| You've performed three of the most important tasks | | | | puppy, as soon as possible if he's an adult dog. A |
| for a dog owner: decided if you were right for a dog, | | | | good trainer will teach you the basics and what a |
| determined what dog was the best for you and | | | | good dog/owner relationship is. |
| taught your best friend some manners. That should | | | | If you have an adult dog, don't worry. That old |
| be about it, right? Wrong! | | | | saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is not |
| You have an ongoing relationship with your pet, just | | | | true! A dog of any age can learn good behavior. Both |
| like you do your children or your spouse. It's | | | | you and your dog will benefit. He will learn some good |
| important to maintain the relationship if you want it | | | | behavior and to respect you, the leader of the pack. |
| to be fruitful. If you don't, all of that training you've | | | | You'll learn the subtleties of your dog's behavior and |
| done so far will be for naught. | | | | how to act in a fair, yet dominant, manner. |
| Sometimes, though, like all relationships, the one with | | | | Obedience training is great way to teach an "only |
| your dog can be rocky. Even well-trained owners | | | | dog" how to properly socialize with other dogs and |
| have dogs with behavior problems when things | | | | people. Whether you are alone with your dogs or in a |
| change. Dog have been known to act out when their | | | | group of people and animals, your dog will learn how |
| owners being working more hours, go back to | | | | to behave. |
| school, have a baby or get married. Dogs aren't | | | | Here are some tips to help you determine what |
| themselves when they are ill or in pain. Some dogs | | | | obedience class is the right one for you and your pet: |
| are just never quite right because of problems | | | | - Ask your friends, family members, vet or groomer |
| inherited from poor breeding. | | | | forrecommendations. |
| Here are nine things you can do to make sure your | | | | - Be sure the trainer uses positive reinforcement and |
| well-behaved dog stays that way. | | | | no methods that hurt or frighten the dogs. |
| 1. Don't forget that you are leader of the pack. | | | | - Choose a trainer that focuses primarily on group |
| Remind yourself that your dog is genetically | | | | classes. Although it may seem like one-on-one training |
| programmed to be part of a group and to obey the | | | | might be best, group classes give both you and your |
| leader of his pack. If you don't provide him consistent | | | | dog to observe other people and their pets. Your |
| strong, yet fair, leadership, he will try to become the | | | | dog will also focus on your commands, not just those |
| leader. If he becomes the leader by default, behavior | | | | of the trainer. Some owners do both individual and |
| problems will increase exponentially. Here are some | | | | group classes. |
| tips to make sure he remembers you are his leader: | | | | - Make sure there are separate classes for puppies |
| - Don't let him pull on his leash. | | | | and adult dogs. Dogs between eight and 16 weeks |
| - Don't put the leash on your dog until he sits quietly. | | | | should be in puppy classes. You may also feel more |
| - Don't let him get away with bad behavior. | | | | comfortable with a trainer who offers beginning, |
| - Always eat before he does. | | | | intermediate and advanced obedience classes. |
| - Don't chase or play rough games like tug-of-war | | | | - Ask the trainer you are considering if you can |
| with your dog. | | | | watch a class. While you watch, note some of these |
| - Don't allow him to bite anyone. | | | | details: Notice if the class is small enough that |
| - Always go through doorways before him. | | | | everyone can get some individualized attention. |
| - Try to always be calm, fair and confident when | | | | Watch to see if both and dogs and owners are |
| dealing with your dog. | | | | having fun. See if the trainer provides lesson |
| - Don't give him anything - attention, food, play - | | | | handouts. In a good class, you'll hear plenty of praise |
| without him doing something for you first, like sitting | | | | and commands in upbeat, yet firm, tones. Does the |
| on command. | | | | trainer give the owners other information about |
| - Don't allow your dog on furniture without your | | | | health, grooming or specific breeds? You want to |
| permission. | | | | make sure your trainer is knowledgeable about the |
| - Protect your dog from other animals or people who | | | | whole dog, not just obedience training techniques. |
| try to harm him. | | | | - Ask your trainer if he or she knows several |
| When you are a strong leader, your dog will respect | | | | different techniques to work with dogs. This can |
| you. With this respect comes an innate desire to | | | | come in handy if your dog doesn't always respond to |
| please. He will love you and want to obey your every | | | | the tried-and-true methods. |
| command! | | | | - Make certain that the trainer requires that dogs be |
| 2. Train with your dog every day. Just like with | | | | vaccinated and certified healthy by their vet before |
| humans, any behavior you train your dog to do will | | | | enrolling in classes. |
| be forgotten if he doesn't practice it. Work with your | | | | - Be sure to get a list of equipment you'll need to |
| dog at least 15 minutes a day on an aspect of his | | | | bring with you to your first class. |
| behavior. This is important, also, to remind your | | | | Once you find the right trainer and obedience class, |
| canine that you are the leader of his pack. Try to | | | | make sure both you and your dog are prepared. Be |
| teach your dog something new every month or two. | | | | sure to bring all the required equipment. Don't feed |
| This will keep him challenged and give you both a | | | | your dog before class - since treats are part of the |
| sense of accomplishment. Most dogs were bred to | | | | reinforcement of good behavior, you want him to be |
| do some kind of work, and if you don't give your | | | | willing to eat the treats, which he might not want if |
| dog purpose, he'll become bored and develop | | | | he has a full belly. Don't forget to do your homework! |
| behavioral problems. | | | | Practice between classes is essential to reinforce |
| 3. Make sure to give your dog treats and praise. | | | | your dog's behavior. |
| Continue the technique you've used to train your dog. | | | | 7. Lean all you can about your dog, his breed, and |
| People tend to get complacent, and before you | | | | canine care. You can never know too much when it |
| know it, Spot is hogging your bed and dragging you | | | | comes to your dog. Learn all you can from books, |
| down the street by the leash. To make things | | | | television and magazines. Be sure just to take the |
| worse, he won't listen to your commands any more. | | | | time to browse at the pet supply store or your |
| To prevent this, make your dog perform an act of | | | | favorite online pet supplies merchant to see what |
| obedience to earn praise, petting or a treat. | | | | kind of new products are on the market. A new toy |
| 4. Never strike or yell at your dog. Hitting or kicking | | | | from time to time is a new adventure for both you |
| your dog will have about the same effect that it | | | | and your pet. |
| would on a spouse or a child - it ruins the relationship | | | | 8. Keep your dog's home safe and stimulating. Giving |
| and breaks down all the trust your pet had for you. | | | | your dog a fun, secure place to live will help to |
| Some owners use physical abuse to train their dogs | | | | prevent bad behavior and may even prolong his life. |
| to fight for money. Others believe, erroneously, that | | | | Always have a number of fun toys available, including |
| abuse will make them become better watch or | | | | balls, chews and squeaky toys. Be sure to play with |
| attack dogs. Statistics show that thousands of dogs | | | | your dog daily to give him the necessary exercise he |
| are killed or injured by people every year. No matter | | | | needs, to help you bond with your pet and to just |
| how frustrated you get with him, never, ever strike | | | | have fun! |
| your pet. | | | | If no one is home during the day, leave a talk radio |
| Dogs don't respond well to yelling. All it does is get | | | | station on. Keep your pet out of areas of your home |
| your dog more stressed, which will more than likely | | | | where he might eat something toxic or injure himself. |
| make his behavior problems worse. Everyone loses | | | | Keep your fence well maintained. |
| their patience from time to time, but remember that | | | | If your dog starts to have behavior problems, don't |
| your dog only responds to fair leadership. | | | | despair! There's nothing to say that you can't start |
| 5. Get your dog proper medical care. Your dog needs | | | | training him to change his behavior! With a little |
| a checkup at the veterinarian annually to make sure | | | | patience and perseverance, you will be able to |
| he's in top form physically and to receive yearly | | | | eliminate most bad behavior. In the most extreme |
| shots to prevent rabies and other diseases. It's | | | | cases, you may not be able to stop the behavior, |
| important to go to the same vet every year so he | | | | but with training your dog will show improvement. |
| or she can monitor your pet and notice any evidence | | | | Some problems won't be entirely eliminated, especially |
| of problems. All dogs need a teeth cleaning from time | | | | if you chose a dog that doesn't have the |
| to time, too, to keep them healthy. If your dog is | | | | temperament for your lifestyle. But even some of |
| injured or sick, he needs to get proper medical | | | | these dogs can change if you have a good dog/dog |
| attention. Your veterinarian can also give you advice | | | | owner relationship. Now we'll look at some of the |
| on behavior as well as diet, breeding, training, and | | | | most common behavior problems and how to re-train |
| puppy selection | | | | your dog to behave appropriately. |
| 6. Attend obedience training. As an absolute necessity | | | | Marilyn Burnham |
| for getting a good to a positive relationship with your | | | | Author: 'Dog Owners Boot Camp'The How To Guide, |
| dog, be sure to take him to a six-to-eight-week-long | | | | Dog Training Secrets Professional Dog Trainers Don't |
| obedience class, before his first birthday if he's a | | | | Want You To Know! |