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Few people begin their lives with a new dog or puppy expecting to fail. Unfortunately, failure is often the result. Our shelters are full of dogs that started their lives with hope and promise but become lost, unruly, not housetrained, disobedient and the like. Often these things happen because of misinformation in regard to what is normal behavior for dogs, bad advice and lack of training. That dog, acquired with all the best intentions, will not become the perfect pet without training and a real commitment from its owner. There are several things a new owner must realize about forming a rewarding relationship with their pet. Often we look at dogs as if they feel about things the same way we do. They don't. They only react as dogs. Basically, a dog is going to do what reinforces it the most. Reinforcement can come in positive as well as negative forms. Once we accept the fact that dogs are dogs, we can look at their behavior from a different perspective. I don't mean that we accept their behavior because the are dogs and let them do as they please. We have to train them and set rules. A dog wants a leader. If you don't fill that position then the dog will be forced to accept the role. Often a dog will develop problems because they don't want to be in charge but accept the role because no one else has. When a dog knows what to expect they are more relaxed and confident in their owners. Most dogs will never outgrow problem behaviors without help. The problems just escalate and multiply. The dogs are then either neglected, abandoned or turned in to shelters. Once we make the decision to bring one of these wonderful creatures into our lives we must make the commitment to making it work. Once a dog enters the "throw away system" it is very hard for them to find their forever home. If you don't solve the problem behaviors then the dog will probably, eventually, be abandoned, mistreated, turned in to a shelter or die. Some owners seem to always have wonderful dogs and some owners seem to have problem dogs. Sometimes there is a mismatch as to the owner's lifestyle and expectations and the dog they have picked. No matter what the problems, they can be improved or solved with training. Often what is needed is the advice of an experienced obedience instructor. Instructors come with all kinds of training methods "guaranteed to solve all your problems." It is the owner's responsibility to pick the instructor best suited for their dog's needs. If you want to compete with your dog in obedience trials then you may need to find an instructor with an extensive competition background. If you want to find someone to help you build a good relationship with a family dog, look for an instructor specializing in pet dog training. The majority of people just want a dog with good manners that behaves well at home and in public. The majority of people need a pet dog instructor. Pet dog instructors come with all kinds of methods "guaranteed to solve all your problems." Nothing can be guaranteed in dog training because everything depends on so many things: Temperament, breed/mix, age of the dog; previous experience, commitment of the owner; method and experience of the instructor; and sometimes, believe it or not, whether the sun is shining or the day is cloudy. A good instructor will: put both the owner and dog at ease; have many ways of teaching each exercise; will answer questions with answers that make sense; will not be heavy handed and rough with your dog, nor will they require you to be; will not "guarantee" the solution of all your possible needs, but will give a realistic opinion of what expectations can be met; will be available; will listen; will have good people skills; will admit when they don't know the answer but will find out for you; has a good working knowledge of canine behavior; will be able to make quick decisions about changing something that isn't working; will put the dog in the position to make the right choice and quickly reinforce that choice; has good timing and observation skills and knows when to quit training if the dog becomes overly stressed. There are wonderful instructors that will be able to help you form a rewarding, lifetime relationship with your dog. There are also bad instructors that can do horrible damage to you, your family, your dog and your relationship with that dog. Choose carefully the person you work with. If someone tells you they are "certified" or "endorsed" then ask who certified or endorsed them. What training or testing did they have to go through to become certified or endorsed: Many wonderful instructors are not "certified or endorsed" by anyone. Ask how much and what type of experience they have and, perhaps, ask for references. Ask what type of method and equipment is used. If you don't understand as for more detail. Anyone can hang out a sign and say they are an instructor or dog trainer. There are no government standards for trainers or instructors. You must ask questions. Remember, the dog belongs to you. You are responsible for making sure the dog is safe. If, for any reason, you feel the training methods are wrong then it is your responsibility to protect your dog. Try talking about your concerns with the instructor or trainer. If you feel the training methods are harsh or not humane, then leave. There is a difference between an instructor and a trainer. An instructor teaches you how to train your dog under their supervision. A trainer does the training themselves. Some people are both instructors and trainers. There are many types of instruction and training situations available. There are group lessons where you sign up for a series of lessons held in a group with other dogs and their owners. Private lessons are available for those dogs that are too easily distracted or tense to be in a group class. Or whose owner needs the time flexibility a private instructor can arrange. Private classes are scheduled on an as needed basis or as a series of lessons. In-kennel training or board and train are where a trainer takes your dog for an extended period of time and does the training themselves. Make sure there is a written agreement between you and the trainer explaining methods, expectations, price and length of time the dog is to be left, etc. Expect at least one session for the trainer to show you how to handle your dog when it comes home. A word of caution, there are good trainers and bad. If your dog isn't in your sight you can not be positive of the care your dog is receiving or the methods used in training. As far as prices: group classes are probably the least expensive, private classes are next and in-kennel/board and train can become very expensive. Often all an owner needs is a little advice and guidance on which path to take with their new dog. Large problems are often not that large when discussed with an experienced instructor. Many dog/owner relationships have been helped for a lifetime by seeking the help of a good instructor before major problems surface. Dogs are perfect! They are perfect at being just what the are -- dogs. It is our responsibility, when we take them into our lives and homes, to help mold them into the awesome companions they can become. Dogs and all they give to us are a gift to be treasured and cherished. copyright NCRAOA please contact NCRAOA for permission to reprint |