Training

[Wildspirit]

Okay so I bet you get a lot of questions about this, but i did a search on past posts and it didnt come up with that much. Basically I really like the idea of training animals, dogs, cats, whatever.

I have trained our three year old tabby to sit and moew and also to give paw, obviously based on being rewarded both verbally and with a treat on occasion. Sadly I don't have access to a dog otherwise that would be trained too! lol

So my questions are:

1. Is it right to train an animal- my obvious answer is yes, they are already domesticated and it gives them stimulation, especially for working dogs like collies, but I'd love to hear your views, where would you draw boundaries, what about zoo/ marine animals
2. Whats your method of training- clicker, verbal, just a lot of patience
3. What have you trained your pet to do- basics of sit and stay, a bit more like stay or agility and dancing
4. Does anyone work as a behaviourist or trainer for a living? Or on the side? What's it like, i imagine it must be very rewarding.

Yeah anything else you want to say/ any other opinons on the subject really. I'd love to get some more training experience so any ideas? What should i be considering? Is it really practical as a full time job? I mean obviously id want to take a degree etc but id just like to hear from some other people.

Cheers, MJ

 

[CAYLA]

Wow...I applaud u for training your cat

as to the other questions.

1, yes I believe domesticated pets, esp dogs that intergrate with nearly all aspects of our lifes more than any other animals in public, family, and with other animals e,t,c should have training, at the least the basics of training for the safety of the dog handler and the public...dogs can be dangerous when out of control and non responsive to commands.
Zoo animals should be trained t a certain extent to make them safe to handle for staff who feed, bed and manage them, but certainly nothing intense they are wild animals at the end of the day and should be allowed to remain that way.

2, My methods of training would come under verbal I suppose, I think new arrivals also learn a great deal from my own dogs as a pack and the way they respond to me and what I expect from them.

3, My own dogs do basically what they are told within reason, i,e they coul not clean up after themselves

but I expect them to sit, stay, walk by my side until I allow them to run ahead even when off lead, leave an object when told, be sociable with other animals ands humans, sit in my boot with no guard

this Im teach from day one.

4, I do have behavioural qualifiations but would say my hands on experience out weighs that, I use my experience to help our rescue dogs and don't let on otherwise...learnt my lesson there when I was constantly being asked for help...which can be very time consuming,esp as you cannot always help verbally, with my own business and a demanding job, I would have no time to help the rescues which was priority.

It is very rewarding to see a rescue that would be otherwise PTS, starting a new life with a nice set of new manors and some training to aid them to fit into famly life

I think if this is what u really want to do then do it, there is definately a need for it and it pays well...but I would say you need alot of hands on experience and not just the paper work to prove u can do it.

 

[Wildspirit]

Yay! Someone replied, thank you Carla!
Wow, that was a great response, thank you, yeah i think experience is a must, i just dont know where to get it from

I will definately look into this more now

Any other responses people? Or dogs?

 

[Booboos]

Cats can really enjoy training! I had to train ours as she was obviously feeling left out. All four dogs come and sit in front of me when they have done something good and wait for a treat and I noticed the cat joining the group so now she does a sit and a 'beg' on her back legs, we're still working on her recall!!! I've seen a cat do agility!

To answer you questions, training is really enjoyable for everyone including the animals (one of my dogs will go get his clicker to get me to do stuff with him!) and it makes life easier, I use clicker training, I have done obedience up to distance control but more for fun than competitions, agility and clicker fun, I did a clicker trainer's course and used to help out at my local dog training club (assistant only, don't really know enough to deal with the more challenging cases!).

 

[CAYLA]

[ QUOTE ]
Yay! Someone replied, thank you Carla!
Wow, that was a great response, thank you, yeah i think experience is a must, i just dont know where to get it from

I will definately look into this more now

Any other responses people? Or dogs?

[/ QUOTE ]

Try and get some work experience in rescue kennels and maybe ask in the vets who they recommend as their behaviourist....then maybe contact them and as if u could shadow them...say it is a for a college course, don't let on you could be their future competition

If you need and any help or advice or recommendations for reading...give me a shout.
Look into feline behaviour if this interests u also...as there is shorage of those specialising in feline behaviour