Dogs need guidance and consistent training
from their people if they are going to live in
harmony with humans. All dogs must be taught
acceptable behavior, and one way to do that is to
train your dog or pay a trainer to do it. Dogs are
happiest when they know who’s in charge and
what’s expected of them.
When you are looking for an obedience class or
a trainer, shop around and ask questions. You
will want to find a trainer who uses humane
methods, someone who uses positive reinforcement
rather than punishment. Ask if you can
watch the trainer give a class and speak with
people who are currently taking a class. If the
trainer says or does anything that you are uncomfortable
with, you may want to look elsewhere.
With positive reinforcement – treats, rewards
like ball-playing, and praise – training can be
fun for all involved. If you develop a loving, fun
relationship with your dog, she will enjoy the
time spent learning.
You should be integrally involved in your dog’s
training. The trainer should also be training you,
so that you understand how to practice with
your dog what she has learned. Training your
dog doesn’t end after the class is over; you will
need to practice cues with your dog throughout
her life.
Your dog should be taught helpful cues such as
come, sit, wait, down, stay, leave it, and drop
it. Consistent training can produce a dog who
will walk nicely on lead, which makes outings
a lot more enjoyable. Your dog can learn to give
greetings by politely sitting (instead of jumping
up) when meeting new people.
Though training is a good thing, keep in mind
that dogs still need to behave like dogs. They
need to play, run, dig, and chew. These are
natural behaviors that can happen in appropriate
ways and places:
• Make sure your dog gets plenty of running and
playing outside the house; that way, she will
be less inclined to be rambunctious inside the
house.
• Provide a dirt box out in the backyard for your
dog to dig in. You can bury a variety of toys in
the box to encourage him to dig there (instead
of in your flower beds).
• Supply your dog with a variety of appropriate
things to chew on – some examples are frozen
carrots, Kongs stuffed with peanut butter or
treats, Red Barn bullies, rawhide chips, and
Nylabones.
You also need to socialize your dog – to get him
accustomed to behaving acceptably in public,
and comfortable with meeting new people and
other dogs. If your dog is properly socialized,
he will enjoy meeting other animals and will be
able to safely interact with them. A socialized,
emotionally healthy dog allows handling of every
part of his body, not only by you, but also by
the veterinarian and the groomer.
If at any point, your dog’s training doesn’t seem
to be working or his behavior is problematic,
please seek help before becoming frustrated
with him. Try to remember that he needs continuing
education throughout his life. Some
problems are easy to fix by going back to basic
training and practicing cues consistently. For
more complex issues, you may want to consult
your veterinarian. If the cause is not medical,
your veterinarian may recommend a behaviorist,
who can do an in-depth assessment and develop
a plan for behavior modification and long-term
management of the problem.
