If you are thinking of doing a dog training course, it is essential that you inform yourself in advance about the syllabus that will be taught at the chosen school. Looking carefully at all the points, we will be able to know if we are facing a current education system, a traditional one or one with an animalist perspective.
On our site, we will detail the most important points that every school should offer, taking a close look at the syllabus of the dog training course.
Keep reading and discover in this article, everything related to the subject of education and training of dogs. Do not forget to comment to ask us your questions!
The morphology of the dog
Most people, when starting a dog training course, immediately begin to want to work on behavior problems, obedience commands and many other advanced aspects of dog training. It is true that these are very important factors but so is the morphology of the dog:
Knowing the different breeds of dogs and their physical qualities is essential to understand some details of behavior and specific care the animal requires. For example, a molossian dog (pug, boxer, dogue de Bordeaux) will have more labored breathing, so it will be very important not to expose it to the sun. Shepherd-types (German Shepherds, Border Collies, Belgian Malinois) will need extra mental stimulation to avoid behavioral problems.
These are just some basic details but at the same time they are very important to work properly with a dog. Not knowing certain aspects of canine morphology can be a serious obstacle if our intention is to be dog trainers.
Here are some details you should know:
- Dog breeds
- Dog Anatomy
- The intelligence of the dog
- The dog walks
- The dog exercise
Country Legislation
Another very important detail to take into account is the current legislation on dogs and potentially dangerous dogs. Knowledge of the ownership, protection and regulations of these animals is essential to advise those who contract our services in the future.
Some of the more important points are:
- Universal Animal Rights
- The law of the state in which you reside
- Municipal ordinances
- Occupational hazards
- Regulations in zoological centers
- Citizen Responsibilities
Canine ethology
We define ethology as the biological and psychological study of animals, whether in freedom or in an artificial environment. Knowing the natural behavior of canids is essential to be able to work with their needs and the problems that may arise.
This type of training must be given by an ethologist, that is, an approved veterinarian with training in ethology. Why? Until recently it was considered reasonable to compare the natural behavior of wolves with that of dogs. However, the more than 3,000 years of domestication and the most recent studies of ethology show a clear bifurcation in the behavior of both.
Some of the more important points are:
- Instinct
- The senses
- Hunting behavior
- Social behavior
- Sexual conduct
Dog Behavior Assessment
Before starting to work with a dog it is very important to be able to make a diagnosis of the current state of the animal, better known as an ethogram. This analysis allows us to observe whether or not there are behavioral problems. To do this, they should offer you the following training:
- Dog's Natural Behavior
- Psychological development
- Intelligence and learning
- Obedience
- Behavioral disorders
- Control exercises
Dog training
Dog training is one of the most important points of the course. Unlike ethologists or dog educators, the main function of a good trainer is to be able to use effective training systems and without the use of punishment methods Take note of the following points:
- Puppy Education
- Socialization
- Bite inhibition
- Call Order
- Basic Commands
- Walk Together
- Item collection
- Using the clicker
- Training tricks
- Track & Search
- Sports work
Behavior Modification
This is another of the most important points of the dog training course. There are many people who have dogs with serious behavioral problems in their care. Understanding, knowing, and having the ability to deal with these behavioral issues is vitally important.
Behavior modification is not always possible but you can use very different techniques to try to reorient the animal towards a more appropriate behavior and that promotes animal welfare. In addition to being able to understand and work with a dog, it will also be very important to treat its owners properly. These are some of the most common behavior problems:
- Fear in dogs
- Use of positive reinforcement
- Separation Anxiety
- Dog stress
- Resource Protection
- Aggressiveness
- Compulsive barking
- Compulsive Destruction
- Depression
- Coprophagia
- Stereotypes
Dog care and feeding
As we mentioned in the first point, knowing in depth some details about dogs, beyond the psychological complexity is also very important to know whether or not it is related to a behavioral problem.
For example, a dog with joint pain, hunger, or a flea infestation will be more reluctant to follow our obedience commands. This is a secondary problem but we must be able to identify it to solve the main problem.
Some of these details are as follows:
- Types of dog food
- Puppy Nursing
- Eating disorders
- Dog facilities
- Cleaning and disinfection of utensils
- Transport cages
- Hair brushing and skin check
- The dog's bath
- Superficial check of the dog's eyes, ears, mouth and feet
- Internal and external parasites
- He alth documentation
- Vaccination Schedules
- Animal welfare
First aid
Although we are not veterinarians, an extra first aid training is very useful to be able to develop professionally as dog trainers. Here are some of the most important things you should learn:
- How to act in a dog fight
- Heat stroke in dogs
- Heal a dog's burns
- Poisoning in dogs
- Others
Tips
- Avoid courses that teach punishment or other inappropriate methods.
- Review the training of the professional of the person who teaches the course.
- Choose face-to-face training over online.
