Captive Dogs

Pets cause me great stress.
I've cared for animals all my life - and if an animal needs a temporary home, I try to help if noone else wants them - but i find a home for them at that point as soon as possible.

Dogs are a problem animal.

If you are going to have a dog... TRAIN HIM!

...and do it right.

Make your dog obey you and understand rules and commands.

If you dont - you're gonna have problems, your dog is going to have problems and your neighbors are going to have problems.

I've been wondering tho - why are some dogs so bad?

And what is it about our place as humans - to decide what bad is in a dog?

I think its whatever we want it to be. If we want a dog to not bite our kids, we usually wait for the dog to bite the kid, then we beat the dog - right?
Sound bad to you?
Maybe you are more humane than that... your dog bites a child, and you have it put in an animal shelter or put to sleep.
So you see - the humane thing to do is to train your dog before it does something you can't live with.
Every dog is different
and every home is different
You have to teach your particular dog how to live in your particular home.
You have to develop rules that you want your dog to live by
You have to establish a language with your dog.

"no" is a good start.

When the dog messes up - say no... stop being nice to the dog. Show him you are upset.
make it unplesant. Jerk his chain, make a loud noise, just make sure its something that the dog doens't like. Eventually he will learn what "no" means. Best if you dont have to yell it.

"good boy" - positive reinforcement. How does the dog learn what you want him to do? Teach him that "good boy" means "you are doing what I want you to do". When you say goodboy - always reinforce it with a loving touch, a treat, a smile and a gentle kind voice - or whatever the dog responds best to - without being too animated and obnoxious.

"Sit" - this is simple for dogs to learn and has no wow impact - it is important tho... because this is an easy way to teach your dog to do an anction on command. Once you establish this protocall, the dog has unwittingly learned to obey you - at least when he wants something.

"Outside" - used when house breaking

"Inside" - same

"Stay" - used for a variety of things. Get the dog used to waiting for a command or permission for key moments and places. This teaches the dog to listen to your voice and to remain still, and to be truely obediant.

"up" and "down"

these are just more commands to help your dog fit into your home better.

So - How will you train YOUR dog?

How will he end up fitting in to your life?

Will he be happy and servant minded?

Or will he be confused and think he can do whatever he wants, and constantly get yelled at?

Or will you LET him always do what he wants and LET him be the alpha - and let him stress your life to points unknown, and cost you lots of money and terrorize your family and friends?