Training Dogs: Methods, Careers, Policies

Ty The last group of working dogs I will be reporting on are military dogs. Together we are going to learn about how these dogs are defined, their certification requirements, training, etc. Military Dogs Dogs have been involved in war since ancient times in Egyptian, Greek, and Persian culture among others. These animals have played various roles in war efforts such as, scouts, trackers, and detection. Many duties that were assigned to dogs in past warfare is obsolete and not practiced today. However, dogs still have a place in modern warfare and are a highly valued tool.  Supply and Demand The U.S. military's need for canines has steadily grown over the years. America's need for military dogs was unable to be met without acquiring dogs from Europe's stock. Europe's dogs have a history of working dog pedigree's, which is why the U.S. was pulling dogs from there. Thus, a breeding program was created by the Defense Department to help ease the imbalance. E...

In my efforts to educate the public on working animals, this article will be dedicated to search and rescue dogs. We will explore how these animals are defined, their certification requirements, training, etc. Keep reading to gain a full grasp on the lives of search and rescue dogs (SARD). Search and Rescue Dogs Search and rescue dogs (SARD), otherwise known as rescue and recovery dogs, use their training to find lost or missing people and guide them to safety. These dogs are incredibly important in natural disasters and other emergencies. Dogs natural sense of smell make them exceptional trackers with the correct training. Handlers are basically just enhancing their natural skills to perform tasks. Certification The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says that search and rescue handlers and canines must complete and pass a national certification. After passing the teams must re-certify every three years in order to continue to perform. Dogs attempting the national t...

There is a lack of general education regarding working dogs. Here, we are going to talk about how service animals are defined, where they are allowed to go, their certification requirements, the animals training, etc. Read along for all the general knowledge about service dogs you are being deprived of in your daily life. Seeing Eye Dog Service Dogs As defined by the ADA , service animals are dogs that have been trained to perform tasks for a person with disabilities. These animals are not pets and must be able to complete work that is specific to the handlers disability. While the ADA states that these animals are not pets, most handlers feel an emotional connection to their dog and consider them family. Where are They Allowed? Handlers must always be in control of their service animals. As long as the animal is behaving and is on a leash/harness (unless a persons disability prevents that) it is pretty much allowed anywhere. To be more specific, these animals are al...

The dog training world has so many different training methods and varying opinions about all of them. Professionals are constantly debating over the ethics and effectiveness of different methods, especially because certain methods work better in tandem for the best results. All of the disagreement can be confusing and somewhat misleading when trying to figure out which techniques fit best for individual circumstances. Don't worry, there is no need to be frustrated. I am here to inform you on widely-used methods of training implemented today, in addition to a bit of my own input. While there are countless tactics people have used over time, here are the 5 most popular training methods. 1. Positive Reinforcement Positive reinforcement is very straight forward in its theory: dogs will repeat behavior when it is followed by a worthy reward. Unwanted behavior is not rewarded or even acknowledged. If there is a behavior that needs correction it is executed by the removal of thei...

Caveman and Domesticated Dog Millions of years ago cavemen brought wolf cubs into their dens as companions, thus beginning the life of the domesticated dog. They were used for purposes like hunting, droving, pulling sleds, and killing vermin. How were they trained to do these tasks? There were no dog obedience classes, no manuals, and no videotapes to teach your dog. The most likely scenario is a trial-and-error based training provided by the handlers. Americans have done little to document dog training in the past. Most dogs were not valued as the beloved pets they are today, which leads us to believe there was no need for the formal dog training that is so popular today. As time went on there were instances when people started to become more interested in higher levels of training. Beginning in the 1800s dog trainers were implementing procedures similar to Skinner's method of operant conditioning. Then we skip ahead to WWI where we started using dogs to assist service men in...

When you think of training a dog, you might just think of simple obedience such as potty training and basic commands. In this blog we will be discussing advanced training that correlates with specific animal careers. Those careers being service dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, and police dogs. While all of these dogs require advanced training, the means of training differ. For example, search and rescue dogs are not trained to perform the exact same tasks as a seeing eye dog. There are innumerable ways to train dogs and every handler thinks their method is the best. This tends to minimize the integrity of research-based practices. Wouldn't it be great if there was a national, ethical standard for training working animals? ZETEO TECH/ U.S. ARMY Differing opinions are traditional in conversation about what is humane for pet partners. This is especially true in policies/policy making regarding these animals. Recently, the Department of Transportation (DOT) decided th...