Teaching Your Dog To Come

Teaching your dog to come is absurdly easily. It is also the first command you should teach your dog as it will help you control where the dog goes. Using this command at the right time can also save your dog’s life. You can use the command to steer him or her away from oncoming traffic or away from a porcupine.  

You can start teaching your puppy the “come” command on the first day that you bring him home.   Usually your puppy will just like you enough to do it and without much resistance.    This command is one of the most important because you want your dog to return to you under any circumstances, whether he is chasing another dog in the park or looking like he wants to follow a sexy poodle all the way home.  

Not only is the come command an easy command for canines to understand; it also establishes a loving and familiar bonds between the two of you. It establishes you as the leader. You want to avoid going to where your dog is as that puts you at the wrong end of the power struggle. Always make your dog come to you.   If you are chasing your dog then he or she has taught you how to ,come, and not the other way around.  

To teach your dog to “come” without using a leash, stand four or five feet from your dog and tell him ,Sport! (or whatever your dog’s name is ..) Come!, in a very happy voice. When your dog approaches you, pet him, praise him and tell him ,Good Boy!, (or ,Good Girl!,) and give him a treat.  Don’t repeat the lesson right away but repeat it several times a day, making sure you reward him fast enough and in a way that makes it obvious to the dog that it is the act of approaching you that is earning the reward.  Most dogs have a four second memory so make sure you have that treat handy.

is a good idea to keep them in your pocket out of the sight of the dog so that the treat’s sudden appearance is like a sudden miracle form the doggie point of view.  Never call your dog to you if you’re angry or use a commanding, stern tone of voice. This might convince him to avoid you.   When you say, ,Come, you don’t want the dog trotting the other way.   He needs motivation.  

To teach your dog the ,Come, command using a leash start walking with your dog at your side. As you’re in motion, take a sudden step back or to the side, snap the lead to turn him toward you and give him the ,Sport, Come!, command. Then walk backwards as he moves toward you and encourage him to follow as you repeat the command. Praise him generously when he follows you. Repeat until he gets the idea that ,Come, means he should come with you.  Remember that f you are using a leash, the ,Come, command should never be a tug of war contest of brute strength between you and your dog.

Pet Blog
, , ,

Taming an Alpha Dog

An Alpha Dog is a dog that thinks he is the boss. You need to teach him that the opposite is true.  

As alpha dogs are very sensitive to body language, using your body language is the best way to train them. If you are displaying body behaviors that confuse him then he is not going to be able to read your ,position, and decide that you incompetent. He will then try and take over your position as master.

 Oddly, many behaviorists believe that most dogs actually dislike the position of alpha dog, but take it on as a necessity when they see you being weak.   Most dogs would prefer to be a dog lower on the social rung where life is more secure, well defined and easier.   So part of your dog’s aggression might be due to the fact that he is irritable at having to take on the task of doing your job as the master.  

To get your dog to respect you, you are going to adopt body language that will impress him. You need to have a confident posture, a dignity and a calm. This is why emotionally ill, mentally ill or people with addictions often end up with an alpha dog The dog picks up on the addict or mentally ill person’s insecurity, inconsistency and inability to communication. Dogs can sense such problems as low self-esteem and will ignore the commands of someone who is uncooperative.  

If you need your dog to be submissive, (but not too submissive) you need to have good posture and the ability to make meaningful eye contact with the animal.   You should speak to him in a normal voice and never lose your temper. You should never stoop to use baby talk or your dog will never learn. You should also never beg your dog to do something. Dogs respect personalities that are a bit tough but still calm in tone.  

With most dogs, just this change in your attitude and an obedience course will be enough to train an alpha dog. However if the dog has already been allowed to get away with growling or biting, then he might not give up his alpha position that easy. Usually your assertion that you are the leader of the pack can cause your dog to act more aggressively then before. This is where you might need a trainer.  

If you decide to train the dog yourself, keep in mind that you are the same owner who trained your dog to be the alpha dog in the first place.   Don’t try the same thing twice and then expecting a different outcome. If your dog is jumping, biting or snapping and snarling at strangers your first responsibility is to put a muzzle on the dog until you figure out what the problem is. Also you must always keep the dog on a leash.    If you own a dog that displays aggression, then take out liability insurance. Your dog is out of control and unpredictable.

Pet Blog
, , ,