Sponsored by California Cat Center, Inc. and Mullen's Mobile Veterinary Hospital

BY KAREN TAYLOR, My Best Friend Obedience

Peggy and her dog, Barney, went to every class, practiced their lessons, and followed all the instructions the dog trainer gave.  So I sympathized with her when she told me she was still “at her wits end” with her dog.  I explained that our class would teach basic commands and manners such as come, sit, down, stay, heel position, wait, leave-it, how to walk without pulling on the lead and how to greet people without jumping.  Aware that her previous class must have included as least some of this instruction, I asked what she and Barney were having trouble with?  Exasperated, She exclaimed, “He does not pay attention except at home or in class, still begs at the dinner table, steals stuff and runs off, bolts out the door, jumps on guests and pulls on walks especially when there is another dog!”

Frustrated and helpless, she stated simply that unless she could mortgage her house in order to afford one of those expensive trainers with a fancy guarantee, that would train the dog for her, she would just have to get rid of the dog!  I asked what she learned in the class she took before?  Without hesitation she hissed, “the same stuff you teach!”  She lamented: “I just want a well behaved dog, is that so much to ask?  The trainer’s dog was very good and seemed to just know how to act.  I just want my dog to be like that.  I wasted six weeks for nothing learning all this obedience command stuff and all I want is for my dog to stop being bad.” 

Poor Peggy had just never put “two and two” together.  She did not know how to use what she learned.  Even worse, she did not understand the basic premise behind training a dog; the dog needs to know what you want, as much if not more, than what you don’t want.

Peggy had a lot of information she did not know how to use.  This powerful tool, without instruction in practical application, was worthless.  She struggled to stop her dog from pulling her down the street, instead of teaching her dog to pay attention to her and remain within her leash zone in order to gain her approval. 

You can help your dog be less excited at “Walk time” by having him wear the leash, even when you are not going out for a walk.  Leash walking skills must be applied anytime the dog has the leash on, not just during class or during at home practice sessions.  A Dog will pull his owner wherever his nose takes him, or just to go “visiting.”  Owners often let them, claiming their dog is just “excited” or has to “go” and thereby, inadvertently, rewarding their dog for pulling.  Cause and effect comes into play here, the dog pulls to get to something pleasant, and it works, so they do it again next time as well! 

Trainers always harp on consistency. 

• A “Wait” command used at any and all entry and exit ways will not only help to quell the excitement preceding the walk, but also reminds the dog that the owner is the pack leader and has control. 
• “Come” should be used often, with a leash attached to aid in follow through, even when you don’t really need the dog for a particular purpose (i.e. leaving the dog park or putting the dog her in her own area for the day while you go to work).  When the dog comes it should be rewarded heavily. 
• Sit serves a multitude of functions, such as for greeting guests, to settle the dog down while you prepare its dinner, to give him something to do while waiting for his owner to get in the door and set her things down before greeting, etc.  
• A down and stay, done with a bone, on the dog’s bed can be used during meals to circumvent begging, or to settle the dog down indoors.  If puppy is getting rewards for being on it’s bed in a down stay across the room instead of getting his scraps after dinner in its bowl for nothing, they learn pretty quick to stay away from the table.
• “Leave-it” is a great way to say “no, don’t touch that,” for example when puppy tries to pick up stuff on the ground during walks, or when your dog shows interest in greeting a person (or dog), who may not be equally as interested in greeting him.  Keeping a leash on while you are just hanging out with your dog gives you more control. 
• Praising her dog daily for doing absolutely nothing will help Peggy teach Barney how to get her attention with positive (good) behavior and pattern better habits; instead of waiting until he is so desperate to get her attention that he grabs the television remote and runs away with it!

Peggy had, in fact, received excellent instruction in basic obedience, but just needed to know what to do with it.  Once the “practical dog training” pieces were in place, Peggy and Barney actually enjoyed finding new uses for that “useless” obedience training.  Peggy and her dog continued her their education together just for fun, learned how to deal with distractions in training and never had to mortgage the house to do it!  I love tail wagers (I mean happy endings)!