Each breed of dog, as well as those who are a mix of various breeds, has certain temperament propensities that will continue to be apparent regardless of the extent of training. A guard dog lives to bark and warn of intruders and a ratter will always be on the chase. However, there are techniques to use with a canine that will increase the likelihood that he will be well socialized, better behaved and more responsive to human interaction than a dog who does not benefit from this training.
The Basic Needs of Dogs
Other than the food, shelter, fresh air, exercise and health care the dog requires, her main need from the owner is love and positive attention. Pat her frequently, play catch with her, talk to her and treat her with dignity and respect. Do not dress her up in little pink puppy dresses or silly hats and parade her around like a doll. Treat her like a dog and a friend.
Training is needed for all dogs and house breaking a dog is best covered as a separate topic. Training principles are the same for most tasks the owner wants her dog to learn. Command, repetition and reinforcement of good results will prove to be the winning formula.
Puppy Training Before Six Months
Even if an owner obtains an adult dog, it is very possible to teach an older dog new tricks. Certainly, getting the dog to obey a number of commands will be imperative for keeping order in the home.
A dog that needs to be socialized as an older dog needs special handling and will require more patience. If the dog is aggressive in any way, do not take her into a home with young children. It is best for an abused or abandoned dog with minimal training to be in a household with adults. Further, if they can get along with other dogs, the others will help the new addition to become trained and she will adjust more quickly.
In the ideal situation, the owner brings home a young puppy and trains him from the start. Keep the puppy in an enclosed area where he has limited access to things he can chew and damage. Puppies do need chew toys or rawhide bones for teething. Otherwise, they will go for the most convenient furniture leg. Have these chew toys available as soon as the dog arrives at the home.
Teaching a puppy simple commands like "Sit", "No", "No, not that!" and the like is relatively easy. Think in terms of soon, certain and positive cues. The sooner one can say the command, the more consistently it is applied and associating good behavior with a reward, will ensure eventual compliance. Use small treats when training, as opposed to filling the puppy up with full size milk bones.
Be loud and firm, but not angry or punitive. The dog may develop a pattern of negative attention if her behavior "gets a rise" out of her owner. For example, if every time you let her out of her area, she runs and grabs a forbidden remote controller, which causes the owner to run yelling about the room chasing her, she may decide this is a very entertaining game. Be calm and keep emotions in check, even when it is difficult.
More Advanced Training for Dogs
Intelligent breeds like border collies and labradors can learn more advanced tricks and tasks than some of the less bright breeds. Because mongrels are mixed breeds, they often end up with the most desirable characteristics of parents and can often be highly intelligent. A smart dog is somewhat equivalent to a two-year old child, though that is only a rough comparison. Since the animal has much keener senses than a child, he is more able to perceive danger, warn of intruders, understand risk, etc. which is more on par with how a human adult evaluates stimuli.
Teaching a dog to retrieve items, differentiate colors, perform tricks and all these bells and whistles will follow the same principles outlined. Patience and encouragement can make all the difference. Vocabulary is perhaps the most valuable lesson for the dog to learn. Learning words like danger, hurt or pain when the dog encounters negative stimuli, could someday save his life. If the dog is in peril, yell danger and come in a loud, concerned voice, and most dogs will obey once they have been taught what these words mean.
In general, the dog will take his cues from the owner. He will act like, fret like and comfort his master to earn approval and to emulate. Dogs are pack animals and tend to follow the example of their leader in all ways. Some dogs possess very domineering personalities and are referred to as alpha dogs.
In a group of dogs, the alpha dog will naturally lead the pack and may fight with other alpha dogs for control. These animals are special because of their very strong will and may be more resistant to training and good behavior. However, they are as loving and caring as any dog in the pack, and many dogs of this type would sacrifice their lives to save their master.
Give the dog all the necessities to thrive, but especially love, attention and respect. He will give these back to his owner with ten times the exuberance and glee.
Therese Haberman - With a MS degree and 25 years in HR mgmt, in 2005, Ms.Therese began a writing career specializing in children and HR.
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