| "He's a wonderful dog, but I wish he wouldn't . . . " | | | | many excellent books written about training |
| Lots of dogs have no manners, and their owners are | | | | companion dogs orfrom an obedience instructor or |
| at a loss as to how toteach them manners. So these | | | | dog trainer. |
| hapless folks frequently end up hollaring atpoor Misty | | | | Consistency is important in dog training. For example, |
| or smacking Buster on the butt with an open palm or | | | | if Ruffie was allowedto sit on the sofa yesterday |
| a newspaper. | | | | and is yelled at for joining Aunt Florence onthe sofa |
| Even worse, when Rambo doesn't shape up, he's | | | | today, she'll be confused. It's better to teach her "up" |
| banished to the basement or thebackyard to live his | | | | and "off"so she'll climb on the furniture only when |
| days in solitude, or he's taken to the pound because | | | | invited. If Mom says that Spotgets only dog food |
| "wejust can't deal with him any more." | | | | and treats, and the kids feed him from the table, |
| Obedience training would have prevented many of | | | | he'lllearn to beg and ultimately to steal in spite of |
| these problems and can helpsolve the bad behaviors | | | | Mom's efforts. Then, when hefeasts on the roast, |
| that exist. Many people think that obedience trainingis | | | | he's really in the doghouse for doing something |
| something that is done to a dog to make it perform | | | | he'sactually been "trained" to do. |
| some artificialactivity on command. But if we turn the | | | | Training should be fun. Every training session should |
| words around, we'll be closer to areal definition: | | | | be punctuated with games |
| Obedience training is to train dogs to be obedient, to | | | | , praise, and hugging. Buster should look forward to |
| obeyanything and everything they're told to do. It | | | | each session, just as helooks forward to his daily |
| covers a wide range of lessonsa dog can learn, | | | | exercise. Every exercise should be useful at home. |
| including tricks, family manners, show ring exercises, | | | | The dog should learn to sit on command and be |
| andskills demonstrations. Sniffing dogs, service dogs | | | | conditioned to sit before goingthrough a doorway, |
| for handicapped owners,search and rescue dogs, sled | | | | getting in or out of the car, before getting his dinner |
| and carting dogs, hunting dogs -- all carrytheir | | | | ora treat, and before getting petted by strangers or |
| obedience training to the highest degree. They have | | | | visitors. A sitting dogcannot knock a bowl of food |
| been trained toobey an unusual set of commands | | | | out of your hand, lunge through a narrow openingin |
| that increase their value as helpers to man. | | | | the door, jump out of the car before you clip on the |
| Training would be a cinch if dogs spoke the same | | | | leash, and so on. |
| language that people speak. | | | | The dog should learn to lie down so he won't beg at |
| But, alas, 'tis not so. Dogs have their own | | | | the table or bother thekids at play and will ride quietly |
| attitudes,voice and body language | | | | in the car, etc. He should learn to standstill so he can |
| , and mindset. They can be stubborn, dominant, | | | | be groomed or examined by the veterinarian. He |
| submissive, or fearful,characteristics that can make | | | | should learnto walk on a leash without pulling; allow his |
| them difficult to train. | | | | feet, ears, and teeth to behandled; and come when |
| Training can be accomplished at home, in an | | | | he's called, wherever or whenever. |
| obedience class, or with a privatetrainer. It requires | | | | Add a few tricks to the repertoire for fun and deal |
| patience, a collar, a leash, a sense of humor, | | | | with the problems as theyarise, and you'll have a |
| patience,and an understanding of dog behavior. That | | | | well-mannered pet. |
| understanding can come from one ormore of the | | | | |