It's Your Choice Dog Training: Empowering You and Your Dog

It's Your Choice Dog Training empowers you and your dog to build a stronger bond and overcome behavioral challenges. The program focuses on positive reinforcement techniques to encourage good behavior.

You get to choose the pace and style of training, allowing you to tailor the approach to your dog's unique needs and personality. This flexibility is a key aspect of the It's Your Choice Dog Training method.

With patience and consistency, you can teach your dog to respond to basic commands and overcome common issues like barking and chewing. Positive reinforcement techniques help your dog learn quickly and enjoy the process.

The It's Your Choice Dog Training program is designed to be a fun and rewarding experience for both you and your dog, helping to strengthen your relationship and build trust.

Dogs don't arrive in people's homes understanding full sentences of English and having a built-in desire to do exactly what every member of the family wants them to do.

The best way of training a dog doesn't employ physical or mental intimidation, but rather uses what a dog loves most and transfers it into whatever you want your dog to do.

Using training games, like "It's Your Choice", is a great way to start teaching your dog to show self-control over all future reinforcers.

This game teaches our dogs that all things of value must be earned, and the "work" - in this case, choosing to adopt a Sit - is what earns them a reward.

The game can be played with anything the dog finds reinforcing, such as toys, people, other animals, and environments.

Choosing correctly earns the dog the reinforcement and teaches a strong foundation of self-control.

Our only job is to observe behavior and choices, and if an incorrect choice is made, we control access to the reinforcement, preventing access to teach the dog what not to do.

This approach is also less effort for us in the long run, as our dogs learn to control themselves around things they love, waiting for the words "go see" or "get it" for great self-control choices.

Using training games is a great way to teach your dog self-control and good behavior. A foundational game is "It's Your Choice" (IYC) which sets the stage for teaching a dog to show self-control over all future reinforcers.

The game teaches our dogs that all things of value must be earned. This game can be played with anything the dog finds reinforcing, such as toys, people, other animals, and environments.

To play "It's Your Choice", find something of great value to your dog, like a few pieces of cheese or his favorite treat. Get comfortable and let the game begin.

The dog learns to associate the "work" or action, like sitting, with earning the reward. This approach is less effort for you in the long run because you're not responsible for telling the dog what to do, but rather they control themselves.

If an incorrect choice is made, you control access to the reinforcement, preventing access to it teaches a dog what not to do. This game allows the dog the freedom to choose its actions, which may earn the reinforcement it wants.

Training commands can be a challenge, but with the right approach, it's achievable. The key is to make training a game for your dog, rather than a chore.

Dogs don't arrive in people's homes understanding full sentences of English, so we need to use their natural instincts to our advantage. Find something of great value to your dog, like a few pieces of cheese or their favorite treat, and get comfortable.

To train a dog to "sit to say please", start by holding a treat in your hand and letting your dog sniff it, but not giving it to them yet. Close your hand and hold it out so your dog can see the treat, but not get it.

Say nothing and wait for your dog to make a choice. The moment they stop trying to get the treat, you can give it to them. This sets the understanding that "in order to get what you want, you must first do what I want."

As your dog learns this, they'll start to associate sitting with getting the treat. Once they do sit, reward them with the treat and praise. This is a great starting point for building more complex commands.

You can play It's Your Choice with anything your dog finds reinforcing, such as toys, people, other animals, and environments.

The game teaches your dog that all things of value must be earned by choosing to adopt a specific behavior, like a Sit, which earns them a reward.

By giving your dog the freedom to choose its actions, you're not only teaching self-control but also making your job easier in the long run.

You're no longer responsible for telling your dog what to do, like saying "leave it!" or "aah aah", but rather they control themselves around things they love, waiting for the cue to go for it.

If your dog makes an incorrect choice, you simply control access to the reinforcement, preventing them from getting what they want, which teaches them what not to do.

Recognizing your pet's "no" is crucial in building a strong relationship with them.

This "no" can give you more information about what your pet needs and wants.

I thank my dog for each and every "nay" as it gives me more information.

By listening to your pet's "no", you can turn the table from "do the thing I asked or else no reward" to "do the thing I ask, or communicate your needs and get a desirable outcome".

Providing multiple ways to get a desirable thing is also essential in giving your pet agency.

Agency is having the ability to make 2+ choices for a desirable outcome.

This means giving your pet options, so they can choose what they want.

For example, if your dog only gets chicken if they do what you ask, then they don't have agency.

It can really challenge your skills as a teacher if you open up the number of opportunities to your pet.

Providing multiple ways to get the desirable thing is a key principle in training games like "It's Your Choice".

By offering multiple options, you're giving your dog agency and allowing them to make choices that earn them rewards.

Giving your dog the freedom to choose can be as simple as letting them pick the treats at the beginning of the session, like offering chicken and cheese to see which one they opt for.

This approach can also be applied to the exercises you work on, allowing your dog to choose the activity they'd like to do.

The goal is to provide multiple paths to the desired outcome, giving your dog the ability to make 2+ choices for a desirable outcome.

This can be a game-changer in your training sessions, as it allows your dog to take ownership of their learning and makes the process more enjoyable for both of you.

In fact, providing multiple desirable options can be a way to turn the table from "do the thing I asked or else no chicken" to "do the thing I ask, or communicate your needs and get chicken".

By giving your dog the freedom to choose, you're teaching them valuable skills like self-control and problem-solving.

Remember, it's not just about getting the desired outcome, but also about the journey and the relationship you're building with your dog.

Using multiple ways to get the desirable thing is key to giving your dog agency. This means providing your dog with the ability to make 2+ choices for a desirable outcome.

If your dog only gets chicken if they do what you ask, then they don't have agency. This can really challenge your skills as a teacher if you open up the number of opportunities to your pet.

Agency is having the ability to make choices, and this can be as simple as choosing which hand you give them the treat in.

Training manners is a crucial part of the It's Your Choice dog training method. By teaching your dog to make choices, you can establish a strong foundation for good behavior.

Hold your hand out with a treat in it, but don't give it to your dog yet. This will help your dog learn that waiting for a treat is what gets them the reward.

To start playing ItsYerChoice with a toy, grab your training bag, unzip the zipper, and see how your dog responds. He may try to dive inside to steal his toys.

You may need to zip and unzip the zipper several times before he realizes this is the same self-control gig he did with his cookies. This game is a great way to build self-control and teach your dog to make the correct choice.

Work towards picking up the toy, praising him, and then telling him to "get it". Now walk around with the toy in your hand, dangling it in sight.

Any attempt by the dog to steal the toy without being invited is a poor choice and the chance for reinforcement will end. Stop walking, take the dog by his collar, and hold him against your leg until he drops the toy.

You are controlling the consequences and not allowing him to play. Now keep walking with the toy dangling in sight, giving your dog the opportunity to learn the correct way to respond.

Remember, ItsYerChoice should be the foundation of all your distraction work. Start with lower value distractions and work your way up to the tougher ones.

This game can be applied to various rewards, such as playing in the hose or going for a swim.

It's your choice dog training is all about giving your furry friend the freedom to make their own decisions. This approach is based on the idea that dogs are capable of learning and problem-solving, and that by giving them choices, you can actually reduce unwanted behaviors like barking and digging.

By using positive reinforcement training methods, you can encourage good behavior and discourage bad behavior, all while building a stronger bond with your dog. For example, if your dog is prone to barking at strangers, you can teach them to bark calmly or ignore the stranger altogether.

In the "Understanding Your Dog's Communication" section, we learned that dogs communicate primarily through body language and vocalizations. By paying attention to these cues, you can better understand what your dog is trying to tell you. For instance, if your dog is avoiding eye contact, it may be a sign of fear or anxiety.

With it's your choice dog training, you can create a safe and supportive environment for your dog to make their own choices. This can be as simple as giving them a choice between two toys or two activities. By doing so, you're not only teaching them to problem-solve but also building their confidence and self-esteem.

According to the "Training for Life" section, it's your choice dog training is not just about obedience, but about teaching your dog to think critically and make good decisions. By giving them the freedom to choose, you're actually helping them develop a stronger sense of self and independence.