Dog Training

In This Chapter Understanding what it takes to be a Canine Good Citizen Identifying the tests Cramming for the tests Helping you and your dog pass the test To demonstrate that Buddy has achieved the training level that you want for him, you may want to consider taking the Canine Good Citizen test. Many dog…

In This Chapter Understanding what aggression is and what causes it Managing dogs high in prey drive, fight drive, and pack drive Dealing with a dog who’s aggressive about his food bowl Working with a fear-biter Knowing how to handle an attack by another dog Digging up the scoop about electric fences The term aggression means different…

In This Chapter Understanding some typical behavior problems Knowing your options for dealing with problems Managing noisy or destructive behavior Dealing with your dog’s separation anxiety Contending with soiling, dribbling, and carsickness Does your dog have what you think is a behavior problem? Does Buddy bark too much, but otherwise behave like a model dog?…

In This Chapter Taking Buddy for a walk Ensuring that your dog comes when called Teaching the “Leave it” command Taking your dog for a nice, long walk is balm for the soul and good exercise for both of you, provided he doesn’t drag you down the street. Teaching him to walk on a loose…

In This Chapter Using a leash Teaching the basic skills: sitting and staying Keeping your dog from bolting Behaving at the dinner table One question almost every dog owner asks is, “How do I keep my dog from jumping up on people?” Dogs jump on people as a form of greeting, like saying, “Hello, nice…

In This Chapter Getting yourself (and your dog) ready for training Distinguishing between leashes and collars Balancing fit and safety concerns Taking advantage of training treats Dog training is no different from any other activity — you need the right equipment for the job. Many choices are available to you, and in this chapter, we…

In This Chapter Distinguishing your dog’s instinctive behaviors Knowing what drives your dog to certain behaviors Profiling your dog’s personality Applying your dog’s profile to your training plans To train Buddy, you need some insight into what is happening at any given moment in his little brain. Here, your powers of observation can help you….

In This Chapter Examining factors that affect the training environment Influencing your dog’s ability to learn Recognizing your dog’s emotional and physical needs Evaluating your dog’s response to his environment Dealing with your dog’s stress Your dog’s ability — just like your ability — to learn and retain information is directly related to what goes…