The Well Behaved Dog
Article provided by There's No Place Like Home
We believe that every dog should be taught manners and basic obedience. Having a well behaved dog will result in your dog being able to be a better member of the family and will enrich the animals life. Training provides a dog with confidence and stimulation. A lot of the animals seen at shelters are there due to a lack of training and the owners lack of effort in finding a solution. A lot of these behavior problems can be completely avoided with some simple training when you first bring your new dog home. We hope that all dogs adopted through this organization are given the opportunity to attend formal training classes so that they have an easier time adjusting to their new homes. We also recommend have your dog certified as a canine good citizen! This can be fun for both you & your dog and you'll be able to brag about how well behaved your pooch is! Most PetCo stores offer good citizen classes!
* Heirarchy & Pack Mentality
Your dog needs to respect you and needs to be taught that you are higher ranked within the household than he is. There are simple things you can begin doing on your own to establish yourself as 'in charge'.
1) Make your dog "sit" and "stay" patiently before you give him his meal. For puppies, you will to work on the "sit" command before starting this meal time rule. Puppies aren't able to be as still as adult dogs either so as soon as his bottom touches the ground after you have given the command "sit", give your puppy his meal.
2) If you are going to allow your dog on your furniture, make sure he does so with your permission and not just whenever he wants. Your dog should wait for you to ask him to be on the couch before he helps himself.
3) If your dog sleeps in your bed with you, make it a habit of getting into bed yourself first, then asking your dog to join you.
3) When leaving the house together, as well as when coming in together, your dog should "sit" while you pass through the doorway first.
Small gestures like the ones listed above will teach your dog that you are in charge and that he is at the bottom of the pack. This way, your dog will respect you and be more attentive to the requests that you make.
* Training Methods
1) When training your dog, remember that "nothing in life is free" and make your dog work for his rewards. Good behavior generates rewards and your dog will learn that when he does what is asked of him, he will in turn get something he wants.
2) Positive Reinforcement training focuses more on praising/rewarding good behaviors rather than scolding bad ones.
3) Clicker training uses a distict sound to send cues to your dog. Clicker or whistle training can be very effective, however it takes a lot of commitment and requires you to always have a clicker or whistle handy when interacting with your dog. If you choose this method of training, we suggest that you invest in a clicker how to book so that your dog is trained correctly and not confused.
* Fun & Advanced Training
1) Becoming an AKA Canine Good Citizen is a great accomplishment for any dog! This certification can be helpful when it comes to dealing with landlords or property management. If you ever have to move, having your dog certified a canine good citizen can greatly increase your housing options. This certification can be provided through most Petco locations.
2) Agility is great for active breeds who enjoy working and learning. It can also be a great hobby for you as well! Agility training does require daily practice and you should be prepared to spend hours working with your dog. Agility training can be done for fun only, or for competitive purposes as well. Be advised that herding or working class breeds of dogs are usually better suited to this kind of sport. Agility training gear can be found at www.Petedge.com
3) If your dog or yourself wants to give back to others then becoming a therapy dog may be a good option. Therapy dogs must be very well behaved and able to pass certification in order to spend time in hospitals with sick or injured people. 4) There are several other sports and activities that your dog could become a part of such as Earthdog, Flyball, or Canine Jumping. More information about these sports can be found below.
Trainers & Programs
* Sirius Dog Training
800 - 419 - 8748
www.siriuspup.com
* Bravo! Pup
510 - 621 - 3630
www.bravopup.com
* Bark Busters
** Great For Dogs With Specific Behavior Problems **
877 - 500 - 2275
www.barkbusters.com
* Petsmart Dog Training
Available at Most Petsmart Store Locations
www.training.petsmart.com
* PetCo Dog Training ** Offers Free Training Seminars & Canine Good Sitizen Certfication **
Available at Most PetCo Store Locations
www.Petco.com
Articles & Resources
Click Here for more information on the AKC Canine Good Citizen Program
Click Here for more information on canine good citizen testing process
Click Here to view the American Dog Trainers Network's article on the CGC test
Click Here for a list of common behavior problems & how to correct them
Click Here to visit Animal Planet's Victoria Stillwell's Positively Dog Training