The
Introduction
Honestly the whole trick is some patience and some firmness. Every
dog will learn sooner or later it just takes some time and some patience.
Think of it as fun. Don't think of it as a chore. Have fun with your dog
and you will develop a bond between you that will never be broken. All
lessons should go the same way ~command~instruction~praise.
Some of the commands are more difficult for you dog to learn. Stay and lie down
always seemed to take longer, at least for my dogs. That will take more than a
few lessons.
Be firm and don't let your dog slide either. If he does
not follow a command correctly do not praise him. You should say no in
a firm tone and then show him what is correct. Dogs look at mixed messages
the way a con artist looks at you when you lend him 5 dollars. If you
give him a little your entire bank book should soon be gone. Let a dog
slide once or twice and you set yourself up for a tough situation. The
dog thinks the same as you would; I got away with it this time I think
I'll go for the T-Bone steak next time. Unfortunately for my dogs Tofu
doesn't have quite the same draw.
If this is your first dog, keep in mind that like a child
this dog may not always like or accept the lessons you try to teach it
however, they are necessary and important Never forget you are the boss.
There is a hierarchy to remember here. In the pack, the strongest wolf
became the leader, known as the Alpha Wolf. You are the Alpha Wolf. If
you falter in your authoritative position, you may well develop a dog
that will run all over you and run your house too. So don't go soft and
think, awww the poor little thing, I am being mean. You are not being
mean, you are being a teacher and the lessons the dog will learn from
you will promote a peaceful and happy coexistence. If the dog senses that
you are afraid, sorrowful or any of those negative emotions (and they
can sense this ) they will try to take control. Especially where a large
dog is concerned this could be disastrous. So don't back down. Be firm
in your resolve to teach your friend.
By the same token don't be mean. Never, ever hit your dog. Your
dog loves your hands, it loves to be stroked. Do not hit your dog and
make it afraid of your hands, or of you. If your dog only learns through
fear it will have learned nothing, as trust is what is learned in these
lessons along with all the commands and obediences.
Having your dog learn to accept the leash is probably the
first thing you should do with your new dog in training. Many of the training
sessions require the use of a leash so it is a good idea to have your
dog grow accustomed to this early. Also you will need to use the leash
to walk your dog and even if you have a fenced in backyard where your
dog can roam unleashed, you will need this for the times when you are
not at home and your dog is with you. Please I beg you, do not walk your
dog without a leash. For most training classes this is the very last thing
that is taught to a dog, and it is only in the most most most, well behaved
dog that this works. A squirrel, a chipmunk a cat are all distractions
to a dog and it will lose easily all of it's training when confronted
with what touches it's basic instincts; to chase it's prey. I really beg
of you this as I was unfortunate enough to see a puppy hit by a car when
it's owner thought it would be cute to let the little guy walk at it's
side untethered. The cries of the person and the animal in pain are something
I will never forget.
It is a good idea to have the puppy become accustomed to the collar
and leash before you begin any training. Some lessons will require use
of the leash, and also inbetween all this you can take your dog out for
a nice relaxing stroll.
In the last few months I have been working with Bogey on the heel
command. When I purchased Bogey I intended to show him. My mentors instructed
me not to teach the heel command as my dogs behavior in the ring would
be different. I showed Bogey for a time and stopped (that's another chapter)
and had a dog that was not obedience trained. How much harder it has been
to teach the older dog so really I speak from experience, train your dog
early. Misha learned the heel, sit, stay and down commands by the time
she was 5 months old and was always a very well behaved dog.
One other thing before we start. Often you will hear that in
training you are to use a treat of some sort and when the dog actually does
the correct thing you give him a piece of this food. Many animal authorities
will also discourage this for this reason. You want your dog to learn because
he wants to learn, to please you and to behave. Training with rewards does
work, and perhaps the results will be quicker but I think in the long run
a dog that does not expect a treat will be better behaved. I never used them
when I trained my dogs and they have all learned just fine.
