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PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS FOR "NEWBIE" TRAINERS GENERAL TIPS Within you will find some articles and
general information that may be helpful. This project has
been in the works for some time. Please enjoy. Q. I have trouble getting my dog to accept me as Alpha Dog (boss). A. Obedience training is a wonderful tool with this particular problem. I am not an advocate of harsh training. Matter of fact, I abhor harsh training methods. As a rottweiler owner, I have found it more rewarding to teach my dogs gently—although it may take longer. Occasionally I run across the dog who is not as impressed with gentle methods, but persistance thourgh increasing my demands slowly and gradually always pays off. My ultimate goal is to enjoy training my dog. If I start being harsh and commanding with no rewards, my dog may perform out of fear and not love or respect. There are certain dogs that are very stubborn and require more of your time and effort, but the tips on this page are for people who's dogs are evenly tempered. If your dog has a specific problem with aggression or dominance email me and I will help you further. Q. My dog listens to me but not my 8 year old, but the dog belongs to the child! A. This is a common problem since dogs often see children in the household as litter mates. If you watch puppy play with litter mates, you may understand why it's necessary to never leave a dog unsupervised with small children. Dogs are rough with each other when playing, both as puppies and as adults. My best advice to a beginner is to NOT leave dogs unsupervised with children at any time. Dogs do not understand who they belong to, rather, they will respect the one who shows dominance in the household. It is not wise to buy a dog for a child unless you expect to take responsibility for the dog. Most children do not understand nor are equipped to deal with the level of dependence a dog has on its human counterparts. When I sold puppies, I would occasionally be approached by a parent who was looking for a puppy for their children. The first thing I make sure of is that the person understands the responsibility and ownership of the puppy will ultimately be on the adult in the household. On occasion, I even chose not to let a puppy go to people who did not understand this concept. The answer thus, is simple. The dog may have been bought for your 8-year-old, but it really belongs to you. Q. OK I got him the veterinary care, the good dog food, the bath, a crate and a dog bed. How do I start training? A. Begin by calling in your local area to find a good dog club. Don't pick the first club out of the phone book, rather, look around and ask questions. The second thing you should do is decide what you want to do with this dog. See Obedience General Page for ideas. If you decide to try your luck in obedience competition, then certainly try to find a club that trains dogs for showing in obedience. it helps to have a jump up on things. Do not assume that dog schools are all very expensive because they are not. These schools are necessary for any new dog owner, because no matter how good you are with animals, you can always learn more. Some people have a natural "knack" with dogs, and in my opinion it is a wasted gift if you don't refine it. The people who have a natural knack, can enter dogshows and take all the titles. Why? Well, simply because they KNEW that if they refined their natural talents they would exceed. Most puppies that I have sold left home on "contract". This contract stipulates several clauses, one of which made obedience school mandatory. It is my strong opinion that every new dog owner should participate in obedience training with their dogs, and this should go beyond you and your backyard, to include some professional training. Many people have approached me with the comment: "My dog is well-trained, I trained him myself, I can't see paying someone to teach me what I already know". Although training your own dog is possible, nine times out of ten the dog in question is very poorly trained. Receiving tips from a professional who has worked with and SHOWN dogs is an valuable resource, and once you learn some of the techniques, you will wonder why you ever waited. If you need help finding clubs or dog schools in your area please feel free to email me and I may be able to refer you to something local. Q. My dog does not pay attention to me (watch me) when we heel. A. Always question whether you are making this enough "fun" for the dog. Learn to talk to your dog. The "googlier" you are, the more fun he will have. An old trainer had a saying once that I found amusing but true. He would say: "Everyone thinks I am insane, except my dog. He thinks I AM sunshine." There is a simple recipe: One cup of courage: Q. My dog sits too slowly or sits crooked. A. It may be that you taught him to sit slowly when he first started training. Get in the habit of reaching for him to sit the instant you are slowing down to stop. You can use a sharp tap on the croup (rear) or even an accompanying "helping hand", gently forcing the rear into a sit. Whatever you use, do it quickly. In crooked sits—large breed dogs are famous for these—it sometimes helps to "heel" alongside a wall. My preferred method, however is to actually teach the "sit straight" command. This takes a little longer, but with some patience it can be achieved. We teach the "sit straight" while the dog is facing us. With the dog straight in front I offer a treat and ask him to "sit straight" or "sit nice". I will position the dog if I have to, but the ultimate goal is for the dog to position himself by extending a treat to the dog, and moving the treat to make him shift his weight until he is sitting straight. Of course when the dog performs the command I make great fanfare. Once he has learned the command we use it while healing. If during a heel the dog sits crooked, we use the "buzzer" technique, (AAAH!! the mistake sound) backup, and try it again until the sit is better. Eventually, I am able to use a sharp tap on his outer hip as we heel and use the voice command "sit straight" (or "sit nice") in a firm voice and the dog complies. This can take some work, but it is worth it. One thing to remember is that if you are too repetitive without reward, you will get nowhere fast. Never forget to praise your dog for any accomplishment, and do this lavishly or else the FUN dissipates. Q. My dog is perfect at home, but in the ring or at dog school he is a pistol with no attention span. A. Try spending more time training him in a place with lots of distractions. I prefer to train alongside a busy street or on a street on which we will have to pass many dogs in their yards barking at us. Try a park or a playground, on leash of course. Train in short increments of time (15 mins at a time) and most of all, enjoy it and don't be too serious about it! You will see results, it's just that they vary. Remember, if you goal is to have fun with your dog, then whatever comes with it is just more benefits, but if you take the attitude that this is like studying for an exam, you may be dissapointed. Q. My dog runs away when off leash. A. It is possible that the dog learned constant pressure on the lead when on leash. Try again and from now on, try to have no pulling or pressure on the leash, correcting the dog only when it goes to the end of his lead by using a sharp "snap" with an immediate release (of the lead—let it go slack). The idea is to get that dog to think he is connected to you, but not by a leash. So if the leash is slack when you are walking, and is only tensed quickly to correct a pull, the dog begins to associate staying with you while walking. Work hard on this type of correction. Accompany leash corrections with a voice command. Be firm but kind when correcting, and supportive when your dog is heeling properly. Most importantly, don't rush yourself. If this is your first dog, you are both learning together. Don't try to keep up with someone who has been training for years or has a calmer dog. Dogs are like people in this respect, they have different personalities and as a result different temperaments, aptitude and learning speeds. DOGS AND PROTECTION OF THE HOME Many times I have stressed my unwavering opinion that a personal pet should be a family pet. A dog that becomes part of the family, is much more likely to become protective of his family without formal training. It is important, however, that any dog owner always be aware of risks a dog may potentially be to strangers. In short, any dog should be supervised. Over the years, I noticed that the dogs living in our home were better behaved, more protective of the family for the right reasons (I stress for the RIGHT reasons), and generally more attached to us, because they became an integral part of the family unit. I believe the love-bond formed when dogs are allowed to have a pecking order inside the home is conducive to wanted behavior when talking on issues of protection. The equation is simple: "show me you love me by being near me and allowing me to be near you, and I will take care of you". I happen to be addicted to a breed whose protection instinct is strong and could go wrong in unscrupulous hands. I have had good results with my "home theory" formula. I have no doubts, however, that a dog of any breed can be a good guardian. I have a Cocker Spaniel that has more spunk when she thinks I am in trouble than she actually has size to back it up with. By the same token, it is very important for those of us who do have dogs with that "certain instinct" to be very wise and careful about decisions made. If you are not willing to commit to watching them carefully and making sure that behavior you see is appropriate, then don't even go there! Some dog people I have talked to seem to feel that female dogs rarely confuse their roles as protectors when it comes to home and family. I have also heard that male dogs can learn quickly what being protective is all about, but are a little more unsure of how to apply it without going too far. I can’t say I have experienced this, since I have had success and problems with either sex of dog, so I will neither back nor disavow this theory. I would say that from experience, the true answer lies on an individual case basis. I must make a mention that PROTECTION in this paragraph is not what people refer to as the incredibly rigorous sport of SCHUTZHUND. That is a completely different ball game. Protection, when defined as the sport of Schutzhund, is a committment in dedication. Long and arduous hours are invested in this type of training, and I have to mention that NOT ALL TRAINERS that profess themselves as Shutzhund trainers are as knowledgeable as they may think, and neither are all dogs cut out for it. In addition, I must mention that in this sport, the breed of dog itself is not as important as the dog's drive, intelligence and ability to use common sense. What I refer to, sadly, is a situation I face daily where I live. The well-meaning, yet unfortunately misinformed individual, pays too much money to a "would-be" trainer (or perhaps even tries to do it himself). This person will "agitate" his dog to "attack train". These situations rarely end well. ALWAYS check references before you hand over your dog to ANYONE. It is all too easy to ruin or even worse, make a dog uncontrollable. An interesting fact to consider is that many if not most people who have Schutzhund titled dogs, or dogs titled in any competition, have done so without handing over their dog to another. Personally, I would not dream of handing my dog to someone else. How will I ever learn if I leave? How will I know what is done to my dog when I leave? Let it be stated that, if nothing else, before any "protection" training is taken up, an individual needs to be well aware of the amount of responsibility (and possiblly "LIABILITY") the trained dog will become. One more mention is that some states consider the term "ATTACK Trained" to constitute a situation where the dog becomes branded as "vicious" and thereby a potential danger to society, thereby illegal to own. In closing, I cannot stress enough to the reader that the truly EDUCATED dog is the very same dog ANYONE can pet, that kisses children's faces, rolls over for belly rubs, is obedient when asked to be yet knows right from wrong. I have met many Schutzhund III dogs that HAD the power, KNEW they had the power, but CHOSE NOT to use their power unless ASKED TO. This is the ultimate goal of people owning dogs that are being protection or schutzhund trained: the EDUCATED DOG. I conducted a little survey of people who attended my obedience classes over the years, and I was amazed to find how many people thought dog showing was too expensive, and unaffordable. Granted, showing in conformation can become a bit pricey. When you add up travel, kenneling, grooming and professional handling fees, it can go into the thousands. Obedience competition, on the other hand is not expensive. Costs range from $5.00 - $18.00 per show entry fees. Teaching obedience is fun, and the best way I know to bond with your dog. Obedience competing can be done locally, and the biggest reward is the accomplishment and pride in a well-trained pet...and the certificate, award or ribbon hanging on your wall doesn't hurt your pride either.. Is the show dog any different than the couch
potato? Showing a dog has many benefits. Showing will teach control to both the handler AND the dog. This control is what offers your dog the opportunity to respect you. In showing of any kind, a GENTLE but firm hand goes much further than a rough and unsure one. It is a common misconception that dogs are the best companions for children. Movies like Lassie, Rin Tin Tin, 101 Dalmatians and Old Yeller have been undoubtedly UNfriendly to "man's best friend", and should be taken with a grain of salt. To understand the nature of a relationship of dog and man one must first accept the possibility that at some point in the child\dog’s life together, either's skin may be broken (the dogs or the child’s) propagated by the other party. This is not a pleasant thought, but it is one that must be addressed as a possibility. Before I am attacked by a myriad of critics let me rectify. When I say broken skin, I am NOT referring to lacerations, mutilations or maimings perpetrated by dogs. There is no question that a dog that inflicts serious and malicious injuries to a family member, is not usually doing so by accident. Also, in protection of the dog himself, some dogs that inflict serious injury, have been conditioned to do so, through poor training or other situational instances. This same dog should never be left unattended or unsupervised with small children, and in fact, in many cases should have no contact with smaller creatures with a limited ability of defense. Notwithstanding this, it is of utmost importance to understand that most dogs are instinctual creatures who are able to apply LEARNED behavior to instincts, BEFORE serious injury occurs. Let me also state, that I believe a dog that causes serious injury to a family member is not usually fit to live among that family, and his fate should be seriously considered by adult family members. Again, there are those that would argue, but this is my opinion. In order to teach your children proper husbandry with dogs, it is important to stress respect of the dog as family member and its ability to do harm, while at the same time not frightening the children. It is the parent's responsibility to convey awe that comes from really loving, and being loved by a dog. Children may not learn this lesson until much later in life, but as with all sound foundations, memories serve as new foundation-builders. One of my favorite myths is that all dogs love children. This is simply not true. A more accurate statement is reflected in that dogs "tolerate" children. In many situations, at best a dog sees a child as a "smaller litter mate" to dominate and play with, and at worst "prey". Have you ever noticed your family dog chasing the kids around in the yard, sometimes getting a little too excited, and as a result having to be put in the house? This is the prey drive instinct in the dog that surfaces. The heel nipping, herding-type behavior is natural. They do not consciously "THINK" about whether this is wrong or right. They just DO what comes natural. If I had a dime for every e-mail or phone call that I have received where a distraught parent had a child's skin broken by the family dog, I would indeed be a rich woman. Remember this statistic: 9 out of 10 dog bite incidents happen in the home. My educated guess is that 8 out of the 9 are incidents that could have been avoided if early signs are caught. This sounds harsh, but let me continue. I am not here to say that there is no such thing as a "good family dog", on the contrary. I am, however, here to say that when the dog becomes a "good family dog" it is mostly our efforts that make it so. YOU teach your dog what IS and IS NOT acceptable. YOU teach your dog that BITING is not good. By the same token YOU must teach dog and child what each one's role is. And finally, YOU must take the responsibility when things go wrong as well. Granted, not all dogs can be diverted from aggressive behavior, some are just bred badly, but a large percentage of dogs CAN and DO become good citizens, and it is all up to the owners. One further point to be taken into consideration, is that a younger member of the family may be a source of frustration for the dog, regardless of whether the member has always been around. The child may take away attention, and built up jealousies do occasionally surface. Obviously, the dog is not aware, nor does he decipher these feelings for what they are. He relies on INSTINCT. In summary, a suggestion for having a harmonious dog/child relationship is obviously to teach the dog respect of the children, but MOST importantly, teach the child respect of the dog. When my child was very young we had rottweilers roaming around the house. Even though most of our dogs were even tempered and calm, my daughter had to learn the meaning of respect. It is natural for a parent to protect his children, and by the same token, this protection should extend to the canine member of the family. If the child is yanking an ear or a tail, or if she is digging in a food bowl as the dog is eating, the child gets corrected. Never expect the dog to kill his instincts because he "should know better", because the truth is, most of the time he DOES NOT know better. Be fair to the dog as well as the child. THE
"LASSIE RELATIONSHIP"aka "Lassie
Syndrome" In all the years that I have been around dogs, I have rarely witnessed a "Lassie Relationship". The "Lassie Relationship" is described as the dog, perched happily on its dog bed, watching knowingly over the family's children, and patiently sitting as these children pounce and bounce on her. This dog comes barking out her version of the human language when danger is near to the children etc.etc.etc.blah blah blah. This type of relationship between dogs and children may exist, but I haven't seen it. Children should not be left unsupervised with dogs. It's quite simple. Human nature and the love for romantics has too many of us assuming that this loyal companion will be with us until the very last breath, and will give his life for his family. The real truth is close, but not quite cigars. A dog is most certainly loyal and loving, that's why we like them so much, but not every dog is Lassie. It is wise to use caution when pairing dogs in homes with children. There can always be a potentially bad situation around the corner. By the same token, I cannot begin to enumerate the times a dog was brought to me because it was labelled "uncontrollable", "aggressive", or "mean", when in reality the dog was simply misunderstood when it did NOT fall into the "Lassie Matrix". We need to keep in mind that a dog is a dog. He will always remain a dog, with pack and pecking order instincts, with no correlation to how many tricks he does or how smart he is. To not treat him with the respect he deserves is COMPLETELY unfair to him, and pretty stupid of us. He is a dog. He DOES NOT DO MATH or GEOGRAPHY. He DOES NOT SCHEME or PLOT. He DOES NOT have a complicated way of thinking. He DOES run on instincts and feelings. HE DOES have feelings and they DO get hurt. He DOES get bored. He DOES see the little ones as smaller versions to be dominated. He DOES miss you when you go. When any negative situations occur in a dog's life often will react instinctively. He will chew, nip, whine, defecate or urinate in inappropriate places, destroy your belongings and sometimes even bite if he is not properly EDUCATED. These are all things that dogs do, and to forget this is irresponsible dog ownership. Dogs care little if their bed is a designer brand or pine shavings, as long as its warm and safe. They care little if they have an expensive haircut, as long as their coat is clean and mat-free. Matter of fact, some dogs care little if they are clean, so long as they are healthy, well-fed and you don't mind the smell. Let your dog be who he is—he will be much better for it. If you are looking for sweet, mathematical-problem solver, human-communications expert, perfect-angel Lassie, I suggest you buy a stuffed animal, or better yet, a video. The real dog can be frustrating, exasperating, expensive, noisy, roguish, and even stubborn. The true dog owner knows and accepts the nuisance in exchange for the gifts we receive in return: devotion, sobriety, unconditional understanding, and most of all, dedicated love. If you do not see, accept, and even like both the qualities and faults in your dog, perhaps you should not own one. Social Hierarchy Let’s look at dogs as we would at wolves, who are in effect, their cousins. Dogs and wolves are pack animals, and therefore enjoy and NEED company from one another. In a dog's case—since we have domesticated them—it will be HUMAN company they seek. This is the main argument behind why a dog should not be relinquished to a chain in the backyard. Under mostly-chained circumstances it becomes ludicrous to expect a dog to know how to behave when finnally around people. A chained animal will often feel like an outcast, and may even begin to behave as one. 60% of a dog's time should be spent with its family, IN THE HOME, and preferably more. The more time spent with the family, the better the dog becomes adjusted in behavior, loyalty, protection and attitude. Once again, to study a dog's behavior in the home, when around children, let us refer to the wolves. Wolves, despite being loyal-to-the-death to the pack and protective of the young, will often fight and occasionally hurt a younger and weaker sibling. This is survival of the fittest in the wild, and although a rare occurrence, it is not an acceptable risk in the home. As a rule, dogs may be protective of their property, and even of younger members of the family, but we should never assume that they do not know this younger member is weaker. Even though a family companion means no real harm, injury can often occur when the dog is driven by instinct rather than learned behavior. This is why family life in the home, and training for the dog is important. Family bonding and allowing the pet to see the family structure and behaviors first-hand, creates an image to the dog of the alpha-beta-gamma roles in the family. Hopefully, with correct upbringing, a dog learns where his level is in this pack, and that it is beneath the other family members. Instincts and Crates? Wolves, in the wild, will spend a fair amount of time in a "den". This den is often a small and cramped space in which the wolf can barely turn around in. For dogs, this "den" has been replaced by what most of us long-time dog fanciers have termed "crates". It is not cruel to confine a dog to a crate for quiet time, so long as the periods are reasonable in length. Many dogs, if introduced properly to a crate, find this "special" spot to be their safe haven, and will retire to it unsolicited. At our home, we NEVER use crates as a punishment, in fact, my dogs often run to their crates for safety, since they know I won't follow them there when they are in trouble (this presents an altogether different problem when you are trying to corner them in a dirty deed, but I will discuss this one at another time). I like for my dogs to be this way, and I encourage them to enjoy and want their crates. Summary A dog is a pack animal, and as such requires a PACK to look up to, submit to, and most importantly, love and be loved by. A dog that spends most of his life on a chain without others of human or his kind, may still be a good dog since he knows no better, but is certainly a sad sight for this writer to behold. To me, a chained dog is a crime against nature. We did not do it in the caveman days, so why do it now? When we first domesticated them, they shared our hearth, food and attention. It should always stay that way, because it was a covenant we made with the wild wolf. We offered heat, protection and care, and they offered some of their young to us in return to help us with guarding our flocks, hunting, and working. If nature had intended the dog to be a solitary animal she would have designated him like she did the great cats. Dog owners should always remember a dog's roots, and treat him with the respect his ancestry commands. We tamed them, now they depend on us to take care of them, and, most of all, that means they are not "property". All too often, dogs are treated as if they had the same thinking and understanding process as us. I can’t count the number of times I have talked with people who brought to me a dog for training, where the phrase: "I can’t imagine what he was thinking of…HE KNOWS BETTER" pops up. Well… HE DOESN’T know better. This is my point. The responsibility of the dog’s behavior falls upon us. I am living proof that small children and dogs (BIG potentially problematic ONES) can live harmoniously together. First and foremost, you must set your standards for your dog's behavior to a reasonable level, meaning: remember that this is a creature that acts strongly on INSTINCT and FEELING. His world is all he knows. He does not understand you are under stress at work, doesn't know why you are sad when you lose your best friend. He knows you are not happy. He can feel your mood, but will never understand why (frankly, if he could, I don't think he'd want to - grin). People often bring in their dogs, and after just a few minutes the dog responded to me with great attention and wit. The dog with his owner, however, was disobedient and belligerent. Why? Well, most often because the communication lines are blocked. If you know the dog, understand the dog, learn the dog's body language, you can communicate with him. Communication is the first step to proper training. Some of us get a dog to fill the void of children never had, and dogs have the uncanny ability to fill this void. A dog is highly intuitive, and will pick up on these needs. At the same time, this highly intuitive creature can never understand why it is ok to chew a rawhide in the shape of a shoe, but not a shoe. When deciding how far we will let dogs run our lives, each of us has a "comfortable" area of when too much is TOO MUCH. It is up to the owner to decide where this area is, and as long as this remains constant and consistent throughout the dog's life there should be no trouble. Problems arise when a pampered pet is all of a sudden neglected when the owner finds a new fancy. If you want to own a dog, commit. Realize that the committment is for 12 or more years. The dog readily commits a lifetime to you...you should be prepared to do the same. THINGS TO REMEMBER IN RESPONSIBLE DOG OWNERSHIP
In all things try to be fair, and analyze why a situation has happened (and this may be hard to do sometimes, especially when you are angry over a nip, and YOUR instinct for protecting YOUR young is activated). If you can be objective and fair , you are in for more rewards than I can describe. Having lived in a home where up to 37 dogs domiciled, some were kenneled, but many were "house dogs, I think I can speak with some authority. Dogs would take turns coming indoors with the family. Children crawling around with big dogs can be unnerving. Boundaries should be set for the dogs, and most importantly, someone grown-up should make sure these boundaries are respected. To be fair means not to expect more than dogs can understand. Boundaries should be set for children as well, starting this child education when very young. It is not impossible to have big burly dogs and still raise children up with all limbs intact. At fifteen, our daughter has a deep compassion for and understanding of dogs. I believe that our dogs have taught her life, responsibility, and a certain sense of loyalty that you see nowhere else. I cannot convince the reader of the benefits of owning a family dog who shares your home. I also cannot convince the reader that the amount of time invested correlates to the rewards reaped. I can only offer advice from personal experience. In our busy lives there are times when coming home from work we really only want to lie down and hide. Most people do not realize the size of the task owning a dog can present, until they have lived it. I used to resent people who gave up their pets to rescue. I felt that this was a way to shirk responsibility and that this was a human trait I really did not like. Things are different now. I have learned that sometimes good people get in situations that become too much for them. This is why I write this, I hope to try to prevent just one dog from going to the wrong home. Sometimes people believe in the "Lassie Syndrome" romantic idea of the pet to protect our kids, and us. Why not? Its the perfect idea: the perfect family…dad, mom, 2.2 kids, a white picket fence, and arf arf. Reality has a way of crashing in and busting up your party. Arf Arf becomes a "responsibility" and its nothing like the utopia we envisioned. So we are embarrassed, make excuses, and find a way to reduce our work load and things reposible for, sometimes painfully it means giving up the pet, selling the home and buying a smaller one, or maybe selling one of the cars. I know how this is now, and I can’t be angry about it, but I feel no less helpless than I have always felt when another beautiful and sweet dog is euthanized because there just is no home for him. I can only advise to "GIVE IT A CHANCE", in the end there may be a happy medium. Yes, it probably will require work, yes, it is just more stress probably not necessary, but it pays off. The benefits can outweigh the troubles. If you are not ready to commit to a dog—or even if there is a SHRED of doubt—then, by all means, go back, think some more about it. Because when you do get a dog, he thinks he is yours forever, and its not fair for him to think so, if he is not.
TIPS page Created by Carrie Pryor |
