Universal Press Syndicate
Why do so many people end up with such ill-behaved dogs? The mechanics of dog training aren't difficult, after all, and it's not as if there aren't a million books, videotapes, seminars and training classes available. And yet most people end up with a dog who's "sort of" trained -- in other words, not very trained at all.
So what's the problem? I've always felt it was a matter of attitude. How you approach dog training has a great deal to do with how much you're going to accomplish. View it not as a horrid chore, but as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between you and your dog. You'll have a better chance at succeeding, and you'll both have a much better time.
Don't think of training as a "you vs. your dog" endeavor. Training is about teaching, showing your dog the things he needs to learn to be a member of human society. You need to approach the task with love and respect for your dog, both of which he will return in kind.
Learning and practice need to become part of your dog's life, and that means your dog needs to be part of your life. So bring him in! Let him sleep in your bedroom and practice his "sits" in the kitchen. The more opportunities for interaction and practice you have, the faster your dog will learn and the more reliably he will respond.
You need to be positive in your training. Who likes a boss who's always ready to pounce on every misdeed? You don't, and neither does your dog. Positive reinforcement is essential to your dog's learning process. If all you ever do is tell your dog "no," your relationship isn't going to be a very good one.
Praise is cheap -- free, in fact! -- so use it a lot. Use praise when your dog's trying to get it right. Use it more when your dog's succeeding. Use it when your dog's just paying attention to you, because it's all connected. Reward the small stuff, and bigger things will follow. Be a fun person to be around, and your dog will love you for it.
And what about punishment? Here, too, people make some serious mistakes. Your dog needs -- craves -- structure in his life, and you need to provide it. But you also need to know how to respond when he pushes the limits, which he will.
A correction should never be a release of anger, a clearing out of pent-up feelings by unloading them on the apparent cause of the problem: your dog.
Instead, a correction is another way to communicate with your dog, to foster in him a clear understanding of his place in your human pack. As such, a proper correction is another way to strengthen the bond between you and your pet. "Punishment" could be as simple as the withholding of praise or using a distraction to stop the offending behavior and redirect your dog. Hitting or yelling at your pet isn't communication. It's abuse.
Are you being fair in what you ask of your dog? How would you feel about a boss who kept changing the names of your tasks or asked you to do two things at once? Or had different rules for different places and times? It would drive you nuts, wouldn't it? And yet, that's exactly what people do to their dogs all the time. Once your dog knows a command, use it the same way each time and never change its meaning. Be clear and be consistent.
What do I mean by consistent? One example I hear all the time is when someone says "sit down" to a dog when he really means "sit." Now you know that when someone says "sit down" to you, it's the same thing as "sit." But if you teach your dog "sit" as one behavior and "down" as another, you can understand why "sit down" is confusing. Which do you want? Sit? Or down?
Same for saying "down" when you really mean "off." I was visiting someone once when her cocker spaniel jumped on the couch beside me. "Down!" commanded her owner, and the dog laid down beside me, wagging her tail proudly. "She's so willful," said the woman, who didn't realize the dog had in fact obeyed her perfectly.
Keep training, and don't be shy about getting help over the rough patches by finding a good trainer or behaviorist. Dog training succeeds by degrees and by creativity. You expand the length of time and the number of situations in which your dog will execute a command, and you look for new ways to use what he knows so you can continue to develop and strengthen the bond between you.
So build, a little bit at a time, celebrating every step along the way. Living is learning, and learning is good.
Q&A
Tips for keeping kitty grounded
Q: We are having the worst time keeping our cat off the counters and tables. We turn our backs for a second and he's up in a flash, helping himself to food.
It's rude, and it's hardly sanitary. I've swatted him and screamed at him, but it doesn't help. He scats when he sees me coming, but he just gets sneakier about getting up there. Any suggestions? -- P.W., via e-mail
A: Interrupting your cat's unwanted behavior in a sneaky fashion is the key. Punishment just makes you a jerk in your cat's eyes and doesn't stop the counter-cruising when you're not around.
You need to outsmart your feline and make sure you are not caught in the act of correcting him.
You want your cat to think the counter and table are no longer fun places to hang out. Collect your arsenal: a water blaster gun, heavy magazine, air horn, empty soda can with pennies in it closed up with tape. Make a loud noise and startle him, or shoot the water gun. Do not aim for the cat; just be close. You want a startled response, not full-blown fear, pain or panic.
Once your cat learns that the counters and tables discourage his jumping up on their own -- remember, your cat can't know you're really the enforcer -- then your pet will be more inclined to keep his paws on the ground and his fur out of your food. -- Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp
Q: I was more than a little surprised to see you write that raisins and grapes can be toxic to pets. Are you sure about that? We've shared both with our dogs before. -- Y.R., via e-mail
A: We got quite a few letters about our inclusion of raisins and grapes in the list of off-limits foods for pets. But it's true: The Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has recorded multiple reports of kidney failure linked to raisins and grapes.
No one's really sure what the problem is, but the APCC is concerned enough to warn pet lovers that these fruits should not be given as treats. For more information, visit the APCC site (www.aspca.com/apcc).
(Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.)
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books.
On PetConnection.com there's more information on pets and their care, reviews of products, books and "dog cars," and a weekly drawing for pet-care prizes. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or visiting PetConnection.com.
GOOD BEHAVIOR
Illness can cause behavior problems
Does your pet seem short-tempered lately? Think it's spite? Think again. Imagine you have a toothache, feel fire when you use the bathroom or have bugs crawling all over you that make you itch. Would you be more or less likely to snap at a loved one?
Even low levels of discomfort can trigger aggression. Before guessing at the problem and possibly making it worse, start with a thorough veterinary exam for both minor and major medical conditions. Blood work, urinalysis, radiographs and other diagnostics rule out physical irritations and serious illness. Regulating thyroid and altering pets removes hormone-related aggression.
Aggressive behavior is also learned. So after medical causes are removed or ruled out, do yourself and your pet a big favor by starting a program of behavior modification using reliable, gentle methods. Veterinarians work with behaviorists, using medications to help pets in the initial stages.
(Animal behavior experts Susan and Dr. Rolan Tripp are the authors of "On Good Behavior." For more information, visit their Web site at AnimalBehavior.net.)
PET TIP
Cats can learn to walk on leash
Many indoor cats can be trained to enjoy an outdoor outing on a harness and leash. Choose a harness designed for cats, not for dogs, in a figure-eight design. As with collars, harnesses come in many colors, with lightweight leashes to match.
Don't expect your cat to heel like a dog, however. Walking a cat consists of encouraging your pet to explore with treats and praise, with you following. Never leave your cat tethered and unattended, which leaves him vulnerable to attack or to a terrifying time of hanging suspended from his harness should he try to get over a fence.
While no indoor cat has to be walked on leash, some of them come to enjoy it enough to make leash-training worth the effort to try. Be sure to walk your cat in an area that's free of such dangers as off-leash dogs, since a terrified cat on a leash is no fun to handle. -- Gina Spadafori
THE SCOOP
Parrots need to be handled properly
To make the most of a relationship with a new parrot -- in any size from budgie to macaw -- you need to set the right tone from the start. You need to assure your new bird that you are a wonderful, kind and fun person, but you also need to gently but firmly establish that you are the boss. This is done through consistent, firm handling and gentle training -- never, ever through punishment.
It's not hard, if you follow some basic guidelines:
-- Learn when to leave your bird alone. Birds are emotional and sometimes quite moody, and there are times when it's best just to let them be. Give him space when he needs it.
-- Control your bird's comings and goings. Instead of opening the cage door to let your pet out, ask your bird to step up onto your hand and then bring him out. Likewise, give the "step up" command when it's time to put your bird back in his cage.
-- Don't let your bird ignore a command. If you say "step up," persist until your bird complies. Birds are very smart, and if they figure a way around you, they'll take it. Once your leadership starts to erode, you'll have a hard time reclaiming your position.
-- Keep your bird at a level lower than your head. In the bird world, higher birds are leader birds. In the beginning, keep your bird's cage and play gyms below the level of your chin. When playing with your bird, keep your arm low, too, and don't let your bird on your shoulder.
Above all, don't ruin any good habits the breeder instilled in your bird by letting your pet become a demanding brat. Set limits and stick to them. Your bird will love you for it. -- Gina Spadafori
BY THE NUMBERS
I saw it on TV!
New way of reducing shedding? Great new toy for pets? If it's new and you've heard about it, chances are you've bumped into it in a store or seen it on TV. The top sources for pet owners to hear about new pet products (multiple answers allowed):
Browsing in store: 58 percent
Television: 57 percent
Print ad: 42 percent
Veterinarian: 26 percent
Friend: 24 percent
Direct mail: 19 percent
Source: American Pet Products Manufacturers Association
PETS ON THE WEB
Dogpatch loves agile canines
The Dogpatch (www.dogpatch.org) is one of the oldest comprehensive sites for dog lovers on the Web. The information on it is excellent -- especially the offerings on the sport of canine agility -- but things can be a little tough to locate.
That's because the site started small and just kept growing, with search engines, indexes and navigation more or less added as an afterthought. But don't let that discourage you, because it's a fun site just to poke around in. You'll surely find something of interest to you and your dog, even if it wasn't exactly what you were looking for in the first place.
Don't forget to visit the Dogpatch Forum, where dog lovers help each other with every aspect of care and training. The links page will help you find a lot of super new dog sites, too. -- Gina Spadafori
Pet Connection is produced by a team of team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of several best-selling pet-care books. Contact Pet Connection in care of this newspaper, by sending e-mail to petconnection@gmail.com or by visiting PetConnection.com.
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