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Some Tips for a Well-Behaved Dog
By: Brett Fogle
Train your dog early. Start training your puppy early on. Whileold dogs can be taught new tricks, what's learned earliest, isoften learned quickest and easiest. Moreover, the older the dog,the more bad habits will likely need to be "un-learned". When itcomes to raising and training a dog, an ounce of problemprevention is certainly worth a pound of cure! Train your dog gently and humanely with PLENTY of praise, andwhenever possible, teach him using positive, motivationalmethods. Keep obedience sessions upbeat so that the trainingprocess is enjoyable for all parties involved. If training yourpooch is a drudgery, rev things up a bit, and try the "playtraining" approach: incorporate constructive, non-adversarialgames (such as "Go Find", "Hide 'n' Seek", retrieving, etc.) intoyour training sessions. Does your dog treat you like "hired help" at home? Does hetreat you like a human gymnasium when you're sitting on thefurniture? Does he beg at the table? Jump up on visitors? Demandyour attention by annoying you to death? Ignore your commands?How well your dog responds to you at home affects his behavioroutdoors as well. If your dog doesn't respond reliably tocommands at home (where distractions are relatively minimal), hecertainly won't respond to you properly outdoors where he'stempted by other dogs, pigeons, passersby, sidewalk food scraps,etc. Avoid giving your dog commands that you know you cannotenforce. Every time you give a command that is neither compliedwith nor enforced your dog learns that commands are optional. Hegets confused and that frustrates you, which in turn frustratesthe dog. This is important and will be discussed further as we moveforward. One command should equal one response, so give your dogonly one command (twice max!), and then gently enforce it.Repeating commands tunes your dog out (as does nagging) andteaches your dog that the first several commands are a "bluff '.For instance, telling your dog to "Sit, sit, sit, sit!” isneither an efficient nor effective way to issue commands. Simplygive your dog a single "Sit" command and gently place or lureyour dog into the sit position, then praise/reward. Avoid giving your dog-combined commands, which areincompatible. Combined commands such as "sit-down" can confuseyour dog. Using this example, say either "sit" or "down". Thecommand "sit-down" simply doesn't exist. When giving your dog a command, avoid using a loud voice. Evenif your dog is especially independent/unresponsive, your tone ofvoice when issuing an obedience command such as "sit"," down" or""stay", should be calm and authoritative, rather than harsh orloud. NOTE: Many owners complain that their dogs are "stubborn", andthat they "refuse to listen" when given a command. Before blamingthe dog when he doesn't respond to a command, one must determinewhether or not: a) the dog knows what the owner wants, b) heknows how to comply, c) he is not simply being unresponsive dueto fear, stress or confusion. Whenever possible, use your dog's name positively, rather thanusing it in conjunction to reprimands, warnings or punishment.Your dog should trust that when it hears its name or is called toyou, good things happen. His name should always be a word heresponds to with enthusiasm, never hesitancy or fear. Correct or, better yet, prevent the (mis) behavior, don'tpunish the dog. Teaching and communication is what it's allabout, not getting even with your dog. If you're taking an"it's-you-against-your dog, whip them into shape" approach,you'll undermine your relationship, while missing out on all thefun that a motivational training approach can offer.Additionally, after-the-fact discipline does NOT work. When training one's dog, whether praising or correcting, goodtiming is essential. Take the following example: You've prepareda platter of hors d'oeuvres for a small dinner party, whichyou've left on your kitchen counter. Your dog walks into the roomand smells the hors d'oeuvres. He air-sniffs, then eyes the food,and is poised to jump up. This is the best, easiest and mosteffective time to correct your dog: before he's misbehaved, whilehe's thinking about jumping up to get the food. Often, dog owners inadvertently reinforce their dogs'misbehavior, by giving their dogs lots of attention (albeitnegative attention) when they misbehave. Needless to say, if yourdog receives lots of attention and handling when he jumps up onyou, that behavior is being reinforced, and is therefore likelyto be repeated. Keep a lid on your anger. Never train your dog when you'refeeling grouchy or impatient. Yelling hitting or handling yourdog in a harsh manner can never accomplish earning their respect.Moreover, studies have shown that fear and stress inhibit thelearning process. ===============================================
Brett Fogle is the author of Dog House Training Secrets
An Easy-To-Follow, No-Nonsense, Ebook about Dog Training.
Learn To Train Your Dog in 7 Days or Less -- Guaranteed!
Click Here Now: http://www.dog-house-training-secrets.com
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