It’s A Dog’s Life—

Tips On Training

By Mary Jane Anderson

Q: Rocky is a family dog. He is cared for by all three of us. My husband trains him, my son plays with him, and I feed him. But Rocky is most loyal to my husband. Why?

A: Training weaves a deep and lasting bond between the trainer and his dog. He rewards the dog’s accomplishments with praise and affection, and at the same time, leaves no doubt about who is the boss. The trainer earns respect and love from his dog. So, if you want a better relationship with Rocky, you must also have Rocky listen and obey through training. I am sure your husband would be glad to teach you.

Training

1. Practice, consistency, and patience are the key words for successful training.

2. Do not be discouraged if you do not see immediate results; it will come in time. Rome was not built in a day.

3. Commands given in a quiet, authoritative voice will give direction to your dog. Appropriate correction will give your dog positive training rather than fear.

4. Training must be used in your dog’s daily routine; it will reinforce what you expect from him.

Q: If a puppy has AKC registration papers, does that guaranteed that he will be a good dog for you?

A: No. Having an American Kennel Club-registered pup only means that the dog is purebred, not a mixed breed. The great advantage of having papers is that you can more easily predict what your pup will be like when he grows up: how big, what kind of temperament, capabilities, and life span. But many other factors combine to make a dog good or not so good: training, environment, care, health, as well as inheritance. A mutt can be just as cute, smart, and loving as any purebred dog.

Q: I have been training Suzy for a few weeks. She used to enjoy our training sessions, but lately she seems to shy away from me when I bring out her collar and leash for training. What has gone wrong?

A: Possibly you are too harsh in correcting Suzy and forgetting to praise her for her good behavior. Correction and praise are essential tools for training: each time a correction is made, praise is given as a reward that she obeyed you. For example, if Suzy is walking along with you and for some reason decides to pull ahead, you give a correction quickly as she returns to your side, and then she must be praised. This way, Suzy is learning to walk next to you. Suzy needs to please you, but on the other hand, you must let her know you are pleased with her by praising her when she has listened. Correction and praise, therefore, go hand in hand and subsequently, your dog learns.

Also, sometimes dogs get bored with training, so it is good to change the routine each day. A dog would be more alert since he would have to think rather than have the same routine day after day. After working, it could be fun to play ball to relieve any tension from training. Dogs look forward to that time.