A FEW THINGS TO REMEMBER AND NOT TAKE FOR GRANTED

ABOUT A DOG.

Whenever you obtain a dog irrespective of age, training can always be invaluable.

To want to have a dog that is at least mildly obedient is not wrong, unfortunately so many people seem to have the perception that dogs become trained somehow naturally and without much effort

I`m sure you`ll all agree such a creature doesn`t exist, it is our responsibility as the owner or handler to nurture and demonstrate what exactly is required of a dog and when.

Many people believe that when going to dog training classes they are taking the dogs to be trained. It may come as a shock to some people then that it is actually the owner that requires training. Once the owner or handler knows how to command the dog and get the dog to react to the command that requires a lot of patience and commitment, the reward that the dog will give you may seem a long way off  initially but perseverance is essential.   Similar to a baby/child depending on the age of the puppy or dog they need to be given clear instructions and demonstrations in order to understand what is expected of them.

Remember to give clear commands and do not "waffle" or confuse the dog with endless ramblings in an effort to get them to understand better!. You will just get more frustrated and the dog more confused of what is expected.  Generally use the dogs name to get their attention and then the command, 2 words should be sufficient, but this does not happen overnight!.  That is why training is not a "quick fix" and forgotten about after the 10 week course. Training can be done anywhere that you choose providing you have the dogs attention and no other immediate distractions.

Although tiring your efforts will pay off if above all else you remain consistent, never lose your temper or end on a bad note with your dog, and always remember to give praise or a reward of either a small titbit or game with a toy will let the dog know they have done what you asked. keep training fun and they will pick up commands quickly, do not be concerned if they are not always consistent and sometimes "turn a deaf ear" go back to basics and show them what you expect, and always remember praise when they do what you want.

Dogs will always be a challenge at times invariably in front of other people,  never get embarrassed by your dog, other dog people will have or be going through identical circumstances.  No true dog lover will ever judge another person in such a way;   they will sympathise and should offer words of encouragement. After all we all aspire to the same thing, a well-trained and well mannered dog that we are not ashamed to take out in public and proudly show off !.

The dog that drags its owner down the road could be one or all of the below :

Too strong for the owner and an alternative collar and lead should probably be considered by the owner, or the owner thinks this is normal and has never known different.  

Or the dog has always been allowed to do this and has never been trained to behave differently.

Or it is the sheer excitement of going somewhere, the opportunity to meet other dogs and sniff lots of interesting smells and meet people who should want to make a fuss of the dog.    

At K9friends we want you to enjoy your training and realise that it does make a difference to both you and your dog, you will both understand each other easier and you will have a better understanding about why your dog does certain things and behaves in certain ways.

We are all very much dog lovers and have a mixture of breeds between us, we hope that you will continue to train your dog, long after your 10 week course ends even if you do not continue coming to the club.   If you do not practice what you have learned and repeat these instructions with your dog, you will end up back at square one; so rather than letting this happen, plan what you want to do, just 5 or even 10 minutes a day could make a lot of difference. Just make sure you remember your dog has needs and requires mental stimulation just like you do and this is just as important for a lot of dogs as well as physical activity.   

A lot of us nowadays lead hectic and busy lives and few of us have the privilege of being at home all day doing what we please!  Therefore time at home is precious and getting the most out of your life and you dog can require some juggling.  Remember to make their time quality time and you will end up with a content and happy dog, deny them sufficient love or attention and no amount of trouble can ensue.     A lot of dogs get labelled "troubled, difficult, demanding or boisterous", most serious dog lovers would question "why is a dog behaving like that"? How long has it been like that and have there been any changes to the normal routine?  The more you analyse why something has happened you will often find the answer yourself, the next stage is deciding what do do next and regain control firmly but in a friendly way.  There are many books on such topics but you cannot beat talking over your problems with other dog people, you will often find you have far more in common than you thought!      

At K9friends our dogs are really important to each of us and when we are not obedience training, we take our dogs to agility clubs and sometimes agility shows. In spring and summer we visit local fun dog shows, above all else we don`t take life too seriously we believe in having fun with our dogs sometimes we laugh at them; more often I`m sure its the other way round! We just don`t care, life is too short to get up tight if your dog doesn`t do what you ask at an obedience club or show, if you get angry the chances are your dog will go to pieces and not do anything else right, they respond to our moods and body language far more that we consciously realise or give them credit for. 

Remember we are the ones privileged to have a dog enriching our lives and making us a better person.

Thank you God for creating the DOG!        ( Jackie , March 2004)