updated:

July 21th, 2008

New puppy pictures!

How to Have a Friend for Life By Dan Wheeler

Everyone needs a good friend. Life would be unbearable without one. In the same way dogs have this potential, provided that they behave in a manner that is acceptable to humans home life, and by the same "reasons" humans must also know how to behave properly in order for their pets to become welcome additions to the home.

When you bring a new puppy home it takes less than one day to start forming a bond between itself and the new family and once formed, this bond is nearly impossible to break. Older dogs can also bond to a new family, although it may take a few days to a few weeks to permeably set.

This bond consists of friendship, companionship, and complete acceptance of each other. While there are many means of communicating with your dog, the miracle of dog to human communication comes from a brief and basic understanding of the dogs behavior and simple obedience. Dogs will also respond to our "tone" of voice, gestures etc. We do know that dog training and their behavior are similar to wolf behavior and they require 3 things:

1. They form social attachments and live in what we call "packs", or a group of "animals" The wolf pack will work as a team to provide food and defense of its territory. When living with humans as pets, dogs will view the human family as its pack, even if it is only one person. This is why dogs are constant loyal companions.
2. They must have a leader. The dog requires that someone will assume a leadership position, if not the family pet will accept the position of command. Once "YOU" take the position of leader, the dog will accept it for life. Without a leader, dogs will grow insecure, which can cause a number of problems.
3. They will clam a territory, which has a den in it. Dogs require a area which is the dogs" range" which may or may not be shared with other animals. This range may be guarded with "Vigor". In our human world dogs may consider the complete house as the den with the area around the house as its "hunting range". This place that the dog will rest at the house or crate is considered to be a den that provides comfort and security.

Obedience training is a means to keep your puppy or older dog happy and will bring order to his life. It appeals to the dogs need for leadership and security. Dogs need this pack-life, leaders and followers as well as a safe place to live.

Obedience training is based on the dog's acceptance of the human's position of "leader", or being dominant, and his desire to please. When he is taught a obedience command he is praised for doing the command properly and corrected when he does not.

A dog being obedience trained works for your praise and/or the reward. So you must be certain when training your dog that he has really earned the reward. Every time you praise or reward your dog you are teaching him to do a certain "behavior for whatever he did just before the reward was given.

A correction is a signal to the dog that he did not obey a command or did it wrong. The traditional correction is a "tug" or "pop" of the leash with a proper training collar on. This will usually communicate a negative message to the dog as the tug is accompanied by a firm "NO" from the trainer.

There should never be abuse or pain connected with corrections. And corrections must never be used as a punishment. Punishments are not an effective teaching method.

Praise is the language of dogs and humans alike it is the most effective way of communicating with them.

BASIC OBEDIENCE:

Training a dog or puppy may seem like a lot of work, but it is the best thing you can do for your pet. Training helps to reinforce your position as "pack-leader".

There are five basic commands, sit, stay, come, down, and heel.

These basic skills when mastered can help you have a well behaved and welcome companion and family member. There are numerous obedience class's offered by trained instructors where you can build on these basic commands even going on to completing in AKC or other obedience trials.

In human schools we learn the 3 "R's" reading, writing, and arithmetic. In obedience we have the 4 "P's": Patience, Praise, Practice, Persistence. One "P" which should never be used...punishment.

DO'S AND DON'T:

• Do train your dog before meals, he will be more interested in treats if you use them and just like humans we want to rest after eating.
• Do train your dog on a 6-foot lead with a proper collar. This way he cannot get away from you if he gets distracted or scared.
• Do use your pets name before each command example "Spot, sit." His name will get his attention and the command tells him what to do. Say it once with his name; be clear and he will hear you.
• Do reward your dog immediately after he performs the command. Use lots of praise; let him know you are happy.
• Do be patient. Dogs have a short span of attention and just as it took you some 12 or more years to learn and finish basic school, it will take a few weeks for your pet to be properly trained.
• Do work in short sessions 1 hour max. Do not get your dog tired.

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Do not get angry. If you feel you are getting upset--take a break-- come back and do something simple that the dog loves to do and stop for the day. Training should be a happy period for both you and your dog.
• Do not punish or yell at your dog if he does not perform properly. A firm "NO" and "pop" on the leash is correction enough. Remember punishment is a "negative" and dogs will learn more quickly with positive methods. Review your training methods so both you and your dog will understand what you want to train.
• Do not call your dog to scold or punish him. If that type of correction is needed then go to him and use a firm "NO" command.

THE SIT:

Teaching your dog to sit is very easy. Have the dog in "heel" position, that is, standing on your left side. With your lead in your right hand a few inches from the collar, run your left hand down over his back to his rear and gently push down on his rear while at the same time give the command "SIT" and pop straight up with the lead. The "POP" with the lead will reinforce the command.

You can also use food or a treat to encourage him to sit. Start wit the dog in the 'Heel' position with the lead in your left hand about 6 inches from the collar, with the treat at his eye level slowly raise it over his head and he will usually back himself into a set position. As soon as he sits give him the treat.

Do this numerous times so he will connect the command "SIT" with the act of sitting.

He only needs to sit a few second before you allow him to be released. Work your sits up to 10 to 15 second before releasing him with a praise, or reward.

THE STAY COMMAND:

Review the sit command. With the lead in your left hand, sit your dog, remember to praise your dog as soon as he sits, and using your hand with the palm open, move your palm towards the dogs nose and give a firm command "Stay". Wait 10 to 15 seconds and then release your dog with the command of heel while stepping forward. Praise your dog and repeat the sit and stay .

When your dog is "solid" and secure, keep working on lengthening the time working towards 30 to 60 seconds, with out moving from the sit. The next step, with the dog in a sit/stay position is to step directly in front of the dog so that you are facing each other and with the open palm give the stay command and take a short step backwards, wait a second or two and step back to the dog, another few seconds and then step back to the "heel" position. Release the dog as above and give him a treat and praise. Continue to do this and when the dog is secure with you stepping away from him continue to lengthen the distance between you and the dog until you can go to the end of the lead. If the dog get up from the sit position remember you are to return to the dog and correct him by re-setting and repeating the command "STAY". Do not go too fast and while you maybe tempted to scold or "correct" your dog harshly, a firm "NO" and returning him to the sit position is all that should be needed. Yelling or a punishment will confuse him and training your dog will be harder and take longer.

THE COME COMMAND:

You can also use the command "HERE", or any word but you must always be consistent and use the same command for each exercise.

Only when your dog will stay on the sit should you start this exercise. To start have your dog at a stay in the sit position go to the end of the lead, facing you dog and give him the command, (dogs name) then "COME",(i.e. "Spot" "come") popping the lead towards you and the second the dog starts to come, step backwards, encouraging the dog with, "come..come..come"!!, rapidly, taking a few steps (three or four) and soon as the dog gets to you give the command sit, and when he does give him lots of praise and a treat if you have been doing so.

Never call your dog to "punish him". This could cause him to fear coming at other times.

To review and practice this, slowly increase the time between the sit/stay and leaving him to the time you call him. When the dog is comfortable with this command you will be able to call him from any location and he will come running, and sit in front of you.

THE DOWN COMMAND:

This lesson can be taught as soon as the dog has learned to sit.

To start, sit your dog, with your left hand a couple of inches from his collar holding on the lead, use the command "(dogs name) DOWN", moving your right hand palm down towards the floor, in a downward motion, and at the same time with the left hand gently pulling the lead downward to reinforce the command. You may also use a bit of food in your right hand, moving it down to the floor in front of the dog then moving it straight along the floor, the dog will drop down and stretch forward to a down position. If he gets up from the sit position, i.e., stands, correct him for the sit/stay.

Remember, soon as he goes to the down position, use lots of praise. When he is comfortable with the down, using the same techniques as when you did the sit stay, i.e. sit/stay then down then stay then stepping away from him, until you can go to the end of the lead, always returning to the dog before releasing him.

THE HEEL COMMAND:

To heel is to have your dog walk next to you in a controlled manner. This is usually done with the dog on your left side. The dog should be somewhat comfortable with walking on a leash before working with the formal "HEEL" command.

To start, have the dog on your left side, in a sit position, give the command " (dogs name) HEEL", and at the same time you should step off with the left foot and gently popping the leash straight forward in the direction you are going, encouraging him to go with you. Walk forward in a straight line and use lots of praise and if you want a treat every ten or fifteen feet.

Use gentle pulls or "pops" of the lead rather than a steady pull. A dog will start to resist or fight a steady pull. After the dog is heeling well in a straight line you can introduce left and right turns.

Never practice your heeling off a leash until your dog is solid with the heel position on lead. It would be better if he is also solid with the "COME" command, in case he starts to heel away from you.

Use all of the commands as you practice, varying the commands, such as heeling for a bit do sits/stays more heeling then sit/stay/down/stays, and comes, always on a leash, this way you can gently correct your dog.

Always review Do's and Don'ts.