Trust And Training Your Dog

Trained dogs are welcome almost anywhere because they behave around people and other dogs. They are a pleasure to take for a walk and can be let loose for a romp in the park. They are members of the family in every sense of the word, a good dog should be house trained, come when called, have few bad habits, stay when told, and not pull when taken for a walk.

Before, during, and after training your dog, you must continually built trust with him. One of the commands you will want your dog to learn is to come when called. To be successful, remember this, when your dog comes to you, be nice to him and reward this behavior. No matter what your dog may have done, be pleasant and use a kind word, a pat on the head and a smile. Teach your dog to trust you by being a safe place for him. When your dog is with you, follows you or comes to you, make the dog feel wanted.

When you call a dog to you and then punish, you undermine his trust in you. When your dog comes to you voluntarily and gets punished, the dog associates being punished with coming to you. Whether you are pleased or angry, your dog associates these feelings only with what was done last.

While establishing trust, you must also take charge and lead. Dogs are pack animals and you and your family are now the pack, at least as far as your dogs concerned. No pack can exist without a leader, and its either your or the dog. Few dogs actively seek leadership, and most are content when you assume the role.

Consistency is vital to the success of training. Your dog cannot understand sometimes, maybe, perhaps but he can and does understand yes and no. The more black and white or yes and no you can make it, the easier it will be for your dog to understand what you want. By observing us and studying our habits, dogs learn to anticipate our actions. Since they communicate with each other through body language, they quickly become experts and reading ours.

If you attribute human qualities and reasoning abilities to your dog, your dealings are doomed to failure. Your pet doesnt experience guilt, and blaming the dog because he ought to know better or she shouldnt have done it will not improve behavior. Your pet also does not understand every word you say, and is only able to interpret your tone of voice, and body language. Once trust and understanding are established, training becomes very easy.

Randy Jones and his partner Brent Jones have been in the pet industry for a long time. Recently they formed http://www.joncopets.com. On the site, customers can shop for the latest dog collars, dog clothes, pet supplies and more. Check them out at http://www.joncopets.com

Dogs and Children

Recent events in the UK have fuelled the debate over dogs and children. The death of a five month old baby after being attacked by two Rottweilers has saddened and shocked everybody and our thoughts go out to that poor family. For a while there may well be an over-reaction but lets keep a clear head and look at the facts and what can be done to help keep children (and dogs) safe. The thoughts that follow are not the voice of an expert but they are an informed opinion. My interest in animal behavior is that of a hobby not a career.

Some of the facts

Its very rare for a dog to attack a child

The most likely cause of an attack is teasing NEVER tease or provoke a dog, however friendly

Most family dogs accept and protect the family children but should never be left alone with them.

Stand still if a dog threatens you. It is instinctive for a dog to chase something moving.

Generally watch out for growling, pricked upright ears pointing at you and a stiff tail held high. (Unfortunately some dogs so enjoy a chase that they may wag their tails as if they were friendly when they are not, so try to get to understand doggie body language.)

The best defense is to become familiar with dogs and their signals.

Most barking, excited dogs you meet in parks may wish to chase you but are not intending you harm.

Dogs are not generally aggressive unless trained to be so. The danger lies in play which gets out of hand. Dogs are not little people in fur coats. They brains work differently from ours. They can hurt a child accidentally because they dont realize their actions will harm them.

Two or more dogs are more likely to get too excited and go into attack mode. The pack instinct rises up.

The only way a dog can tell you it doesnt like something is to move away or nip. Teach children not to pester dogs who are trying to get away.

A distressed dog will sometimes warn by snapping into the air. This is only intended to communicate their displeasure but they can catch a child in the face accidentally.

Dont touch a strange dog without checking with the owner that its okay first.

Take extra precautions if your dog shows any jealousy towards a child. You may want to consider whether you should keep him in those circumstances.

Treat dogs with respect, as fellow creatures not playthings. Dont rob them of their heritage and dignity. The relationship between humans and dogs has been rewarding on both sides. Lets celebrate that.

© Linda Cooke, 2006
http://www.good-ideas.biz
Dogs, cats, work, play and more

Linda Cooke trained as a teacher but has also produced writing and photography for magazines for more years than she would like to mention. More recently she has taken to the Web.