Category Archives: Training

By Sherry Woodard

Bringing a dog into your family causes great joy all around. But, making a commitment to a dog is much like making a commitment to a human being: Both relationships require daily care and nurturing in order to flourish. So, as you embark (no pun intended!) on this new commitment, here are a dozen promises to consider making to your dog:

I promise to have realistic expectations of the role my dog will play in my life. I will remember that she is a dog, not a furry little human; she cannot satisfy all my emotional needs.

I promise to protect my dog from dangers, such as traffic and other creatures who might want to hurt her.

I promise to keep Read »

By Sherry Woodard

The trainers at Best Friends have found that dog training built on a positive relationship is the most kind – and also the most effective – method of training. When you have a positive relationship with the dog, you have the animal’s trust, and he/she wants to spend time with you and work with you. Training based on punishment or dominance negates any sort of positive relationship you might develop with the animal.

By reinforcing behaviors that you like and want to continue seeing, you set the dog up for success. Positive relationship based training is effective for teaching new behaviors or changing current behavior for any physically and mentally healthy animal. Regardless of an animal’s Read »

By Sherry Woodard

If you want a well-trained, well-mannered, well-socialized dog, interact multiple times every day with your dog, with the goal of building a foundation of trust and a healthy relationship. (See “Why We Use Relationship-Based Training.”)

All dogs benefit from learning and practicing skills daily. Keep all interaction fun; if you are stressed on a particular day and will not play nicely with your dog, skip spending time with your dog that day. Dogs are sensitive to your emotional state and will pick up on your stress.

Things to Teach and Practice Daily

House-training. Read »

By Sherry Woodard

Dogs need guidance and consistent training from their people if they are going to live in harmony with humans. All dogs must be taught acceptable behavior, and one way to do that is to train your dog or pay a trainer to do it. Dogs are happiest when they know who’s in charge and what’s expected of them.

When you are looking for an obedience class or a trainer, shop around and ask questions. You will want to find a trainer who uses humane methods, someone who uses positive reinforcement rather than punishment. Ask if you can watch the trainer give a class and speak with people who are currently taking a class. If the trainer says or does anything that you are uncomfortable with, you may want to look elsewhere.

With Read »

By Sherry Woodard

Why should I use a crate? Dogs are hard-wired by their genetic history to be den animals. A den is a small, safe, well-defined space. It is a place in which dogs feel instinctively safe. It is also a place that they instinctively avoid soiling. The combination of these two native traits are what make crate training, done in the right way, a kind and effective component in house-training your new puppy or dog.

A crate can also be a place for your dog to rest or have “down time.” If you have just acquired a dog, a crate can limit access to the entire house until your new dog knows the house rules. A crate can help with house-training by setting up a routine. For example, you can feed the puppy in the crate Read »

APRA has specific rules when it comes to dealing with our canines in and around the shelter. Jumping up on people is not a desired behavior or to be encouraged.

Below are the rules of how we should work with shelter dogs that have the habit of jumping. Also included, is a phenomenal article by Victoria Stilwell that addresses this issue. The article can be found on Victoria’s blog at http://positively.com/author/victoriastilwell/. Check out her website at http://positively.com.

APRA Shelter Guidelines for Dogs that Jump

1. Consistency is crucial! Everyone must use these guidelines Read »

By Sherry Woodard

There are many activities that you can enjoy with your dog. Here are some examples:

Agility. In agility trials, human handlers guide dogs off lead through obstacle courses that consist of hurdles, teeter-totters, tunnels, balance beams, weave poles, climbing structures, etc. Agility trials can be very competitive, or they can be done just for fun. Dogs gain confidence, release energy and learn how to stay focused while in high spirits. There are various organizations in the United States that sanction agility trials. For more information, visit www.ehow.com . Click on Read »

By Sherry Woodard

Why does my dog chew on things?

Chewing is a normal canine behavior. So, instead of punishing your dog for chewing, try to redirect his attention to more appropriate objects.If your dog starts chewing on an inappropriate item, simply offer him an appropriate one. When he begins to chew on it, give him lavish praise. You shouldn’t allow your dog to chew on any of your possessions (even the ones that you don’t mind him chewing up), since he can’t distinguish between an old worn-out shoe and a brand-new one.

What sort of things should my dog chew on?

Pet supply stores have a wide Read »

By Sherry Woodard

Many dogs have sensitive areas where they would rather not be touched. If you’ve adopted a dog with an unknown past, you may never know what past experiences triggered your dog’s current aversion to having certain areas of his body touched.

These past experiences may have included one or more of the following:

• If the dog’s nails were cut to the quick, it is very painful. The next time someone tries to lift and hold a paw, the dog may expect pain.

• If the dog was badly matted or overdue for a grooming, her hair may have been pulled during grooming. Mats themselves can become painful as they pull on Read »