You’re late for work. It’s raining, snowing, or brutally hot. You don’t want to wait half an hour for your dog to potty; you want him to go, and go… Your dog is not going to housebreak himself. To prevent accidents, and to help him learn to hold it, diligent supervision and confinement are absolutely essential elements of successful housebreaking…. Your first job when housebreaking your new dog is to establish a consistent schedule. Dogs are creatures of routine and habit. A consistent schedule will help your dog become housebroken… While socialization is vital to your dog’s happiness and good behavior, there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of. The benefits of a socialized dog far outweigh the risks,… Your dog doesn’t just need to be exposed to people and animals to be sure of himself. He needs experience with all kinds of sights, sounds, and surfaces. The best… Even if your dog is your only pet, he’ll encounter a variety of other animals in his life — some routinely, like other dogs, cats, and the local wildlife; and… Making sure that your dog is well socialized to other dogs requires time and effort, but the payoff makes the expenditure well worth it. You won’t have to worry about… Making sure your dog is well socialized with people is the single most important thing you’ll do for her in her life. The truth is, she can eat every shoe… Although how your dog behaves is serious business, and you are serious about him behaving appropriately, training doesn’t have to be a dull and serious chore. Approach the teaching of… ConsistencyContents In training, lack of consistency will come back to bite you in several ways. Inconsistency in commands causes confusion, like if you try to make one command have several… Timing is a critical part of successful dog training. There are several intertwined ways that good timing can significantly improve the success of your training program. Timing Reinforcement Your timing… Corrections, punishments, constructive criticism. Whatever you want to call it, at some point you will have to help your dog understand that he’s made an error and has to correct… There is a great deal of controversy regarding the use of treats in the dog-training process. You certainly don’t want to have to carry a bag of treats around for… There are four things you have to do get your dog to perform a behavior on command reliably: Get the dog to perform the desired behavior. Name the behavior. Reinforce… Reinforcers can be primary, or hard-wired, like food or social contact. Practically anything that your dog likes and will work to get is a primary reinforcer. Secondary, or conditioned reinforcers,… Like every other animal on the planet, your dog learns from the consequences, both good and bad, of his actions. If something good happens, your dog is likely to repeat… To raise your dog while keeping your prized possessions — not to mention your sanity — intact, you are going to have to find ways to wear out your dog… You work all day. Maybe you have a second job, or go to school, or take care of your family, too. The last thing you want to think about or… Everybody wants a well-behaved dog, but not everybody wants to take the time and effort to help their dog become one. Your puppy isn’t going to raise herself to be… For every type of person and dog, there is a type of competition to suit their interests. Some are popular, like the conformation show the Westminster Kennel Club puts on… In the AKC, the largest registry in the USA, breeds are split into groups based on their purposes. Many of the groups and some individual breeds have competitions or titling… If your housekeeping style is more obsessive-compulsive than freestyle, you have it made when it comes to controlling your environment. Pick It Up!Contents Just picking up all of the bits… Controlling your dog is the first part of your management plan. Young dogs (and some older ones) rarely make wise choices if left to their own devices — they do… …And The Big Things Will Take Care Of ThemselvesContents With dogs, leadership usually isn’t taken with violence. In truth, it’s really not so much taken as it is given. It… Without a doubt, your dog loves you. One of the most wonderful traits dog have is that they give their love freely, without reservation or condition. Love (Not) For Sale… Consistency is a major factor in all aspects of raising and training your dog. The importance of being consistent is really brought to your attention when you start actually giving… Every team needs a captain. Did you ever notice how the captains of sports teams aren’t necessarily the biggest or physically strongest members of the teams? They may not even… Leadership is the be all and end all of your partnership with your dog. From your dog’s point of view, your relationship determines how she behaves toward you and whether… There is an extensive variety of tools available to make easier the job of teaching your dog to walk on leash politely. For training purposes, you’ll need to outfit your… If you have a yard and want to allow your dog access to it, you’ll need a way to keep him in the yard. You have some basic choices when…
Teaching an Elimination Command
Supervision and Confinement as Housebreaking Aids
A Consistent Schedule
Socialization Cautions
Accepting New Experiences and Sounds
Socializing with Other Animals
Socializing with Other Dogs
Socializing with People
The Training Game
Consistency & Repetition
Timing in Dog Training
How to Use Corrections Fairly Instead of Nagging
Using Treats Effectively
Getting the Behavior You Want on Command
Primary and Conditioned Reinforcers
How Your Dog Learns
Tired Dog, Happy Owner
Low-Effort Ways to Keep Your Dog Busy
Are You Proactive or Reactive?
Competitive Performance Sports
Breed-Specific Activities
Controlling the Environment
Controlling Your Dog
Take Care of the Little Things
Love Is Given, Respect Is Earned
Say What You Mean, Mean What You Say
Alpha Is a State of Mind
Why Leadership Matters
Equipment — Collars, Leashes and Harnesses
Outdoor Containment