| Some people believe that dogs need to be trained | | | | for opportunities to elevate him/herself in the |
| when they're young. To some extent for our own | | | | heirachy of your household, even just a little bit ... if |
| sanity that's true - especially with housetraining, and | | | | you don't insist on a certain behaviour every single |
| teaching your dog that chewing your shoes/slippers | | | | time, or conversely if you allow a misbehaviour even |
| anything that's accessible, is simple not acceptable. | | | | once, your dog gets a mixed message about what's |
| But despite the old adage "You can't teach a old dog | | | | acceptable and what s/he can get away with. |
| new tricks", it's perfectly possible to teach a dog of | | | | As an example, if you've taught your dog to come |
| virtually any age new behaviours and even party | | | | when called, the only way you can be certain s/he |
| tricks, if you like. Basically dog training boils down to | | | | will come every single time you give the command, is |
| rewarding your dog when s/he does something you | | | | if you don't give your dog a choice until you're 100 |
| like, and correcting your dog when s/he does | | | | percent certain your dog will respond to your |
| something you don't like. Good training establishes an | | | | command every single time. That is, you must carry |
| appropriate relationship between you and your dog, | | | | this training out with a long leash or rope, so you can |
| and it ensures that your dog understands what you | | | | make your dog come each time you call him/her. |
| want of him/her. | | | | Adam's ebook is over 300 pages long and explains all |
| Of course, the dog may become somewhat set in | | | | of this in much greater detail and not only tells you |
| his/her ways, and be less inclined to be interested in | | | | exactly how to train your dog to respond to specific |
| learning. My dogs tend to look at me a little | | | | commands, but also the most effective ways to |
| suspiciously these days if I try to introduce a new | | | | prevent unwanted behaviours, and to have a much |
| command. But once they get the idea that I'm giving | | | | better behaved dog in general. |
| them a new way to please me, it doesn't take them | | | | What I really like about Adam's strategies is that his |
| too long to start to comply. | | | | methods utilise the dog's natural instincts and drives, |
| The idea is to teach your dog to make his own | | | | and because you treat the dog as if s/he is a |
| decisions (believe it or not!) Not complicated decisions, | | | | member of your pack, rather than a child of your |
| of course, - just whether to do something or not. If | | | | household, you actually end up with a happier dog. |
| your dog makes the right decision, s/he'll be | | | | Some of the methods described in the ebook are |
| rewarded. If your dog makes the wrong decision, | | | | somewhat controversial, but I'd really recommend |
| s'he'll receive a corrrection and the opportunity to | | | | that you read the arguments he puts forward and |
| then choose the right decision. Simple! | | | | make your own decision. I LOVE the ebook. Granted, |
| I've been reading some professional dog training | | | | it's not a literary masterpiece - actually it doesn't flow |
| secrets. They reminded me of an absolutely crucial | | | | as well as it might, and it's somewhat repetitive - but |
| point when training a dog - that consistency is critical | | | | the information contained in it is priceless. |
| with your dog. Because your dog is always looking | | | | |