Training Your Dog to Have Manners

I have a guide dog. He came well trained. However, I don't know how many people ask me about training their dog. They want Scruffy to stop barking incessantly. Maybe Lady just won't stop using the restroom in the house. Roxy has just chewed up their wife's favorite pair of shoes. Or, King has been growling... and it is getting worse.
I make no claims to a relationship with Cesar Millan. However, there are some things that you should know about your pet and how training works.

Decide what you want in a pet. For a minute, forget about the appearance. What qualities do you want in a pet? Do you want a dog that is good with children? Do you want a dog that has lots of energy or one that is more laid back? Do you want a dog that gets along with other animals or one that protects you from other animals? Do you want a dog that bonds with you only or one that is friendly to all?

After you know exactly what qualities that you are looking for in a dog, then, it is time to do some research. Yes, you must research the breed of your dog. Although no one wants to admit it, different breeds of dogs are predisposed to certain characteristics. No, this does not insure that they will exhibit all of the characteristics of the breed. For example, I have a calm Labrador. This does mean, however, that it is quite likely that they will exhibit most of the characteristics. Furthermore, some dogs were made to work, some dogs need a pack, and some dogs are for show. It is important to be aware of the characteristics that are most associated with your dog.

Decide what you want to teach your dog? Don't teach your dog everything at one time. There must be a building process. Start simple and then work up to the more difficult tasks. Decide which is the most important.

Dogs need a boss. I know that the trend is to be a dog's "friend." A "companion" is a desired thing. However, dogs need a hierarchy. You must show them that you are in command. This does not mean abuse or being rough. This means laying down a set of rules and making sure that everyone in the family follows them. If Otis is not allowed on the furniture, then, make sure that your family re-enforces this. Dogs can not distinguish between situations. They do not understand when it is appropriate to get on the furniture. If you permit your dog to lay on the furniture a couple of times, then, chances are that he will continue this behavior regardless of the surrounding circumstances. Even though we want to believe so, Dogs are not humans. They are quite intelligent, but in their own way. They are not able to discern things, like humans can. Now, I know that someone will debate me on this fact. But, it has been proven. Dogs are just not as complex as humans. Their emotions, their thought processes and their capabilities are just not as advanced as humans. This does not mean that I don't love my dog and appreciate all that he brings to my life. It means that I understand my dog's limitations. This makes my life easier because my dog does not run my house and I know what to reasonably expect from my dog.

If I had to choose *one* suggestion that has helped the most when keeping my dog trained and training other dogs, it would be "consistency." You must have a good set of rules and you must be consistent about enforcing them. In fact, it is a good idea to have a consistent time and place for feeding and sleeping. You must also have a good system of rewards and reinforcements. Positive and negative reinforcement works. Some positive reinforcements are praise, food and play. You must be careful about food. Remember that your dog is a small creature. They don't need a large treat. A small treat, no bigger than the tip of your finger is sufficient. Vets have noticed that more and more dogs are becoming obese and developing diseases such as diabetes and cancer. They note that much of this is due to feeding your dog too much and the wrong kind of food. I need to make a slight note here: only treat your dog when he/she does something good. If you treat your dog because you are hungry yourself and they just happen to be in the room, then, your dog is getting a good reward for doing nothing. This makes the positive rewards less effective when trying to train your dog. Pair this treat with praise. The praise can either be vocal or tactile. Then, eventually, you can wean him/her off the treat and continue to give praise for the positive behavior. Negative reinforcements include a word and a collar correction. Your word might be "no," "leave it," "fooey," "stop," or "drop it." This is also paired with a collar correction. The collar corrections can only be done with the slip collars. There is a quick jerk/release method involved. The collar correction must be hard enough to get the dog's attention. But, at no time should you be choking the dog. If the dog starts coughing, you know that you have jerked too long and need to release sooner. When the dog does make a right decision, you need to praise and maybe even treat him.

Kennels and crates assist in training the dog. When you are not at home and the dog is left there alone, it should be in a kennel or crate. This minimizes the possibility that the dog will get in the trash, chew up items or potty in the house. Most dogs do not mind a kennel. What they mind is being stuck in that kennel all day long. You must take your dog out of the kennel and walk it at least twice a day. You can also put a bowl of water in the kennel and a toy that they are allowed to have. Usually, the dog will not potty in its kennel. So, if the dog is in its kennel, it won't potty until you take it outside.

Eliminate some difficult situations. Sometimes it is best to eliminate situations that tempt your dog to misbehave. If you know that your dog does not like children, then put her/him in your room or the kennel when children come around. If you know that your dog likes trash, then don't make the trashcan so accessible to him/her. This will minimize conflicts.

Dogs are a huge responsibility. They not only need food and water, they need much care. They need boundaries and they need to know that you will enforce those boundaries. They also need lots of praise and play. These tips will help you in training your dog. If you are finding it difficult, keep trying. Consistency usually prevails. However, you must make a commitment to your dog to be consistent in the discipline, rewards, walking and care.