Copyright
2000. Dumb Friends League. All rights reserved.
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.
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).
Back to "Education"