Sarah Fisher - 100 Ways To Train A Perfect Dog

In truth, dogs are already perfect as they all have many natural abilities such as herding, retrieving, protecting livestock and so on. They are social animals that can mix successfully with a variety of other species including humans, cats, horses, livestock and smaller creatures, and live happily in a range of environments. However, like children, dogs need to learn how to behave appropriately. As owners it is wholly our responsibility to help our dogs develop good social skills to ensure they are well mannered, confident and content.

Your dog doesnt want to become a president, but he would really like to work. His working skills are determined by his breed type and have been fine-tuned over countless years of selective breeding. He is a master at survival and is a thinking, sentient being.

If you do not have the time to train a dog but still want a faithful hound purchase one of these

Dogs enjoy learning and continue to learn throughout their life. Well-trained dogs are a pleasure to own. They are true partners and a much-loved, integral part of family life. They are obedient, joyful, entertaining, clever, content and fun, and they enrich the lives of their human companions on many levels.

Training does not mean you create an automaton that does not dare to put a paw out of place. Training is simply teaching your dog good manners to keep you sane and him safe while also giving him appropriate mental and physical stimulation to ensure he leads a happy and healthy life. Every dog has the ability to come when he is called, to lie down and settle when appropriate, to sit and stay, to walk calmly on the leash, to leave personal items alone and to greet people and other animals in a suitable fashion.

How you help your dog adapt to life in the human world is up to you. You may decide to try agility, working trials or doggy dancing; or you may prefer simply to work with him at home. Regardless of your aims, you will need to be a fair and effective teacher to help him fulfill his true potential, whether he will become a title winner of the future or be the

Dogs can be content in a variety of situations Little Finch lives happily on a canal boat and greets everyone who walks along the towpath

Dogs love being successful. Teaching them to work over obstacles, find hidden toys and treats and so on will enhance their physical, emotional and mental wellbeing

champion of your heart. The only golden rules that apply to dog training are to be calm, creative, consistent, patient and kind.

You will be amazed at what your dog can learn and perhaps more importantly, what you can teach him yourself. Dog training is not the preserve of a few highly skilled individuals who were virtually born in a whelping box. Anyone can do it and this includes you. Working with your dog using the techniques described in this book will also deepen the rapport between you, and open up wonderful interspecies communication. Your dog will become more co-ordinated and self-controlled, and will want to be with you, work with you, and listen to your every word (well, most of the time anyhow). Yes! It is possible for you to become more interesting than that squirrel in the park and more exciting than the mailman. You will also find that you learn skills that will enhance every area of your life.

Orsa and Naomi training dogs is not rocket science. It is great fun, extremely rewarding and should not be hard work for you or your dog

TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

The earlier you can teach your dog the better, because there will be less that he needs to un-learn. But older dogs can still learn new skills and even well-established unwanted behaviours can be dramatically reduced with time, knowledge and patience. While older dogs may be slower to learn due to changes in their physical health, the old adage that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks is simply not true.

Halo is 11 years old and still enjoys learning new skills

A well-trained dog is a flexible dog that can process new information and adjust to a variety of situations. We owe it to our dogs to ensure that they are happy, appropriately stimulated, well-fed and looked after while in our care; we also need to teach them how to be socially acceptable and to be able to adapt with minimum stress should their home life alter.

The benefits to humans of owning a dog are well documented, but owning an untrained, bored, insecure dog is unlikely to reduce your risk of stress-related diseases: many a well-intentioned, animal-lover has been reduced to a wreck by the antics of the boisterous four-legged canine monster they invited into their home. An out-of-control dog can also be costly. He may destroy your house, shred the interior of your car or cause injury to another person or animal simply by being unruly. Other anti-social behaviour, such as excessive barking when left alone, can also cause problems, and as all behaviours are linked, time spent educating your dog will help keep him calm and relaxed, whether you are with him or not.