What is the best method of Dog Training?

Well, depends how you ask. At Doglando, there are two philosophies we believe to be the best and most successful ways to enrich your relationship with your canine companion through longevity. 1. Play. 2. Hunting for food. 3. Letting the dog be a dog. Play: Although play is fun, it is actually very serious business. When animals play, they are constantly seek to understand each other, their limitations, rules, ways to communicate, each other's motives and intentions, and most of all its their way to develop a relationship with the other animal. "There are four basic aspects of fair play in animals, these are: ask first, be honest, follow the rules, and admit you're wrong. When the rules of play are violated, and when fairness breaks down, so does play." (Some We Love, Some We Hate, Some We Eat., Hal Herzog). How many of us play abiding by to the above rules? Hardly any of us.... So how are we a dog's best instructor? We're not. Unfortunately, for many dogs, they are not given the opportunity to form friends and are not exposed to this level of social interaction and play consistently. Many pet parents are great at allowing their dogs to socialize and play when their pups are young... however, I feel the information we have provided pet parents has led them to believe that it is only absolutely necessary for their dog to engage with other dogs from 8 weeks to 16 weeks of age... or un to 6 months of age. It may be also that by the time dogs are 6-7 months of age, they have become physically difficult to handle in strength and size... so for many they gradually start limiting social interaction and exercise for their pets. It is not normal for dogs to be unsocial, this creation is by us. All dogs love to play... some prefer to play in small groups, some on-on-one and for others the more the merrier. Substituting human-to-dog play for dog-to-dog play prevents many valuable learning lessons for dogs such as trust. Researchers show that animals who violate trust (rules of play) are maladaptive and loners. Hunting: Every dog has a nose, and wants to use it! Every dog loves to hunt, and instinctively knows to hunt for its food. Feeding from a bowl is certainly not an innate and instinctive behavior, it is a learned behavior that diminishes their natural desire and skill for hunting. Dogs that are routinely fed allowing to hunt, are much keener and dependent on their human companions. These dogs are also much more content, savvy and display excellent life skills such as: confidence, awareness, patience and intelligence. Hunting for food allows the dog to develop great trust in the human counterpart and in addition this exercise really strengthens the bond between human and dog. It's a partnership thing, and that's the way the dog sees it. Letting the dog be a dog: Dogs are not mean to live in confinements, whether it be in fenced in back yards, homes or leashes.... they are meant to roam and be free. Dogs are bred for different purposes, and all of them in some way act as companions to their human families. We define companionship has a relationship where things are done together... this means in the company of each other. Unfortunately, for many of our dogs, we raise them like many raise their kids, without togetherness... this has its own ramifications that can not be salvaged later on in life. ____________ So, when you are looking for a training school or dog trainer to hire, consider Play, Hunting for food and Letting a dog be a dog as a philosophy and dog training style.