Understanding Your Dog

  In This Chapter Preparing for off-lead control Deciding on the right off-lead equipment Respecting your puppy’s limitations Protecting your off-lead pup with the Emergency “Down” No one can underestimate the pleasure of living with a well-trained dog. In Chapter Training through Your Pup’s Growth Stages, I cover leash-training techniques; master those exercises before you begin…

  In This Chapter Using direction instead of correction for housetraining success Determining a potty routine for your puppy Understanding the differences between paper and outdoor training Housetraining your pup kindly and cheerfully I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard “He knows it’s wrong! Just look at his eyes — guilt’s…

  In This Chapter Training your puppy with positive reinforcement Using treat cups and snack packs as training devices Discovering clicker-based training Improving communication with targeting and point training Believe it or not, you can solve more problems with positive feedback than with discipline. I’ve used every technique in this chapter, often simultaneously, and I…

  In This Chapter Encouraging consistency among your family and friends Creating a clan of helpers Comparing puppy schools and private trainers Bringing up a well-rounded puppy in today’s society is definitely not a one-person job, even if you do live alone. However, if you’re surrounded by family members or friends, striking a balance between…