Dog Training Help

It is that time of year. The Christmas pups are 16 to 24 weeks old. Now what do we do with him? The person on the other end of the phone begs for mercy. The calls are coming in and people are in a panic. With so many "ways" to train, which direction do you turn? TV shows have to sensationalize dog training to keep their ratings and anyone and their brother can call themselves a trainer. Look for someone that shares the same ideals and philosophies you do. Your new dog and family "coach" should have an education in the theory and process of learning and comprehension not just a "certificate" in dog training. They should have years of experience training and handling dogs and not just a person who needs extra money after their day job making pizzas. This is serious business. After all, this is the dog you will be keeping for the next fourteen years. Let us not mess his head up before he is even a year old.

I for one, am tired of hearing about the "pack", being the "leader" getting "control", showing him who is "boss" etc., etc. Yikes! What a bunch of control freaks! Dogs are perpetual toddlers. Show them, teach them, set them up for success, have limitations, boundaries and reasonable expectations and stick to it! Don not change the rules. Have all the members of the household participate in their education, follow a plan and live happily ever after. Sound too simple to be true? Dog training is crazy simple...it is teaching people how to behave that is difficult.

Get help with house training your pup. The process is not difficult but too lengthy to approach here. Patricia McConnell has a great little book, Way to Go, that really explains all the details. Google Patricia McConnell for more info. All of Trisha's books are great! Once you are on the right track with that, be reasonable with the length of time you expect your dog to stay by himself. Dogs by the way are not "pack" animals and there is plenty of scientific evidence to prove this. But, they do live in extended family groups. So that one is easy, they live in families just like us, so they understand our basic social structure. Providing your family is an emotionally healthy unit all should go well. Let us talk about being the "leader". How about being a good "parent"? A good parent is not a bully, does not go around controlling and intimidating and certainly tries to provide a healthy environment. So, set the pups up to be right, do not place them in an area where they will constantly be able to get in to trouble and be yelled at for every step they take.

Provide a "baby" safe area, such as the kitchen for the pup to play with his toys. Everything on the floor is his. Pick up your things. Now is not the time to teach him "No" because you are too lazy to pick up your shoes and socks. Interact with him, play with him, pet him and when you are finished, put him back in his crate or out of doors if he is not completely house trained. If your house has an open floor plan and is too hard to section off for the pup, then the pup should wear a harness and a "drag line". The line can be an inexpensive piece of clothes line or the like. Cut the line about twelve feet in length and tie it to the harness. The pup can now go about the house with you. The line prevents him from getting into trouble. You still should be playing and interacting with him, distracting him away from trouble. Prevention is not the cure, but it will teach him the right way to live in your house while you are teaching him puppy obedience exercises. Make sure he gets enough "doggie play time" and not just walking....slowly next to your side, under control. BORING! UGH! Dogs travel at a much faster pace than we humans do. They naturally want to hustle and move out at a nice trot. We need to save that thought for another article. Play time should be out of doors. Don not rough house in doors if you expect your pup to have "house manners". All the chase games, ball tossing and in general "fly around and be crazy" should be out of doors games. If your pup starts to "boogy butt" in the house, tell him, "Not inside" and take him out and play with him until he is tired. Go back in side and expect him to settle.

Hope that helps. Until next time, hug the pup and remember how much you wanted that little guy!

Norma Jean Najorka is the owner and founder of The Canine Center, Inc. (Dog Boarding Orlando - blog) Norma has been training, breeding and showing dogs for thirty four years. As a professional handler she has shown dogs in the United States, Porto Rico, Mexico, Canada and Europe. She has accumulated over two hundred seventeen titles in Conformation (Breed), Obedience, Agility, Herding and Tracking. Norma has also participated in Schutzhund, Dog Sledding, Weight Pulling, Carting and Search and Rescue. She has owned and bred multiple breed Champions of Record and multiple Dual Champions (breed and performance) To date, Norma Jean has produced 14 "home bred" Champions. She has shown dogs of all breeds although she has personally owned Shetland Sheepdogs, Rottweilers, Akita, Belgian Tervuran, Australian Cattle Dogs and Border Collies. Norma established her training center near downtown Orlando in 1991 where she conduced multiple classes and seminars encompassing dog training, breeding, grooming and dog behavior.

She has taught courses at local zoos, science centers, schools and universities. She has established educational programs for the 4-H, both local and national, and has helped to develop Handicap Service Dog Training Programs. Her interest is in the behavioral sciences and has a formal education in Psychology. Norma's passion is to always create a better world for our canine companion, through understanding and education. She currently lives with her husband in South Orlando where the Canine Center now offers dog boarding, training, private lessons, seminars, agility events, day care and herding. Norma is available for seminars and educational events. She is also a member of the American Pet Dog Trainers Association.

Dog Boarding Orlando - http://www.dogboardingorlando.com
The Canine Center, Inc. - http://www.thecaninecenter.com

Dog Training Help article

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