| Train your dog early. Start training your puppy | | | | When giving your dog a command, avoid using a |
| early on. While old dogs can be taught new tricks, | | | | loud voice. Even if your dog is especially |
| what's learned earliest, is often learned quickest | | | | independent/unresponsive, your tone of voice |
| and easiest. Moreover, the older the dog, the | | | | when issuing an obedience command such as |
| more bad habits will likely need to be "un-learned". | | | | "sit"," down" or ""stay", should be calm and |
| When it comes to raising and training a dog, an | | | | authoritative, rather than harsh or loud. |
| ounce of problem prevention is certainly worth a | | | | NOTE: Many owners complain that their dogs are |
| pound of cure! | | | | "stubborn", and that they "refuse to listen" when |
| Train your dog gently and humanely with PLENTY | | | | given a command. Before blaming the dog when |
| of praise, and whenever possible, teach him using | | | | he doesn't respond to a command, one must |
| positive, motivational methods. Keep obedience | | | | determine whether or not: a) the dog knows |
| sessions upbeat so that the training process is | | | | what the owner wants, b) he knows how to |
| enjoyable for all parties involved. If training your | | | | comply, c) he is not simply being unresponsive |
| pooch is a drudgery, rev things up a bit, and try | | | | due to fear, stress or confusion. |
| the "play training" approach: incorporate | | | | Whenever possible, use your dog's name |
| constructive, non-adversarial games (such as "Go | | | | positively, rather than using it in conjunction to |
| Find", "Hide 'n' Seek", retrieving, etc.) into your | | | | reprimands, warnings or punishment. Your dog |
| training sessions. | | | | should trust that when it hears its name or is |
| Does your dog treat you like "hired help" at | | | | called to you, good things happen. His name should |
| home? Does he treat you like a human | | | | always be a word he responds to with |
| gymnasium when you're sitting on the furniture? | | | | enthusiasm, never hesitancy or fear. |
| Does he beg at the table? Jump up on visitors? | | | | Correct or, better yet, prevent the (mis) |
| Demand your attention by annoying you to | | | | behavior, don't punish the dog. Teaching and |
| death? Ignore your commands? How well your | | | | communication is what it's all about, not getting |
| dog responds to you at home affects his | | | | even with your dog. If you're taking an |
| behavior outdoors as well. If your dog doesn't | | | | "it's-you-against-your dog, whip them into shape" |
| respond reliably to commands at home (where | | | | approach, you'll undermine your relationship, while |
| distractions are relatively minimal), he certainly | | | | missing out on all the fun that a motivational |
| won't respond to you properly outdoors where | | | | training approach can offer. Additionally, |
| he's tempted by other dogs, pigeons, passersby, | | | | after-the-fact discipline does NOT work. |
| sidewalk food scraps, etc. | | | | When training one's dog, whether praising or |
| Avoid giving your dog commands that you know | | | | correcting, good timing is essential. Take the |
| you cannot enforce. Every time you give a | | | | following example: You've prepared a platter of |
| command that is neither complied with nor | | | | hors d'oeuvres for a small dinner party, which |
| enforced your dog learns that commands are | | | | you've left on your kitchen counter. Your dog |
| optional. He gets confused and that frustrates | | | | walks into the room and smells the hors |
| you, which in turn frustrates the dog. | | | | d'oeuvres. He air-sniffs, then eyes the food, and is |
| This is important and will be discussed further as | | | | poised to jump up. This is the best, easiest and |
| we move forward. One command should equal | | | | most effective time to correct your dog: before |
| one response, so give your dog only one | | | | he's misbehaved, while he's thinking about jumping |
| command (twice max!), and then gently enforce | | | | up to get the food. |
| it. Repeating commands tunes your dog out (as | | | | Often, dog owners inadvertently reinforce their |
| does nagging) and teaches your dog that the first | | | | dogs' misbehavior, by giving their dogs lots of |
| several commands are a "bluff '. For instance, | | | | attention (albeit negative attention) when they |
| telling your dog to "Sit, sit, sit, sit!" is neither an | | | | misbehave. Needless to say, if your dog receives |
| efficient nor effective way to issue commands. | | | | lots of attention and handling when he jumps up |
| Simply give your dog a single "Sit" command and | | | | on you, that behavior is being reinforced, and is |
| gently place or lure your dog into the sit position, | | | | therefore likely to be repeated. |
| then praise/reward. | | | | Keep a lid on your anger. Never train your dog |
| Avoid giving your dog-combined commands, which | | | | when you're feeling grouchy or impatient. Yelling |
| are incompatible. Combined commands such as | | | | hitting or handling your dog in a harsh manner can |
| "sit-down" can confuse your dog. Using this | | | | never accomplish earning their respect. Moreover, |
| example, say either "sit" or "down". The command | | | | studies have shown that fear and stress inhibit |
| "sit-down" simply doesn't exist. | | | | the learning process. |