Personality Types
What Type of Dog Do You Have?
Have you ever had your life turned upside? Lost your family? Changed your diet? It's true that when life throws us curveballs, we might not always react the same way as we do in our daily routines. Dogs are no exception. Understanding the underlying motivations behind your dog's actions can help you choose the most effective training methods for them. The chart below, inspired by Joel Silverman’s book, "What Color is Your Dog?", categorizes different dog personalities by color to aid in this identification process.
4 Steps to Successful
Canine Coaching
1. Identify the Type of Dog: Understand your dog's breed, personality, and specific traits.
2. Identify Training Styles and Behaviors: Tailor training methods to suit your dog's individual needs and temperament.
3. Individual Training and Group Practice: Train each dog separately to address their unique requirements, then integrate them for joint practice and management.
4. Mark and Reward: Use positive reinforcement by marking desired behaviors with a verbal cue (e.g., "Yes!") and rewarding with treats, adjusting the intensity based on your dog's responsiveness.
Play the Drill Instructor vs. Kindergarten Teacher Card Depending of the Dog Type
When It's Time to Play the Kindergarten Teacher
Soft, anxious, and nervous dogs need to gain trust – use the Kindergarten Teacher's card and be sure to use soft reminders and never add pain. (We NEVER use pain but if you use pain, like a prong collar, with soft dogs because they’ll stay soft and untrusting their entire lives.) It’s your job to show these dogs that the world is safe, lots of encouragement and low-chaos outings with you by their side. Teach them a few basic behaviors then encourage them to excel at these behaviors over and over, in different settings – this will build their confidence and solidify that "you have their back" and they can begin to relax. Lots of treats for these pups to show them the world is one of generosity.
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When It's Time to Play the Drill Instructor
Over-the-top dogs need to respect the people they’re around – use the Drill Instructor card with these guys. And take a deep breath before working with them, they’re going to cause you to get frustrated and repeat yourself, accept it and let it go. These guys are often a handful when young or under-exercised but awesome when older or mature. Use your ‘serious’ voice and be firm. Use less treats for these pups – and often lower value ones – kibble or Cheerios instead of hotdogs and chicken. Instead reinforce behaviors with tactile touching/praising or tug/ball play.