Training dogs based on behavioural methods

The nature of the dog's behaviour is reviewed. The nervous system is activated by afferent nerve impulses generated in various sense‐organs. The sum of internal (motivation) and external stimuli is analysed in a steady state system. A marked discrepancy between important set values and their actual values will make the organism react. A communication system consisting of the dog handler, the dog, signals and key‐stimuli and other external influences (noise), is used when training a dog. The change of behaviour is more permanent and a new behaviour pattern is established more rapidly when the training is organized in such a way that key‐stimuli and conditioned signals which elicit wanted behaviour sequences are reiterated many times before a verbal command is added to the stimuli. A dog handler must also know the activation of emotional behaviour. Stress, coping and aggression are expressions used to describe such activation. A general check‐list to be used when starting training tasks are suggested. The exercise ‘retrieve’ is used as an example.