BACK TO BASICS – I

 

“My dog doesn’t listen to a thing I say.”

Does that sound familiar? Most dog owners will ignore their dog’s bad behavior rather than put in the extra time and effort to make their dogs respond to the simplest of obedience commands. If you’re in this group, it’s time to step back and take a closer look at your dog . . . yes, the one happily napping on your sofa even though he KNOWS he’s not supposed to be there. Does he really understand what you expect from him? Do you understand what he is capable of or are your expectations too high?

Learning how to communicate is the first and most important step in teaching obedience or changing behavior. It’s not easy to learn to speak “dog” or to interpret your dog’s messages. But to progress beyond the “throwing up my hands” attitude about your dog’s bad behavior, it’s essential to develop a language that both of you understand.

Try looking at the world through your pet’s eyes. Picture yourself at his level looking back at you. He’s trying so hard to understand what you want of him. Are you communicating the proper direction coupled with even-tempered emotion? Is your request clear and concise? Are you using too many different commands for the same direction? Or are you using the same command for different objectives? If your dog doesn’t know what you’re asking of him he certainly can’t respond properly.

Dogs have very limited vocal abilities, but they do have a highly developed body language to express their feelings. Most of these body movements are consistent from dog to dog and unvarying in your own dog. Recognizing your dog’s signals will go a long way towards reaching your goal of mutual understanding.

Does your dog go to the front door wagging his tail or spin circles when he wants to go out? He’s using his body language to convey that message to you. If you ask your dog to do something and he looks back at you, head tilted, it’s probably because he doesn’t understand what you are asking. When he cowers with his tail between his legs he is reacting out of fear, possibly punishment or scolding. A dog should be alert, happy and eager to do what you ask. An unhappy, frustrated dog is a dog that will misbehave.

When giving a command, consistency is the key to teaching any behavior. If you allow your dog to jump on you when you’re in your gardening clothes, then don’t expect him to understand that when you’re wearing your best silk suit that jumping is off limits. Silk and denim are the same to him. If you don’t want your dog sleeping in your bed just after you’ve changed the sheets, don’t let him sleep in the bed at all. Clean or dirty sheets are meaningless concepts to your dog.

Before you begin any training session with your dog, be sure you are calm and controlled. Don’t begin an exercise if you are already tense or wired. Your dog will feel your negative attitude toward the training experience and react in kind. If you feel yourself getting angry or frustrated, stop for a while and take a deep breath. Don’t begin again until you can convey a positive, happy attitude remembering that a dog reacts to your tone of voice more so than the actual words.

Always end a training session on a positive note. Wait until the dog has successfully completed an exercise before ending. Praise the dog for a job well done and, praise yourself as well! Then let the dog off to play with a word that lets him know the session over. “Okay!” works well.

Every dog has a different personality, a different learning curve and different emotional needs, some based on breed characteristics. Not every exercise is right for every dog. Just as you wouldn’t expect a Chihuahua to jump an eight-foot hurdle, it’s probably a good bet that your bulldog will not excel in the agility ring. Keep your expectations reasonable and within breed bounds.

If you feel you are in over your head, are causing more bad behaviors than teaching good ones, then perhaps its time to call in a professional trainer.

How To Find The

Perfect Trainer

There are many training and behavior modification methods employed by professional trainers. Use your judgment in determining what works best for you and your dog – keeping in mind that a positive method is always the best approach.

Check the classified ads in your local paper and the telephone directory business section under dog training or obedience clubs. Ask for recommendations from your vet, pet sitter, local kennel or kennel club. Ask the trainer for references and be sure to find out the method of training used by the trainer. You don’t want to end up in a class where the trainer screams or throws heavy choke chains at the dogs to make them behave. The consequences will be life long!

Go to a training class and observe. Professional trainers should allow you to watch a class before you make a decision to enroll your dog. Look for happy dogs and happy people. Observe the trainer with his canine students. Do the dogs shy away or crouch down when the trainer approaches? That kind of reaction may be as a result of techniques using fear and punishment. The trainer should be approachable by the class members and should easily be able to convey his messages to the dogs and handlers. Talk to the people in the class to get some feedback before or after the class. Members of the class are the best source of recommendations about a particular trainer.

Physical punishment may be an easy method to immediately stop an unwanted behavior but the consequences may be permanent and are emotionally scarring for your pet. A positive, non-violent approach is far more rewarding and long lasting. Mutual trust, respect and most of all understanding are the keys to a fulfilling and rewarding relationship between you and your pet.

With the right attitude, some pointers and a strong emotional bond between you and your dog you can change your dog from a nuisance to a treasured member of the family. Where else can you find a life-long commitment complete with unconditional love?

In our next column we will demonstrate some practical exercises that you can do at home to deal with some of the more common behavior issues facing dog owners.

Adria L. Henderson and Lisa Peterson, owners of Safe at Home, a Newtown- based Pet Sitting business, contribute Animal Lifestyles. You can contact us at animallifestyles@usa.net. We welcome our reader’s response.

 

PET ALERT

In the last four years Leptosporosis has caused the death of over 1,000 dogs in Long Island. Because the disease had been practically eliminated in that region, many Long Island vets dropped the Leptosporosis segment from the generally-accepted DHLPP vaccine (L for Leptosporosis) given to most dogs.

Symptoms of the disease include fatigue, loss of appetite and vomiting. But unlike other canine diseases with these same symptoms, left untreated even for a few days, the Leptosporosis bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause damage to the kidneys and liver.

 Should Connecticut dog owners be concerned? Several local vets were questioned and the consensus is that although the DHLPP vaccine, including Leptosporosis, is still being used in this state, the older vaccine contains immunity to only two strains of the disease. The newer vaccines contain all five known strains of this deadly disease. A call to your vet to discuss your dog’s vaccine history and all available options is the best advice in combating this old disease that’s making a comeback.