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Formal vs. Informal Training: Why Your Dog NEEDS Both to Succeed

5/28/2015

12 Comments

 
For many people, dog training is a single job that has a start and an end date. People want to sign up for a class, show up for 6 weeks, and then at the end go home with Rin Tin Tin - a dog that is completely trained forever.  

As someone who has taught many dog training classes, I can assure you this will happen for very few of you. Class, board and trains, and other training services you are going to procure are part of your dog's formal training education - an important step in their development without a doubt. 
When it comes to molding your perfect dog, he is forged during the non-stop process of informal training. This is less about your dog's ability to sit or recall in a field, but more in the subtle nuances of how you interact with your dog 24 hours a day. Meaning, if you want your dog to be a well-adjusted, productive member of your household, you don't just go to class, you become a dog person - something the world is woefully short on these days.  

This doesn't mean neglect your formal training - formal training teaches dogs how to better understand humans and should teach you how to better understand dogs. Without it, the language barrier can be challenging to overcome. Formal training builds character in your dogs and challenges them mentally while giving them a strong sense of fulfillment. Not only that, but a lot of basic problems in houses can be solved with something as simple as a flawless sit.  

So what is informal training? This is everything else you communicate with your dog when you're not in training class for 1 hour a week. This is how you carry yourself amongst dogs and how you miss or don't miss the cues they try to send you through their own body language. What are they doing while you are eating dinner? What are they doing while you are watching tv? What about when you are getting ready to leave for work? What things are you letting slide?  

This is one reason that most home board and train dogs become so successful here at AWDT - it is often the first time that someone has thought about the dog's every move and challenged them regularly throughout every single day. Amazingly, dogs transform from immature, confused dogs to seemingly normal dogs navigating the world like they had done it flawlessly for years.  

So start your training with this mantra in mind: a little bit at a time, all of the time.

12 Comments
Angela Waterford link
7/22/2019 02:37:55 pm

It's true that dog trainer classes have a start and end date. I think I'll sign up for one so that I can start me and my dog's formal training. This way, I'll be able to train her continuously with informal training as well.

Reply
Bob link
11/12/2020 06:35:04 pm

I like what you said about how training informally goes on 24-hours a day. I need to get a trainer for my German Shepard. I'll have to consider getting someone that has experience with mutts.

Reply
Victoria Addington link
3/9/2022 05:28:30 am

I was captivated when you mentioned that formal training instructs dogs how to better comprehend humans and should guide you on ways to excellently understand dogs. I should start taking dog training classes now so my dog and I can understand each other. I will now search for a training facility near my place that specializes in dogs.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
7/12/2022 01:47:32 pm

I found it interesting when you elaborated on dog training and how it'd be classified. My sister just adopted a dog last weekend, and we've reached the conclusion that he's crazy. The dog runs wildly all around her house and bites and eats everything he sees, so I think my sister could benefit from reading your article. Thank you for the advice on informal and formal training and how it'd improve your dog's relationship.

Reply
Mia Evans link
8/9/2022 11:15:19 pm

I love that you talked about how formal training would be able to teach the dog how to understand humans and vice versa. I would invest in dog obedience training as well when I get my own puppy next year to ensure that it will also be manageable in the condominium. So I hope to find a professional I can hire by then once I get myself a pet which I have always wanted ever since I lived on my own.

Reply
guarderia de perros df
8/30/2022 04:12:27 pm

Pero no es la única leyenda urbana que hay que derribar para comprender la importancia del adiestramiento canino: no, a pesar de lo que se dice, los perros no sufren cuando se les adiestra sino más bien al contrario.
<a href="https://www.inteligenciacanina.com/" rel="nofollow ugc"></a></p>

Reply
Jessie Holloway link
9/8/2022 08:43:03 pm

I love how you point out that getting a dog is a full-time job. my aunt just got a new puppy and she wants to take care of it as best as she can so she's been looking into training guides and tips. We've been looking into getting the dog trained by a professional who can also help her through the process of continuing that training.

Reply
Olivia Smart link
12/15/2022 02:46:43 pm

Thank you for explaining about what kinds of things informal training can do and how it's more subtle than formal training. I've been thinking about obedience training for our new dog. I'll be sure to look into both of these, but I can see how informal training could be good for him.

Reply
Millie Hue link
12/16/2022 10:25:10 pm

It's interesting to know that an important part of the dog's formal training is the class, board, and training sessions to help them develop. In that case, it would give us the assurance that our pets are getting the best lessons when the professionals continuously undergo certified trainer courses. There might be new findings and methods that can help us understand our pets better and lead them to have better behavior, especially when going outside.

Reply
Henry Killingsworth link
12/19/2022 02:27:49 pm

It stood out to me when you mentioned that formal training is an important step in a dog's development. I would think that it would be important to make sure that a dog gets formal training as soon as it is old enough. It seems like a dog would remember its training if you start it as soon as possible.

Reply
escuela de entrenamiento canino
1/10/2023 11:10:39 am

Esto no significa que el perro haga lo que quiera. Necesita límites para saber qué puede hacer y qué no. Desde dejarle claro dónde puede entrar, si puede o no subirse al sofá, dónde puede jugar. Se trata de aplicar el sentido común.
<a href="https://www.inteligenciacanina.com/" rel="nofollow ugc"></a></p>

Reply
Steve Smith link
1/20/2023 07:40:48 am

It's great that you elaborated that having a professional dog training could help your dog to be well-adjusted to situations. Yesterday, my brother informed me that his dog is intelligent. He planned to enroll his dog in an obedience dog training program to achieve better communication and obedience traits. He asked if I had thoughts on the best option to consider. I appreciate this enlightening article, I'll tell him they can consult a trusted dog training program lesson as they can provide more details about the training process.

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  • Home
  • Training Info
    • Training Philosophy
    • Board & Train Packages
    • 1:1 Training Sessions
    • In-Home Boarding
  • Testimonials
  • FAQ
  • Blog
    • Ask the Trainer
    • Training Tips >
      • Adopting a New Dog Advice
      • Dog Training Fallacies
      • Family & Baby Advice
      • Leash Reactivity Help
      • Poor Recall Help
      • Separation Anxiety Help
    • Training Videos
    • Board & Train Stories
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  • Contact