2021 ANIMAL STORIES MAGAZINE

2021 PET MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS JANUARY 21, 2021 Page 47 G etting a new pet is an exciting event. But integrating and helping a pet fit into your family or personal life-style can be difficult. Training your pet to meet your expectations may require skills you never learned. This article is designed to help you get started in helping your pet to become “your best friend.” When looking for the best method for training your pet, recommendations can be so diverse or even conflicting that it can be confusing to figure out which technique is best. As Stephen Valentino says, “A sea of dog training information available that is supposed to help us learn is either contradictory, not based on evidence or downright makes no sense. In fact, opinions on dog training are about as varied as there are breeds of dogs.” Sampling various websites may open doors for understanding and using training techniques. One such article, “7 most popular dog training methods,” describes several approaches and indicates who is most likely to benefit from using them: 1. Positive reinforcement is accomplished “by rewarding the behavior that is desired.” 2. Scientific training “aims to understand dogs’ nature, their ability to be conditioned and the effectiveness of rewards and punishments.” Though these are used more by professionals, it is helpful for pet owners to stay informed about the latest research. 3. Clicker training utilizes a device that makes “a quick, sharp noise, such as a whistle or, as the name suggests, a clicker to signal a dog when the wanted behavior is accomplished.” This one can be most effective when used alongside other methods. 4. Electronic training “relies on the use of an electric collar that delivers a shock or spray of citronella when the dog is not performing Best methods for training your pet Continue p