This is Part One of our series on communication tools. Check our main blog page for additional posts and further details.
Dogs perceive pressure throughout their environment, whether it be a new stimulus that they are unsure of how to interpret or another dog’s body language. We can use this as a way to teach a dog that they can control the pressures in their environment with their positive behaviors. In order to do this, we introduce a form of pressure to the dog by positive association. By teaching dogs that they can manipulate pressure in their environment by their actions, we can create an empowered and confident dog. As with all of the following training tools, they must be introduced with the guidance of a trainer. Improper introduction of these tools without the guidance of a trainer can ruin the quality of communication of the tool and put the tool in a negative context in the dog’s mind. As with any tool, improper use is ill-advised, but with proper use, it can transform your training with your dog.
