Training basics - voice control

The first thing you need to know to train your Kuvasz is to train your voice.  Your voice, more than your words or actions, will tell your Kuvasz if he is doing something correctly, or incorrectly.  It will tell him if he is supposed to take notice to obey a command, or ignore you and continue to do what he is doing.  Voice inflection relates everything about you and your wishes to your Kuvasz.

Consider that dogs "speak" without words.  They use barks, growls, whines and cries to relate their feeling to other dogs.  Something as simple as a bark can mean anything from "come on let's play" to "get out of my yard or I'll eat you", depending on the inflection the dog uses.  Even growls, typically viewed by humans as a threatening sound, can also mean "let's play" to a dog.  Dogs don't have a problem understanding one bark from another, they know exactly what the speaker intended the meaning to be.  Likewise, dogs understand our voice inflections, more so than they understand our words.  Dogs will never be able to learn our language, outside of understanding a few words.  But even the words can be misinterpreted by dogs if the wrong inflection is used!  Tell your dog "good dog" in a happy friendly voice and he will wag his tail.  Use the same WORDS in a voice that sounds like a growl and he will tuck his tail in and wonder "what did I do wrong?". 

Training basics - commands

Commands should always be spoken in a clear, confident, matter-of-fact tone.  Use the same tone of voice you would as if you were responding to someone who just asked you for the correct time.  "it's 10:00".  "Charley Sit".  You should never command a dog with an upward inflection of the voice at the end of the command.  To a dog it sounds like "Charley sit?" as if you are asking him if he would like to sit.  Likewise, there is no reason to bark out a command in a gruff inflection, this will also confuse the dog into thinking he had done something wrong.  Conversely, if your dog is doing something, or about to do something wrong - such as get into the garbage can, your voice inflection should tell your dog in no uncertain terms that he is to stop immediately.  Once he stops however, your voice inflection needs to change to relate to the dog that yes - the behavior you just stopped was indeed the offending behavior.  If you continue to berate your dog after he stopped the offending behavior, he will continue to think he is bad and will not relate your dissatisfaction with raiding the garbage can, and may very well do it again.  I've gotten into the habit of when scolding my dogs I immediately say "thank you" in a matter of fact voice when they stop the offending behavior.  This tells them they were correct to stop.  They generally understand what the offending behavior was the first time and rarely repeat.

You should always use the same command, be consistent.  One example of this is to teach a dog to lay down.  You use the command "down".  Now for example, if your dog should jump onto the sofa or chair and you don't want him to what do you tell him?  Down?  Down is a command to lay down.  Your dog may very well lay down on the sofa, and rightfully so - as you just told him to!  Use another word ... Off.  The dog will understand through both the word and the inflection.  Down is a command and will be spoken in a clear matter-of-fact tone.  Off is a scolding and will be spoken gruffly, but followed by a polite "thank you" when he complied.

When you command a Kuvasz to DO something (as opposed to a reprimand to STOP doing something), you should ALWAYS praise the dog when the command was completed successfully.  When training puppies, I will continue to repeat the praise for as long as the puppy remains performing the command.  For example ... "puppy sit" will be followed by streams of "good puppy, good sit" for as long as the puppy remains in a sitting position. Once he breaks the position, stop praising and move on to something different.  Note I did not command the puppy to "stay" - I only commanded him to "sit".  A one second sit is all it takes to successfully complete the command. 

Kuvasz are very "voice triggered" that is they respond very well to praise and blame.  It seems odd that an independent, intelligent, "tough" dog such as the Kuvasz can be reduced to nothing by a mere "NO!".  They seem to take it to heart, and will most likely seek out your forgiveness once they have stopped the offending behavior.  It is important to respect this need and forgive them.  It's equally important to train your Kuvasz with a lot of verbal praise.  Use of cookies helps as well, but verbal praise goes farther than you think, and works even when you don't have cookies.

Commands, once taught, should be told once and only once.  At the point that you know that your puppy understand "sit" and he has performed it on leash, repeatedly, without fail, for several days, you should be able to tell your puppy to sit one time.  If he does not sit, you must remind him that a sit is expected with a correction.  For a sit, the proper correction is delivered via an upward motion the leash (note I said leash - meaning your puppy is not ready for off leash control yet!). 

Commands and their associated corrections are best learned at a dog training class, and under a good instructor.  A good instructor should employ humane methods and be able to employ different methods to suit different dogs or handlers.  A person with a physical handicap may not be capable of performing all types of training methods or corrections, and a good trainer will be able to cope with this situation.  Ask your breeder or your vet to recommend a good training facility.

Training basics - commands vs. reprimand

Your Kuvasz will do something wrong.  Reprimands are somewhat different than commands, but then again, not really.  They are both commands ... one is intended to start a behavior, the intended to stop.  What's the difference?  Usually, voice inflection. 

Most "crimes" can be stopped with a good verbal reprimand.  One of my favorites is "leave it" - whatever it is that is holding your interest is wrong and walk away.  I will use this when I see my Kuvasz LOOKING at the garbage can.  He has no business looking at that garbage can as there is nothing in there that he will ever be allowed to have, so STOP LOOKING.  Ideally you want to reprimand your Kuvasz BEFORE he commits the offending behavior, barring that, reprimand him WHILE he is committing the crime.  NEVER punish a dog once he has committed the crime and has finished.  He will have no idea why he is being punished.  This is most applicable when potty training a puppy. 

Housebreaking is the first thing that comes to mind with regard to reprimanding your puppy.  The old method of "rubbing the dogs face in it" is not only stupid, but cruel!  Dogs remember the moment, and because we cannot communicate the past to them, reprimands MUST occur at the moment - caught red handed.  Ok - housebreaking 101 rules.  Remember the three times that puppies need to potty: after they wake up, after they eat, and after they play.  Watch your puppy AT ALL TIMES, and make sure you bring him outside to the place you want him to eliminate, give him a command "go potty" (repeated frequently if necessary), and when he finally does - praise him lavishly!!  IF he makes a mistake in the house, you MUST catch him in the act.  Housebreaking "papers"?  Useless.  It teaches the puppy that it's OK to potty in the house, and once he's got that down pat, you've got to start all over again to train him to go outside.  Why do it twice?  Do it right the first time.

Training basics - be committed

As well as using voice control, using the same commands, and reprimanding at the right time, you need to be committed to follow through.  By this I mean you cannot sit on the sofa, tell your dog to sit, and not be prepared to get up off your butt and MAKE the sit if he does not follow through the first time.  Dead of winter?  Don't you dare put that 8 week old puppy out in the yard to potty, put your coat and shoes on and go out there with him so that you can make sure to tell him that he was indeed a good dog when he went potty.  Not only that, you need to make sure he did indeed go potty, or he will when he comes back in.  If you fall into a lazy method of training, your Kuvasz will be quick to pick this up and take advantage of it.  Didn't I say they were intelligent??