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When you feel frustrated with your dog’s behavior,
remember that someone must teach a dog what is acceptable behavior
and what is not. A dog that hasn’t been given any instructions,
training or boundaries can’t possibly know what you expect of him. By
teaching your dog how you want him to behave, you’ll not only have a saner
household, but a healthier and happier dog as well.
An Educated Dog:
- Allows you to handle every part of his body, to check
for injury or illness and to give him medication.
- Has good manners, so he can spend most of his time
indoors with his people. That means more supervision, less boredom and
fewer opportunities for dangerous mischief. The more time you spend
with your dog, the more likely you’ll be to notice when something is
wrong with him, like a limp, a cough, a sensitive area or a loss of
appetite. By recognizing such irregularities early, you can seek medical
attention immediately and, hopefully, prevent more serious problems.
- Wants to stay near you, listening for instructions
(and praise). This means he’ll have less opportunity to stray into danger.
- Will walk or run beside you on a leash without pulling,
dragging or strangling, so you and your dog can get more exercise and
spend more time together.
- Knows that "drop it" and "leave it alone" are phrases
that mean business, so he’ll have fewer opportunities to swallow dangerous
objects. He also can be taught what things and places are out of bounds,
like hot stoves, heaters or anxious cats. However, you’ll still need
to limit his access to dangerous places when you cannot supervise or
instruct him.
- Will "sit" immediately, simply because you say so.
No matter what danger may be imminent, a dog that is suddenly still
is suddenly safe. And a dog that will "stay" in that position is even
safer.
- Understands his boundaries, knows what’s expected of
him and has fewer anxieties. Less stress means a healthier dog.
By training your dog, you can help prevent tragedy
and develop a better relationship with him. Keep in mind, however,
that even an educated dog needs supervision, instruction and boundaries
-- sometimes even physical boundaries. Allowing your dog, no matter how
educated he may be, to walk, run or roam outside of a fenced area or off
of a leash, is putting him in danger.
Selecting a Class
Here are some tips to help you select an obedience class that’s right
for you:
- Good obedience instructors are knowledgeable about
many different types of training methods and use techniques that neither
the dogs nor their owners find consistently unpleasant.
- Good training methods focus primarily on reinforcing
good behavior and use punishment sparingly, appropriately and humanely.
Excessive use of choke chains or pinch collars or using collars to lift
dogs off of the ground ("stringing them up") are not appropriate or
humane training methods.
- Good obedience instructors communicate well with people
and with dogs. Remember that they’re instructing you about how to train
your dog.
- Specific problems you may have with your dog may not
be addressed in a basic obedience course. If you’re seeking help with
house soiling, barking, aggression or separation anxiety, ask if the
course covers these issues -- don’t assume it will.
- Ask the instructor what training methods are used and
how they (the instructor and staff) were trained. Also ask to observe
a class before you commit to one. If you’re refused an observation,
or if your observation results in anything that makes you uncomfortable,
look elsewhere.
- Avoid anyone who: guarantees their work; whose primary
methods focus on punishment; or who want to take your dog and train
him for you (effective training must include you and the environment
in which you and your dog interact).
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