Tails From the Barkside on Parent World -
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Published on: 5/1/2006
Last Visited: 6/1/2006
Bennie Copeland, a local dog trainer and owner of Club Canine of Nashville, suggests giving the dog a command like "go potty" or "do your business" so he will learn to relieve himself under your control.Don't play with him or pet him until after he relieves himself.If he doesn't pee and poop within 10 minutes, bring him inside and put him in his crate for 10 - 15 minutes, then take him back out again to the same area and give him the potty command again.When he does relieve himself, give him an enthusiastic verbal praise like "Good potty!"or "Good boy!"followed by a hearty amount of petting and even a good belly rub.According to Copeland, dogs thrive on being touched by their owners, and positive reinforcement goes a long way with all areas of puppy training.
Heel ... Sit ... Come ...Down ... Good Boy!The time and money spent in obedience training will pay huge dividends in the end.Making this investment will result in your family having a dog that is truly a joy to have around and one who understands his place in the family unit.
"Keep in mind that dogs are pack animals, and they need their expectations set so they can learn where they belong in your family," says Copeland."Training creates a better bond between the dog and family," he adds.
You can buy books and videos that offer guidance, enroll your puppy in a group class at a local pet store or hire a private trainer. The benefit to private instruction is that the trainer becomes familiar with your particular dog and can help you learn more about your dog's breed instincts and temperament, giving you a truly personalized experience.
Like housebreaking, consistency is paramount when working with a dog's obedience exercises.
"It generally takes 30 - 45 times being rewarded for good behavior for a dog to learn each of the commands," Copeland says."Meet with two or three trainers and ask about their methods," says Copeland."Interview them and make sure you're hiring someone that you are going to be comfortable working with."
Whichever method you opt for, and even if you decide to train your pup by yourself, stay consistent and stick with it.Patience is important and will ultimately be the key to success.
"Too many people change training methods too quickly," Copeland says.
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