Training your Pet

Training is done to develop manners in your dog so that you can be comfortable and safe in a variety of situations with your dog. You train so that you can walk your dog without him chasing cars, or cats. One of the many reasons to enjoy training your pet is that it makes your dog a safer animal. With increased training comes increased reliability, confidence and trust. You develop a bond that is unattainable any other way. You and your dog become a team.

Training your puppy allows you to develop the puppy’s brain and thereby increasing the brain mass of the puppy. As the puppy learns basic behaviors, additional behaviors become easier to learn, thereby making task training less difficult.

Training is continuous; it doesn’t stop.

Whenever a dog is awake the dog is learning something. During this time he is learning behaviors that are acceptable and unacceptable. Some of the ways dogs learn how to behave is through play, absence of play, from attention, absence of attention, from discipline and absence of discipline.
Some of the ways that dogs are trained are:

Clicker training – using a sound-creating device, (clicker) to reward for positive behaviors immediately. The behavior may stop upon the dog hearing the “sound.
Operant Conditioning – This type of training focuses on finding solutions rather than using methods that suppress behaviors.
Traditional Training Leash and Collar Method – is a method that uses both a leash and collar to direct the dog into exhibiting the desired behaviors.

Meet Thor

Thor's photo

Basic manners for your pet are:

Being able to react appropriately to other dogs.
Being able to react appropriately to other people.
Being able to react appropriately to distractions.
Being able to react appropriately when left alone.
Being able to know and perform a proper sit.
Being able to know and perform a proper down.
Being able to know and perform a proper stay.
Being able to know and perform a proper come.
Being able to know and perform a proper heel.
Being able to know how to walk nicely, without sniffing, through a crowd of people while on a loose lead.
Being able to calm down after a play session.
Being able to sit politely when being petted by a strange person.
Being able to allow the approach of a non-threatening stranger, and the willingness to allow other strangers to pass by.
Being able to have a well-groomed, clean appearance without any odors.

Professional Dog Trainer

Karen is a member of both Association of Pet Dog Trainers and International Association of Assistance Dog Partners. She is a certified dog trainer and is constantly updating her knowledge and skills. Karen is always willing to share both hers and others' new techniques for making your special dog well trained and happy. She uses methods that are proven to build a healthy relationship and communications partnership between the human and the canine--between you and your special dog.

Socialization

By the age of four weeks a puppy has the conformation (body shape) of an adult dog. They can see, hear, move, touch, and vocalize by this time in their life. Their socialization period begins when they can move among the other pups in their litter. A properly trained, well-adjusted puppy must be socialized early.

Lack of socialization leads to a pup that is fearful, unable to adjust to new environments or situations, and may develop training behavior difficulties. Most veterinarians advise that you not take your pet out or allow it to be around other animals until a few days after its last puppy shot series. Other veterinarians advise waiting until two weeks after the last shot; by then your puppy is twelve weeks old. Puppies need to socialize between the ages of four and twelve weeks. This is the key time for their mental development and maturity.

A wide variety of exposure to different stimuli will provide your puppy the firm foundation that he needs to be able to handle the “public” with a firm footing.

Work with your veterinarian to develop a plan that will allow for the stimulation and growth of your new puppy, prior to taking him out in public. Developing a plan that allows you to socialize your dog with other healthy dogs will provide him with exposure to automobiles, cats, stores, sirens, and other unusual sounds.

Gradual, safe exposure conducted in a healthy manner, approved by your veterinarian is a good way to start your puppy in public.

Remember though, if he isn’t completely vaccinated, that you may want to consider transporting your puppy about in your arms or on your lap.