Dog Training

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mikeal

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May 24, 2006
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I have a 2 year old traditional Shar Pei mutt and a 7 year old fox terrier mix. Both of them are reasonably well behaved. They are not allowed in the bedrooms or the on the couch. The terrier is always barking at other dogs while we are on walks. The Shar Pei is friendly with other dogs until they show the slightest aggression, then she freaks out. This started after she was attacked by a boxer several months ago. I don't need them to do backflips, but I'd like them to heel, stay and come on command, walk behind us like they are supposed to and ignore other dogs completely.

Training them has always been on my 'list', but our neighbor just got a pair of Presa Canario puppies, and he is not training them at all. I am trying to keep potential issues to a minimum.


I have never trained a dog before. Is is reasonable to expect to be able to train them myself? What resources do you recommend to teach me how to do this?
 
If you've never trained a dog before,you would probably be better off finding obedience classes in your area and taking them there,that will at least give you the basics and show you how to do it,then you can work with them on your own at home.
 
A lot of the cities around here offer dog obedience classes for a small fee. I'd suggest looking for something like that, if possible. If it's a decent class, you'll learn as much as the dog will.
 
Hi,

First off, yes you can train your dogs yourself. And you can get any number of good books and videos on the subject. But the most important thing is that you have a good attitude about training. I never train when I'm cranky, angry or upset.

Some quick basics. Keep training sessions short. 15 minutes per dog is long enough. You can do several short sessions spread out over the day if you like. When I do basic obedience work, I like two 10 minute sessions a day. Once in the morning and then later in the afternoon. Work with only one dog at a time. Put the other dog away. Out of sight and hearing. Remember that dogs have about a 10 second attention span. Always keep your commands constant and short. Dogs can generally remember about 20 to 30 spoken commands. If you intend to use whistle/hand commands also, I find it useful to teach voice and whistle at the same time. And when those are mastered, start introducing hand signals in conjunction later. Work one drill only per session. Keep training fun for you and the dog. And always, no matter what, end your training on a good note. Have your dog preform a command you know he can do successfully. So you can praise him.

Other than that, I would recommend finding a group of other dog owners that you can get together with to train on a weekly basis. Because not only is it often a lot more fun, but the extra eyes and experiences are helpful when you hit those rough patches.

Good Luck!

dalee
 
The basics are really pretty easy to teach dogs, but inexperienced people usually lack the consistency and discipline. Here's a link to Amazon, this guy REALLY knows dog training and has a fun and easy way to explain it.
Dog obedience is definitely worth getting into. Good luck.
 
our local Petsmart has an excellent teacher......I guess it probably depends on the individual....I would go "lurk" in the store during a class and try to get an impression of the instructor
 
There is a book called "How to be Your Dog's Best Friend" which gives some easy training techniques. It was written by some monks who raise German Shepards.

Some of these techniques also work on kids:D.

I taught my dog to heel (a couple of taps on my leg or a couple of finger snaps). When the kids were young, they thought they were supposed to do it too. Tap the leg, and there they were! This was particularly useful when taking them shopping. If they started to wander, just heel them......


Ric
 
I am a big proponent of clicker training - it's based on sound, proven scientific principles, and can be use to train very elaborate behaviors. Many of the petsmart classes use clickers, so if you find a competent instructor who really understands how clicker training is supposed to work, you can get really good results.

Unfortunately, many people don't really understand the clickers or the principles of how they work, and end up giving up on them as a training technique because they aren't doing it right. clickertraining.com is a very good starting point, and the clicker solutions group on Yahoo is excellent for asking questions.
 
Little dogs are tougher to train, but you only want basic obedience training so it's do-able. You can do this yourself. Be patient and consistent, don't lose your temper, and don't expect immediate results. You can do this.
 
Phydeaux is talking about the Monks of New Skete -- they've got a few good books. Smart, easy to understand, and not a lot of goofy hype or superstition.

I also like Patricia McConnell, who's an animal behaviorist who has written several good books. Vastly better than Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer dude.

I'd agree with the recommendation for classes. The classes are mostly for you, not the dog -- I've never understood the idea (now largely fading away, thankfully) of sending a dog off to training classes, like it's a kid.
 
smersh said:
I'd agree with the recommendation for classes. The classes are mostly for you, not the dog -- I've never understood the idea (now largely fading away, thankfully) of sending a dog off to training classes, like it's a kid.
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Hi,

It depends on the kind of training and the level of training you want. Classic example is hunting dogs. Most anybody can train a workable hunting dog, provided the dog is suitable. But it takes more talent and experience as a trainer to train a dog to Field Champion levels. So there are still a fair number of professional trainers for people with more money than talent.

dalee
 
I highly recommend talk to your vet about a trainer that he would recommend. They usually know better than anyone else who is a good trainer and who is not. The guy that works with my vet is the trainer for the Atlanta PD canine units, and he really knew his stuff.

As other have said, the chain pet stores' trainers can be hit or miss, so ask people who have gone through the classes or just watch and see how good they are.

You could probably do it yourself, but the classes can make the process much faster and easier if you have a good trainer. As Caesar Milan says, "I train people and rehabilitate dogs." The owner's bad habits are usually causing the problems, not the dog.
 
mikeal said:
What do you think about this guy?
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Leerburg is my go-to dog resource.

I took my dog to a 6 week training course. Of many things I took away from the class, one of the best was:

"If you put 100 dog trainers in a room, the only thing they will agree on is that the other 99 are wrong".

Find a method you agree with and stick to it.
 
remember, if you want to train your dogs to ignore other dogs, then they need to be around other dogs to learn it. a basic obedience class, if it is a good one, will be all you need and shouldnt cost too terribly much. You actually do the training yourself in these classes under the guidance of an instructor. That way, you both learn.
 
Best of luck in whatever method you decide to pursue! I'm currently in the same problem as you with my pup (well he just turned 1), who has some mild separation anxiety and only listens to you when HE wants to. Also, he just isn't the brightest dog :D
 
I've done dog training classes with my dogs over the years. I've found it's more about teaching me how to train the dog - than training the dog in the class. I was in a puppy class and we were supposed to be getting our dogs to lie down. I was doing - I thought - exactly what the instructor had showed us - my dog was looking at me like I was nuts. The instructor came over and tried it - just by moving her hands a different way, coaxing in a more effective way - the dog went right down. I was amazed. It was definitely people training. Worth every penny.
 
I was walking the dogs this morning and they went nuts trying to get at this little tiny dog. I think that they thought it was a squirrel.

They just opened a pet smart near my house. I think I'll take the dog down and check it out.
 
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