Crash Course in Dog Training

Years ago, I and my wife Jessica were driving down a wide back country road on an early spring morning. We had recently closed a deal on my first real estate purchase, a 2 bedroom house on an acre of land, so I was feeling pretty good. I happened to notice as I was driving by, a sign at the edge of a yard that read Dogs Free to Good Home. I turned around and went to the house to have a look at those dogs.

There was a couple living there, late 40s, salt of the earth types. They were preparing to relocate, and they were unable to bring along their two dogs due to rental restrictions on pets. I listened with the appropriate amount of sympathy, as they explained the special bond they shared with these dogs and how it was hurting them so to part ways. Finally, I was introduced to the pair of hounds.

They were fine looking mutts, both female, the larger one named Jasmine and the smaller one named Carmen. Jasmine was a good natured mixed breed, part Labrador and part Rottweiler. She had a sunny disposition and an enormous almond shaped head. She was 3 years old, and had been spayed some months previous.

Carmen was a German shepherd-Chow mix, one year old, with an attention span about three quarters of a second long. She had not been fixed, and it showed in her hyperactive, somewhat aggressive behavior. Neither of these dogs had a lick of training, and they didn't respond to their own names. However, they were exceptionally healthy, attractive and energetic. Soon I was won over by the irresistible canine charm that positively oozed from the two animals.

I loaded them up in my P.T. Cruiser, along with some dog food and toys, and took them home with me. I knew the first order of business would be to introduce the two drooling wonders to my cat. I had a large black and white, 1 year old tabby named Lucifer. Lucifer was a well adjusted cat, not mean or overly skittish. I didn't know how he would react to the two dogs or how they would react to him. I figured this was a great time to break out the camcorder!

After we arrived home, Jessica kept Carmen and Jasmine in the dining room while I coaxed Lou (that was our nickname for the cat) over to me. This was a golden opportunity for me to establish dominance in the pack hierarchy by basically daring the dogs to molest Lou while he was on my lap. Carmen and Jasmine crossed the threshold into the room where I was and padded warily around me while Lou issued low, strangled growling noises and hissed. The fur on his tail bristled and puffed up dramatically.

Before long, Jasmine approached and sniffed at Lucifer. I thought everything was going well, until Jasmine barked and snapped at my cat. Before I could even react, Lucifer moved in a sudden blur of action. Faster than the eye could follow, my cat's front claws flashed out and raked Jasmine's muzzle. A tiny, startled yelp was torn from the dog's throat, and Lucifer launched himself off my lap and out of the room, clawing me with his hind feet in the process.

On inspection of the dog, I quickly saw that there was not serious injury, and I was glad that her eye didn't get hooked. Little beads of blood welled up from the marks where Lucifer had scratched her. I thundered around the house, scolding and yelling at the dogs, warning them of dire consequences should they attack my cat. It took about two weeks of rigorous training for them to co-exist in peace and harmony.

I knew that any progress I could make with Jasmine and Carmen was entirely dependent on my ability to establish and maintain my unquestioned position as pack leader. To do this, I went through a grueling ritual every night at chowtime. I filled two large dishes with dog food and went to the basement with the hounds. I made them sit, walked across the room and set down the food dishes. They immediately approached the food, so I physically barred them while yelling commands.

Through tedious nightly repetition, I eventually had them sitting stock still with food dishes 6 feet from their noses, for minutes at a time. They would not move to eat until I gave the command "Eat!" Once they had this command down pat, I was able to move onto others. I started carrying around a pocketful of dog treats whenever I was at home. Any free time I had was devoted to taking Carmen and Jasmine outside, and doing endless drills with them. Every command that they obeyed was rewarded with a treat. Every command that they ignored was patiently repeated.

After a month, they had "Sit!" and "Come!" to a tee. After two months, they knew "lie down!" "Shake!" and "Stay!" As time passed, I added other commands to their repertoire. Within 6 months, I had succeeded in transforming two furry knuckleheads into well behaved and disciplined guard dogs. It was an accomplishment that few could have matched. I don't want or need any medals for that. The loyalty of my beloved, noble dogs is all the recognition I could ask for.