If you don't give your dog a job, he will become self-employed.
Barking At the Door
Most dogs will bark when people come to the front door. This
video will show you step by step how to teach your dog to give you a quick
alert bark followed by quiet, calm behavior.
http://www.petvideo.com/play.cgi?showId=755
Visit Petvideo.com to
see more great pet videos!
What to look for when lining up obedience
training for your dog.
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Group training is an inexpensive way to teach the basics. This is the foundation
for a dog's learning. Many dogs go beyond this to work with agility trials,
advanced training skills, Canine Good Citizenship (CGC), therapy dogs and other
titles.
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One-on-one or private lessons teaches in isolation and does not allow for the
dog to be socialized. We would recommend this only if you're dealing with
specific associated behaviors.
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Socialization is the major advantage as the dog must get use to the idea of
having other dogs around. They must be exposed and learn to ignore major
distractions in a controlled environment. You will learn the skills of how to
walk the dog down the street and pass others.
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Do more then just call if you are unfamiliar with the school.
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Plan to attend a class or two before hand or enrolling. The first class is
pretty wild. The last class is amazing what the dogs and owners learn over a
period of time.
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Look for training styles, abilities and people skills. How do they handle
difficult dogs? How do they handle shy dogs? How do they handle fearful dogs?
What are their attitudes towards German Shepherd Dogs (or your breed)? Towards rescued dogs?
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Watch out for trainers who promise or guarantee results.
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Look for humane training methods that use gentle, effective handling skills, not
harsh or abusive methods which are unnecessary and often counterproductive and
may even be harmful to the dog.
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Look for trainers who have ethics, before profits. Is the trainer understanding
and out for the welfare and quality of the dog? What are the class sizes like? Can
they offer you references?
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Look for trainers that have a sense of humor. If it's not fun for both you and
the dog, you maybe working to hard. If you're not excited about training your
dog, your dog is not going to be excited about learning new things.
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Think of hiring a trainer for obedience school, just like you would if you were
looking for a babysitters, day care for a child or educational schooling
programs.
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Sometimes to get the best quality you may have to look beyond the front door
steps of your communities.
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Talk to your vet for referrals, look at local animal shelters (most understand
family pets), call state and local humane societies, check with local adult
education programs (many offer basic obedience) and you can also post to various
dog listserves.
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Look for trainers that use praise, motivation, reward (food/toy) and use
consistency.
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Once you have established this communication system with your dog, continued
to use them in your daily routines for the betterment of the dog. They will come
to love you for their proud work and they will be a more enjoyable family
member.
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They look to you for your leadership and guidance more then ever.
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A trained dog is a happy dog and a happy dog has an enjoyable life to live :o)
Written by: Janice Dobson
The Various Types of Trainers.
We've all heard the old adage "Train, don't complain". When that cute bundle of joy arrives, there are the best of intentions, and a rush to "train the dog", before he gets too old to train. Better to remember
"training never ends..."
Most adult GSDs are loyal, active, loving, protective and intelligent. Without proper guidance and training, many GSDs can be rambunctious and exhausting to live with. It is up to you to guide your dog to suit your lifestyle and that of your family. GSDs need training and a structured lifestyle throughout their lives. Training is not something that you "finish". It's a continual process that takes place during the lifetime of your dog.
Before you rush out and arm yourself with supplies, it's best to decide what type of dog you own, what type of owner you are and how best to approach your training goals. Just as humans learn differently, dogs do to! It's best to become aware of exactly what you intend to accomplish before you start out. While our dream might be that of an obedience champion, might our goal be a well behaved dog?
For most dogs and their owners, the basics are the "goal". Sit, down, stay, come seem simple enough to teach, so why do our dogs become obedience illiterate just when we are depending on our training to work? It comes down to what kind of owner you are and how you express you wishes and desires.
Here are some classic examples of the types of trainers who experience
overall training issues with their dogs:
The Authoritarian - This is the person who makes sure the dog "knows" who's boss. They are generally firm but sometimes on the harsh side. They tend to insist on obedience, yet not mutual respect. Consequently, this is the person that a dog will play the "You Can't Catch Me Game", in public. Why would the dog want to return and be chastised? The dog is busy having fun.
The Beacon - This person spends most of the time reassuring the dog that they are still there. In public, you'll hear them calling to the dog
every time the dog gets interested in something, lest the dog forget that they are still there. This is the person that gets ignored.
The Food Dispenser - This is the person who believes that dogs should be allowed to express themselves and rewards the dog constantly for everything. The dog gets treats for urinating, waking up, eating, or simply breathing. This is the person that gets ignored unless there's something to eat.
The Lover - This is the person who is concerned that if they impose too many rules on the dog, the dog won't love them. In the absence of rules, the dog constantly picks through life testing and unsure.
So, what's the solution?
Well, always remember that "training never ends".
And then ponder for a minute:
 What are your goals?
What type of dog owner are you?
What type of dog is yours?
Once you've answered these few questions, you may find that the answer is fairly easy to find. You need to balance your personality with his and
balance your approach. For instance, "being the boss" and using food or toys
in training works quite well when a balanced approach is used. The most important thing to realize is that that balance changes with every dog and
handler team!
Then be sure that your goals and training techniques are presented to the dog in a clear, consistent
manner. Break down your goals and each exercise into small parts, and teach them and reinforce them in a clear way. We all
learn best this way!
You'd be surprised how ready and receptive your dog is once these simple issues are addressed!
POTTY TRAINING
A rolled up newspaper can be an effective training tool when used properly. For instance, use the rolled-up
newspaper if your dog chews up something inappropriate or has a housebreaking accident. Bring the dog over to the
destroyed object (or mess), then take the rolled-up newspaper... and hit yourself over the head as you repeat
the phrase, "I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG, I FORGOT TO WATCH MY DOG!"
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