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| In order for a dog to be well adjusted to living with his humans, he needs three things: exercise, training and love – in that order. Many people feel that if they shower their pup with love, he will repay them by being a perfect companion. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way in the animal world. Only the “top dog” in the pack gets treated like a king. He makes his own decisions and no one challenges him. So, by catering to your dog, you are relaying to him that he is top in the social order. To keep things under control, there are several guidelines to making sure your dog knows you are the leader. “Who’s in Charge” is an awesome article that explains how we inadvertently let our dogs take over and what we can do to get back the control we lost. “Guidelines to Being a Good Leader is a list of the guidelines which should be followed daily to help keep your dog under control. Exercise – running the fence line with the next door neighbor’s dog is not what I call exercise. Neither is a leisurely walk around the block. Dogs need a structured outlet for their energy that is both physically demanding and mentally stimulating. If you don’t have a fenced area to work in, put a long line on your dog so he can walk or run at his pace, not your pace. Bring a ball, a Frisbee or whatever your dog will chase and play a game of fetch. If your dog doesn’t bring the object back, teach him to! If he brings it back but doesn’t drop it, teach him to! If he is a great fetcher bring two different toys, teach him the names of the toys so you can throw both and tell him which one to bring back. Another great activity is jumping hurdles. You can easily and cheaply make as many jumps as you like using PVC pipe. Teach your dog to sit and stay while you go to the other side of the jump. Then call him over and have him sit in front of you. Add more jumps as he starts getting the hang of it. This is an excellent example of good, physical exercise which incorporates some basic obedience commands. Training – just going once a week to an hour long class for 8 weeks is not training your dog. The classes are designed to teach the handler (you) how to work with your dog. The skills you learn in class should be practiced while in class, working out any kinks with the instructor. You then need to use these skills every day in all situations. From the time you wake up in the morning until you go to bed at night there are many opportunities to work with your dog. Practice “come” for going outside, eating, etc. Practice “sit” before putting the food bowl down, the leash on, etc. Practice “down” during TV commercials, while reading the newspaper, etc. Practice “wait” going thru doorways and practice “stay” going from room to room. These are just a few examples of the many actions dogs are capable of learning. Some others are off, back, here, walk, stand, leave it, take it, etc. Dogs are very smart and learn quickly. With practice and patience you will have a well-behaved dog that you can control and enjoy wherever you go. Love – Possibly one of the biggest mistakes people make with their dogs is equating them to a human being. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard owners refer to their dogs as their child in a fur suit. But dogs are not like humans – they are animals. Their actions are based on instinct, not emotions. For them to feel loved they need a pack leader they can trust and take direction from. And they need a job to do so they feel vital to the pack. Much of the cuddling we do with our dogs is to make us feel good. They learn to accept all the hugging and touching, but it’s not a natural behavior in the dog world. One thing dogs love to do that is natural to them is to go hunting. Your daily walks are similar to hunting to your dog, so let him enjoy them. Use a longer leash, take different routes, and explore with him. Bring some food with, too, and stop along the way to share what tasty morsel you have brought. Being outside with you, exploring and sharing food, is ecstasy to your dog. Training Videos Visit PET VIDEO to see some great training tips videos |
| Offering Support and Training for your American Eskimo Dog |
