will have your dog's utmost attention and willingness to please. Many dog owners mistak- enly believe that the only rein- forcement they have available is treats, but taking a look through the eyes of the dog yields much more information as to the boun- ty of resources available for us to harness. Throwing a ball, opening a door, petting, access to your lap, putting on the leash, letting in or out of the crate, a game of tug, getting into or out of the car, a belly rub, a chance to run, letting into or out of the house, going to play with another dog, etc., are just a few things that can be used as reinforcement for something we want. The object is to define all things your dog enjoys, and then make sure they are offered by you only when your dog behaves in an appropriate way. So although dogs in my class- es are all on leashes, we basically ignore them as training tools, and focus instead on rewarding behavior in a variety of ways. The result is a dog that values his owner, is attentive and focused on providing behavior the owner wants, and reaps the variety of rewards that come his way for compliance. ADOPT A PET TODAY TEHAMA COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER 1830 Walnut Street • P.O. Box 38 • Red Bluff, CA 96080 • (530) 527-3439 CORNING ANIMAL SHELTER 4312 Rawson Rd. • Corning, CA 96021• (530) 824-7054 Courtesy lis Hound, Labrador Retriever [Mix] Medium Young Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by SUNSHINE CLEANERS 238 S. Main St., Red Bluff 527-0363 Four Sisters Border Collie [Mix] Medium Baby Female Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by COLDWELL BANKER C&C PROPERTIES 741 Main St., Red Bluff 527-2187 Large Adult Female Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by VICKI KERSTIENS- MAHONEY Medium Young Male Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by NU-WAY MARKET 8049 Hwy 99E Los Molinos 384-1563 Small Adult Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by THE AQUARIUM & PETS 345 So. Main St. Red Bluff 527-4588 Medium Young Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by JC OLANDER ATTORNEY AT LAW Pit Bull Terrier [Mix] Patsy Chihuahua Deb Dewey Boxer [Mix] Sugar Ocicat [Mix] Missy/ Trader Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by LES SCHWAB TIRE CENTER 522 Antelope Blvd. Red Bluff 529-1654 Small Young Male Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by CONNIE & GLENN GRAHAM Australian Cattle Dog/Blue Heeler, Border Max Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff Collie [Mix] Medium Adult Male This pet sponsored by REYNOLDS RANCH & FARM SUPPLY 501 Madison St. Red Bluff 527-1622 Turkish Van [Mix] Medium Baby Female Clover Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by MARVIN & JANET FARRIS Cattle Dog [Mix] Medium Young Male Dog Corning Animal Shelter Chapman This pet sponsored by RED BLUFF DAILY NEWS 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff 527-2151 Porshe Pit Bull Terrier Medium Adult Female Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by RICHFIELD FEED & SUPPLY 5605 HWY 99W Corning, Ca, 824-4633 http://www.petfinder.com Chihuahua Moe Pit Bull Terrier, Shar Pei [Mix] Large Adult Male Small Young Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by 2 Bud’s B.B.Q. 22825 Antelope Blvd., Red Bluff 528-0799 Tabby - Orange [Mix] Female Orange Brigade Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by NELLIE LEE BARBER Medium Young Female Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by CABERNET APARTMENTS & DUPLEXES 15 Cabernet Ct. Red Bluff • 529-0879 Schipperke [Mix] Small Adult Male Ricky Tehama County Department of Animal Services, Red Bluff This pet sponsored by MUSEUM 670 Antelope Blvd. 527-1000 Labrador Retriever [Mix] Regan Medium Young Female Corning Animal Shelter This pet sponsored by LINNET’S TIRE SHOP 2920 Hwy 99W Corning 824-5489 Medium Young Female Corning Animal Shelter VETERINARY CLINIC 2023 Solano St., Corning 824-2966 This pet sponsored by CORNING Beagle, Terrier [Mix] Kassie RED BLUFF ROUND UP Border Collie [Mix] Sissy Terrier Liz