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| Good Dog Training |
When Im working with dog training clients, the first thing we discuss when outlining any kind of dog training program, whether it is new puppy training, treating any kind of dog phobia, or dog aggression is management. Good dog training cannot happen without good management in place, especially if you are trying to change a dogs behavior.
If you want to teach your dog not to jump up on guests, you cannot let him race to the front door as you try to open it, greet your guest, and hold your dog back. This would not be a good start to your dogs polite greeting behavior. If you dont want your dog rushing the fence line, running up and down chasing the neighbor dog, you better not let him outside unsupervised. This would not be productive if you wanted to teach your dog how to hang in your backyard without getting all fired up.
Try to remember your dog is a living, breathing, and thinking being. You are his teacher. You need to guide him & help him make what we think of as appropriate decisions. Believe me, he wont make them on his own.
Your job, when you made the choice to bring a dog into your family is to be a parent to that dog.....your dog. He now is your responsibility. You are the one who brought him into your home, promising to love, care & happily train him to be part of the family. Dogs are not an afterthought.
Start to think about your dogs environment, things you would like to change about his behavior, things you want to keep & things you want him to learn. You then need to set up his living environment so that it is next to impossible for him to be wrong. Setting him up to be successful & preventing him from doing things you dont like goes a long way in his learning & your happiness. Remember to reward your dog for any & all "good" behavior. If he enjoys the rewards, he will offer that behavior more often.
Some Management Tools To Consider:
- Planning ahead
- Baby Gates
- Dog Crates & Kennels
- Leash & harness
- Inside tie outs (leashes attached to furniture etc. while in the same room with you)
- Puppy Proofing (nothing accessible)
- Exercise (mental & physical)
- Chew bones
- Busy food toys
This tip was brought to you by www.DogTrainingWithTonya.Com
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| Management Handout |
