training.

What we say to our dogs is important. How we say it is crucial. Different tones of voice are used to distinguish between commands, corrections, and praise. Commands are given in a firm, strong tone of voice. No chanting please. Corrections get a little lower, sharper and growlier. Praise is more exuberant and excited - pleasant, but not so exuberant as to incite him to wiggle out of control. All commands should be preceded by the dog's name. How else will Rover know you're talking to him? But even before that, you're going to teach Rover to look at you. Trace a line with your index finger from Rover's eyes to yours. As soon as he makes eye contact, talk to him and encourage him to sustain ...

This week, I saw a post on Facebook that bugged me. The person posted, "Train the owner, not the dog." This is a commonly used phrase in dog training circles. While I agree that this can be the case with dogs who are unruly – that the owner is a lot of the problem – it most often is NOT the case with puppies and dogs who have serious behavior problems. In my experience, where serious behavior problems are involved, it is the dog who has the problem, not the owner. Think about it. Most people who come to see me have had dogs before, some all of their adult lives. Yet, their dog is aggressive or has separation anxiety. They haven't raised this dog any differently than they have ...