David and Nan Greenly
Spooner, WI
Email Us Or call us at:
715-635-9015
Puppy Training
There are links below this article that are very helpful.
Training is a loaded subject fraught with lots of emotional issues.
In the course of raising our dogges
I have found several helpful articles, books and websites on training. I would like to add any info or articles
you may find that we could all use. Be careful that it doesn't have a
Copyright, or give me
enough info on the author so I can ask permission to reprint.
Thanks, Nan
A Few Tips:
Teaching children the do's and don'ts regarding animals is among one of the most important lessons you'll ever teach them. Animals
are everywhere and though many are domesticated, this does not automatically make them safe. For example, in the U.S. alone, 1-2
million dog bites occur annually.
Today many homes are raising children along with the family dog. Naturally kids delight in hugging, petting, and playing with their
pets. But unfortunately, many children grow up believing that all dogs
are gentle and friendly like their pets, and commonly fall
victim to a dog attack, simply because they'd never been taught when it's not okay to approach a dog.
Start teaching your children the following safety guidelines regarding dogs when they are quite young, and continue reinforcing
these precautions frequently.
1. Never run up to a dog.
2. Never attempt to touch a neighbor's dog through a fence.
3. Never touch a dog that is growling, showing his teeth, or
barking hysterically.
4. Young children must never approach dogs without a grown-up's supervision.
5. Always hold your hand out first and allow the dog to sniff your hand.
6. Never grab at a dog.
7. Don't approach a dog that is a watch dog protecting his property.
8. Never attempt to touch a dog that is eating or has a bone or a treat of some sort.
9. Never hurt the animal by pulling it's tail or fur for example.
10. If the dog is leashed, ask the dog's owner permission to pet the dog first.
11. Keep your face away from the dog's, when approaching or playing with them.
12. Don't make loud noises or sudden moves when approaching a dog. Speak softly to it.
13. If a dog is chasing you, stop running, as this encourages him to chase you.
14. Avoid eye contact with an aggressive dog, and back off slowly and non-threateningly.
15. Do not touch, or attempt to touch, the animal's eyes.
Question: My puppy is getting quite naughty, he playbites my son's arms and jumps up, and when we go for walks he pulls us all
over the place. One of my friends told me he is to young to start training, at what age can I take him to a training school?
Answer: It has been proved by scientists that a dog of 3/4 months of age should be looked upon like
a 5 year old child.
Training should start as soon as your vet informs you that he is clear of his vaccinations. Most area's now run puppy social
classes designed for young dogs to explore other dogs and where you get some good information and basic knowledge. I personally
love these classes and so do children, this is a fun hour for all the family.
Question: Why does my dog turn round and round when he is about to go to sleep?
Answer: When a dog is going to have a sleep, his instinct will make him turn his nose in the direction that he considers to be
downwind. This way he can scent and smell danger.
Question: Whenever I wash my dog the first thing he does is roll on the grass and gets himself all dirty again, why is he so
naughty?
Answer: The dogs instinct tells him that you have washed away his identity, it is very normal for dogs to carry out this kind of
behavior. What I do when I have washed my dog, is I put her in an outhouse to dry off, then let her out, she does not normally roll
after that.
Question: Whenever I take my dog into the woods he always finds some droppings of other animals
and rolls in it, he come back
stinking, please can you tell me why he does this? Answer: I am afraid that this is an old instinct of the wolf that is still in your pet. When wild dogs or wolves hunt they will
roll in the dung of their prey. They are in fact trying to get the smell of the prey on them. This way they can get closer to kill
the prey. I think we have all suffered from this instinct!
Question: My dog will not stop barking when the telephone rings and will not stop when
I am talking, do you have any idea's?
Answer: The telephone is acting as a trigger, the phone rings you get up and start talking into the phone. The dog barks, you
most probably shout out "be quiet" so now your dog has your attention and has made you bark! The best way to deal with this is
to get a friend to phone you at agreed times, every 5/10 minutes. When the phone rings, don't move, look at the dog, do nothing.
After about 3 or 4 rings the dog will not react again. Try it, it works.
Puppyhood and Beyond
Puppies are growing animals. When they are young, they learn much and what is learned has a lasting impact. Even sexual patterns, which emerge as puppies
mature, can be affected by early experience. All dogs, regardless of breed, pass through various stages
as they grow and develop, physically, mentally, and
psychologically. Psychologists use the term critical period to describe a specific time in a dog's life when certain experiences have a lasting effect
upon their psychological development. Understanding these critical periods and a dog's stages of development will better help you to understand your dog's
behavior and how to handle him during these special times. Additionally, puppies benefit greatly when their owners understand their development.
Puppy Toddlers (3 - 6 Weeks)
During the Toddler period, puppies emerge on their own from the litter. They venture into the surrounding environment. This emergence from the litter is a
gradual and continual learning experience. During this stage of development puppies learn basic behavioral patterns specific to dogs. While playing, they
practice different body postures, learning what the postures mean and how they affect their mother and litter mates. They learn
what it is like to bite and be
bitten, what barking and other vocalizations mean and how to make and use them to establish social relationships with other dogs. Such learning and activity
tempers their own biting and vocalizing. From the age of five weeks, the mother teaches her puppies basic manners. They learn to be submissive to her leadership
and what behaviors are acceptable. If necessary, she growls, snarls, or snaps at them as a
form of discipline. When weaning the litter, for instance, the mother
will discipline her puppies so that they will leave her alone. Because the mother disciplines them in a way that they clearly understand, after a few
repetitions, the puppies will respond to a mere glare from her. If a pup has not learned to accept leadership (and discipline) in its early interactions with
dogs, its training will be more difficult. Puppies that are removed from
the nest too early tend to be nervous, more prone to barking and biting, and less responsive to discipline. Often they are aggressive with other dogs. Generally
speaking,
a puppy taken away from it's mother and litter mates before seven weeks of age, may not realize its full potential as a dog and companion. To
maximize the mental and psychological development of puppies, they must remain in the nest with their mother
and litter mates until seven weeks of age.
Socialization Period (7 - 12 Weeks)
It is at this age that rapid learning occurs. At seven weeks, puppies can learn and what they learn will have a lasting impact. Everything he comes in
contact with will make a lasting impression upon him as it never will again. Not only will he learn, but, he will learn whether he is taught or not. Though he
has a short attention span, what things he learns are learned permanently and resistant to change. Therefore, owners need to be careful about what their
puppies are learning at this time. Your puppy is very anxious to learn
how you want him to behave and react, and he needs to be shown what is expected of
him
in his new role as your pet. There are rules you will expect your puppy to obey. Establish those rules NOW while behaviors are easy to establish. For instance,
how your pet interacts with you is determined during puppyhood. What he does now is what he will likely do later. So, don't allow your puppy to do things which
will be unacceptable when
he becomes a dog. During this time, you and your puppy will also begin to know and understand each other. You will get to know about
your puppy's particular temperament and personality - whether he is strong-willed or eager to please, gentle or rambunctious, shy or outgoing, and
just what else makes him the endearing individual that he is. For the puppy, this is both an exciting and somewhat confusing time. There is a whole new world
of things to learn about and all sorts of new experiences to digest. Remember that the environments you put your puppy in are more complex than those he would
encounter naturally. Puppies must now learn a new set of rules. He needs to know learn how to interact with humans and other animals who live with them. Puppies
must adapt to the patterns and tenor of their new homes. All of these experiences and the behaviors which accompany them, must be learned. Because you
will impose such important demands on your puppy, you must help him to make the transition into the human environment. You need to lay a groundwork for a
trusting, happy mutually satisfying relationship. Keep in mind that puppies are less likely to broaden their experiences if they are insecure. In natural
environments, puppies approach new things cautiously. By giving your puppy brief, repeated experiences in new situations, you give him a chance to become
familiar.
If you don't expose your puppy to a variety of situations and new environments, inappropriate ways to adapt may be learned. During the
Socialization period, there is a
fear imprint period from 8 - 11 weeks. During this time, any traumatic, painful or
frightening experiences will have a more
lasting impact on your pup than they would if they occurred at any other time. An unpleasant trip to the veterinarian, for instance, at this time could forever
make your dog apprehensive about vets. To avoid this, take some treats and a toy with you. While you wait, play with your puppy and offer him treats. Have your
vet give your puppy treats along with lots of praise and petting before and after the examination. Avoid elective surgeries, such as ear-cropping and hernia
repair during this time. In general, avoid stressful situations. Remember, dogs are social animals. To become acceptable companions, they need to interact with
you, your family, and other people and dogs during the Socialization Period. Dogs that are denied socialization during this critical period often become
unpredictable because they are fearful or aggressive. It
is during this time, that your dog needs to have positive experiences with people and dogs.
Therefore, you need to socialize and teach your puppy how to interact with people and other dogs in a positive, non-punitive manner. You should gradually
introduce your puppy to new things, environments, and people. But, care must be taken in socializing your puppy with other dogs or in areas where many "unknown"
dogs frequent, prior to
the time that your dog has had three of its booster vaccinations against contagious diseases. Shopping centers, parks, and
playgrounds are good places to expose him.
Begin by taking your puppy when there are few distracters. Give him time to get used to new places. Make sure he is
secure. If you have children that visit only occasionally, have your puppy meet children as often as you can. If you live alone, make an effort to have friends
visit you, especially members of the opposite sex so that your dog will become accustomed to them. If you plan on taking your dog to dog shows or using your
dog in a breeding program, get him around other dogs. If you plan to travel with your dog, get him accustomed to riding in the car. Take him for brief rides, at
first. Go someplace fun. Remember, if new experiences are overwhelming or negative, the results could be traumatic.
Seniority Classification Period (12-16 Weeks)
It is during this critical period that your dog will begin to test you to see who the pack leader is going to be. He'll begin to bite you, in play or as a
real challenge to your
authority. Such behavior is natural in the pack and not necessarily undesirable. What is undesirable is an inappropriate response on
your part. It is important, at this stage, that
you establish your position as pack leader, and not just another sibling. Other behaviors, such as grabbing at
the leash, will be observed, and all are attempts to dominate you. Biting , in particular though, should always be discouraged. Therefore, you should not
wrestle or play tug of war. Such play is aggressive-inducing. What you see as a fun game may be perceived by your dog as a situation in which he has been
allowed to dominate. Wrestling, of course, communicates to your puppy that he is allowed to bite you. Tug of war sets you up in a dominance confrontation over an
object. He learns that he can keep objects away from you. During tug of war games, puppies will often growl. Growling is a dominance vocalization, designed
to warn another pack member that they better not confront the growler or he will bite. Puppies see these games as situations in which they have been allowed to
dominate. They do not understand that these are games designed
by humans to entertain them. You can continue to play with your dog during this period, but,
the relationship between you during the play must change. No mouthing of your body should be allowed and when your dog does mouth, you should respond with a
quick and sharp "NO!" or "No Bite!" Play that does not get rough is best. If you cannot keep the dog from getting overly excited during a game and he persists in
biting at you, don't play that way. This will only stimulate additional dominant behavior in the future. For these
reasons, this is the stage when serious
training should begin. Training establishes your pack leadership in a manner that your puppy will understand. By training your puppy,
you will learn how to
get him to respond to commands designed to show that you are in charge.
Flight Instinct Period (4 - 8 Months)
This is the age when puppies become more independent of their owners and are likely to venture off on their own. Puppies that have always come when called or
stayed close to their owners will now ignore them, often running in the opposite direction. This period can last from several weeks to months. How you handle
your puppy's refusal to come or stay with you will determine whether or not he will be trustworthy off leash. It is important to emphasize here that no puppy
this young should ever be off leash except in a
confinement area. Therefore, keep your puppy on leash when this period arises and keep him on leash until he
readily returns to you or shows no inclination to leave you. The privilege of being off leash outside of a confined area, is reserved for dogs whose owners
have trained them to the point where there is no potential for them to run and fail to obey to stop or come on command. Releasing an unleashed dog in an
unconfined area that is not well trained off leash is irresponsible ownership and dangerous to your dog. Even
well trained dogs can make mistakes or become
distracted by something in the environment so that they do not respond to their owners' commands. So, how do you respond when your puppy suddenly develops the
urge to bolt? First, you must, for his safety, put a leash or a long line on your dog whenever you are not in a confined area. Second, work hard on training
your puppy to come on command. Use the recall game
and the spontaneous recall. When walking your dog, suddenly run backwards and encourage your puppy to come.
If your dog still continues to bolt or run away, then your dog probably does not view you as the dominant figure in this relationship and you require special
help to resolve this problem. Even if the your puppy appears less inclined to bolt, this does not mean that he is reliable off lead without more maturity and
a lot more training.
Adolescence Period (5 - 18 months)
Adolescence can appear in smaller dogs as early as five months. In larger breeds, it can start as late as nine or ten months. In giant breeds, adolescence
doesn't take place until twelve to eighteen months. In general, the larger the dog, the longer it will take to physically mature. Some breeds can remain
adolescents until they are two and a half, or three years old. Adolescence is expressed in male dogs by scent marking behavior.
Scent marking behavior is stimulated by the release of testosterone into the dog's
system. At this time,
males may become macho. Male dogs may become less friendly
and even somewhat aggressive to other male dogs. He may begin lifting his leg in the house. He may
become very interested in girls, tend to roam, and certainly not interested in listening to you! Some males at this age become totally unruly. In females,
adolescence is marked by the onset of the heat cycle, estrus. During this three week period, your bitch could become pregnant. So, keep her away from all male
dogs. Bitches exhibit erratic behavior during estrus. Some get real moody and insecure. Others become quite bold or even aggressive. Adolescence is a very
difficult time for pet owners. They are surprised when their cute little puppy becomes a free and independent thinker. Adolescence is certainly a good time to
start (or reinstitute) rigorous training. You must work hard NOW
to mold the dog of your dreams. This course will teach you training methods which are based on
sound knowledge of dog behavior. You will gain knowledge about dog behavior and training techniques. This knowledge will help you to get through your dog's
adolescence. A dog that you view as too stupid, too old or stubborn or too spiteful can become a well mannered, enjoyable, and reliable companion.
Establish yourself as the leader of the pack. Be realistic about your expectations. You cannot expect young dogs to grow up overnight. Learn to
appreciate your dog's adolescence for it is a truly wonderful time. At this time of their lives, dogs are very energetic and exuberant in their responses.
They
can be full of beans, but still, delightful playmates. You as the owner must learn to channel that energy and exuberance into learning, working, exercising,
and playing games. It is not too late to to train (or retrain) your dog to help him
to become a long-lasting companion.
Second Fear Imprint Period (6 - 14 Months)
The Second Fear Imprint Period is similar to the one that occurred during the socialization period, but, it is much less defined. It occurs as dogs enter
adolescence and seems more common in males. It is often referred to as adolescent shyness. Your dog may suddenly become reluctant to approach something
new or suddenly become afraid of something familiar. This behavior can be very frustrating to the owner and difficult to understand because its onset is so
sudden and, seemingly, unprovoked. If you notice this behavior,
it is important to avoid the two extremes in response: Don't force him to do or approach
something frightening to him and don't coddle or baby him. To get through situations that make your dog fearful, be patient, kind, and understanding.
Desensitize him to the object or situation by gradually introducing him to it and using food rewards and praise to entice him to confront the fearful object
or situation. Do not coddle or reassure him in any way that will encourage his fearful behavior. Do not correct him either. Simply make light of it and
encourage him give him food rewards as he begins to deal with his fear better. Make sure you lavishly praise his attempts! This phase will pass.
Mature Adulthood (1 - 4 Years)
During this period your dog may again become aggressive and assertive. For instance,
he may become more turf-protective, by barking when someone comes
to the door. Temper his protective behaviors by teaching him how to accept strangers into your
home. His friendly play with other dogs may escalate to
fighting with other dogs. Teach you dog to ignore other dogs that he sees if he can't be friendly towards them. Take
him to places where there will be a few
dogs at first and train him there. Then, train him
in areas with more and more dogs. Next, allow him to interact with non threatening dogs. Puppies and bitches
are good choices, if he is a male. Always praise his positive efforts
to interact or if he displays no reaction. Gradually move onto male dogs. At bit of
caution here, adult members of the same sex, no matter what animals species, tend to compete with one another. Putting together two strange adults of the
same sex could result in a fight. Watch for behavioral signs of playfulness before allowing two dogs to play
together. Also, be alert to the posturing of
aggressive behaviors. Watch for circling behaviors, walking on toes, stiff tail wags, and tense facial expressions. Adulthood is
also a time that your dog may
again test your position as pack leader. If he does, handle him firmly, suspend any rough play that may be giving him the idea that he can
dominate you, and
continue with training. Additional classes or private help with training may be a wise investment. It can provide you with the structure and commitment to train
him that you need at this time. Proceed with training in a matter-of-fact, no nonsense manner and your dog will become a reasonably obedient dog. Give him
lots of positive attention for his efforts!
Closing Remarks
This has been a cursory look at some of the behavioral changes that often occur during puppyhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Other problems may arise at
these
stages which are not the result of the developmental period itself, but are caused by something in the environment or the dog's basic personality. Even
so, they are probably aggravated by immaturity and you cannot afford to overlook them. Understanding,
training, and perhaps professional help with training are
the keys to success. All dogs
are different. Some will not exhibit the behaviors we have discussed and others will
pass through them at varying rates with
smaller dogs maturing faster than large dogs. Remember that your dog needs you to play a role in his development and you can
do that with knowledge and
commitment to training. Learning plays a significant role in a dog's development. Through training, you actively take part in that process. This
course has been carefully designed with the capacities of developing dogs in mind. Throughout the course, you and your dog will be observed. You will be
advised if your dog exhibits behaviors which may be warning signs of potential problems. We will teach you
exercises which will help your dog to be a good
companion. The exercises your dog or puppy will learn should not tax him. Learning can be fun and each dog can achieve success.
*This article is Thanks to:
Sue St. Gelais
Hundmeister Reg'd Dobermans
Ontario Canada
I highly recommend the following site. They can also direct you to a trainer in your area
(in the Forum area). Be sure
to go through the articles, e-books, podcasts, FAQ's and members forum.
Although a lot of the info is for purchase. The free info is invaluable. http://leerburg.com/
NILIF
Nothing in Life is Free
Undesirable behavior can be caused by many things, including undetected illness. No behavior modification program should begin without first taking the dog to a
veterinarian for a complete physical examination. While you're there, give your vet a printed copy of this page and ask if it would be an appropriate technique
for you to try. The NILIF
program is an accepted standard in dog training/behavior but it is not, and is not
intended to be,
a substitute for an in-person, professional evaluation of your dog's behavior. This technique is intended for dogs in good health and of sound mind and
stable
temperament.
The NILIF program is remarkable because it's effective for such a wide variety of problems. A shy, timid dog becomes more relaxed knowing that he has nothing
to
worry about, his owner is in charge of all things. A dog that's pushing too hard to
become "top dog" learns that the position is not available and that his
life is far more enjoyable without the title.
It is equally successful with dogs that fall anywhere between those two extremes. The program is not difficult to put into effect and it's not time
consuming if the dog already knows a few basic obedience commands. I've never seen this technique fail to bring
about a positive change in behavior, however,
the change can be more profound in
some dogs than others. Most owners use this program in conjunction with other
behavior modification techniques such as
coping with fear or treatment for aggression.
It is a perfectly suitable technique for the dog with no major behavior problems that just needs some fine
tuning.
ATTENTION ON DEMAND
The program begins by eliminating attention on demand. When your dog comes to you
and nudges your hand, saying "pet me! pet me!" ignore him. Don't tell him
"no", don't
push him away. Simply pretend you don't notice him. This has worked for him before, so don't be surprised if he tries harder to get your attention.
When he figures out that this no longer works, he'll stop. In a pack situation, the top ranking dogs can demand attention from the lower ranking ones, not the
other way around. When you give your dog attention on demand you're telling him that he has more status in the pack than you do. Timid dogs become stressed by
having this power and may become clingy. They're never sure when you'll be in charge so they can't relax. What if something scary happens, like a stranger
coming in the house? Who will handle that? The timid dog that is demanding of attention can be on edge a lot of the time because he has more responsibility
than he can handle.
Some dogs see their ability to demand attention as confirmation that they are the
"alpha", then become difficult to handle when told to "sit" or "down" or
some other demand is placed on them. It is not their leadership status that stresses them out, it's
the lack of consistency. They may or may not actually be
alpha material, but having
no one in the pack that is clearly the leader is a bigger problem than having the dog assume that role full time. Dogs are happiest
when the pack order is stable. Tension is created by a constant fluctuation of pack leadership.
EXTINCTION BURSTS
Your dog already knows that he can demand your attention and he knows what works to get that to happen. As of today, it no longer works, but he doesn't know that
yet. We all
try harder at something we know works when it stops working. If I gave you a twenty
dollar bill every time you clapped your hands together, you'd
clap a lot. But, if I suddenly
stopped handing you money, even though you were still clapping, you'd clap more and clap louder. You might even get closer to me
to make sure I was noticing that you were clapping. You might even shout at me "Hey! I'm clapping like crazy over here, where's
the money?". If I didn't
respond at all, in any way, you'd stop. It wasn't working anymore. That last try -- that loud, frequent clapping is an extinction burst. If, however, during that
extinction burst, I gave you another twenty dollar bill you'd be right back in it. It would
take a lot longer to get you to stop clapping because you just
learned that if you try hard enough, it will work.
When your dog learns that the behaviors that used to get him your attention don't work
any more he's going to try harder and he's going to have an
extinction burst. If you give him attention during that time you will have to work that much harder to get him turned around again. Telling him "no" or
pushing him away is not the kind of attention he's after, but it's still attention. Completely ignoring him will work faster and better.
YOU HAVE THE POWER
As the human and as his owner you have control of all things that are wonderful in his
life. This is the backbone of the NILIF program. You control all of the
resources. Playing, attention, food, walks, going in and out of the door, going for a ride in the car, going to the dog park. Anything and everything that your
dog wants comes from you. If he's been getting most of these things for free there is no real reason for him to respect your leadership or your ownership of
these things. Again, a timid dog is going to be stressed
by this situation, a pushy dog is going to be difficult to handle. Both of them would prefer to have
you in charge.
To implement the NILIF program you simply have to have your dog earn his use of your resources. He's hungry? No problem, he simply has to sit before his bowl is
put down.
He wants to play fetch? Great! He has to "down" before you throw the ball. Want to go
for a walk or a ride? He has to sit to get his lead snapped on
and has to sit while the front door is opened. He has to sit and wait while the car door is opened and listen for the word
(I use "OK") that means "get into the
car". When you return he has to wait for the word
that means "get out of the car" even if the door is wide open. Don't be too hard on him. He's already
learned that he can make all of these decisions on his own. He has a strong history of being in control of when he gets these resources. Enforce the new
rules, but keep in mind that he's only doing what he's been taught to do and he's going to need
some time to get the hang of it all.
You're going to have to pay attention to things that you probably haven't noticed before.
If you feed your dog from your plate do you just toss him a
green bean? No more. He has to earn it. You don't have to use standard obedience commands, any kind of action will
do. If your dog knows "shake" or "spin around"
or "speak" use those commands. Does your dog sleep on your bed? Teach him that he has to wait for you to say "OK" to get on the bed and he has to get down when
you say "off". Teach him to go to his bed, or other designated spot, on command. When he goes to his spot and lays down tell him "stay"
and then release him with
a treat reward. Having a particular spot where he stays is very helpful for when you have guests or otherwise need him out of the way for a while. It also
teaches him that free run of the house is a resource that you control. There are probably many things that your dog sees as valuable resources that I haven't
mentioned here.
The NILIF program should not be a long, drawn out process. All you need to do is enforce
a simple command before allowing him access to what he wants. Dinner,
for example, should be a two or three second encounter that consists of nothing more than saying
"sit", then "good dog!", then putting the bowl down and walking
away.
ATTENTION AND PLAY
Now that your dog is no longer calling the shots you will have to make an extra effort to provide him with attention and play time. Call him to you, have him
"sit" and then lavish him with as much attention as you want. Have him go get his favorite toy and play as long as you both have the energy. The difference is
that now you will be the one initiating the attention and beginning the play time. He's going to depend on you now, a lot more than before, to see that he
gets what he needs. What he needs most is quality time with you. This would be a good time to enroll in a group obedience class. If his basic obedience is top
notch, see about joining an agility class or fly ball team.
NILIF DOES *NOT* MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION YOU GIVE TO YOUR DOG. The NILIF concept speaks to who initiates the attention (you!), not
the amount of attention. Go ahead and call your dog to you 100 times a day for hugs and kisses!! You can demand his attention, he can no longer demand yours!
Within a day or two your dog will see you in a whole new light and will be eager to learn more. Use this time to teach new things, such as 'roll over' or learn
the specific names of different toys.
If you have a shy dog, you'll see a more relaxed dog. There is no longer any reason to worry about much of anything. He now has complete faith in you as his
protector and guide. If you have a pushy dog he'll be glad that the fight for leadership is over and his
new role is that of devoted and adored pet.
Karen Peak, Westwind
If you don't train, don't complain.
Ultimately, we make dogs what they are: good or bad.
When things go wrong, look first to the other end of the lead.
David and Nan Greenly Email Us Or call us at: 715-635-9015