Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz - The Only Dog Training Book Youll Ever Need: From Avoiding Accidents to Banishing Barking, the Basics for Raising a Well-Behaved Dog

THE ONLY
DOG
TRAINING
BOOK
YOULL EVER NEED

From avoiding accidents to banishing
barking, the basics for raising a well-behaved dog

Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz
Top Dog Trainer and Cofounder of Canine University

Edited by Andrea Mattei

ADAMS MEDIA
Avon, Massachusetts

2004, F+W Media, Inc.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher;
exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.

Published by
Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A.
www.adamsmedia.com
ISBN 10: 1-59337-015-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-59337-015-2
eISBN: 978-1-44051-910-9

Printed in the United States of America.

10 9

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Bielakiewicz, Gerilyn J.
The only dog training book youll ever need / Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-59337-015-6
1. Dogs--Training. I. Title.
SF431.B443 2004
636.7'0887--dc22

2003020386

Adapted and abridged from The EverythingDog Training and Tricks Book, by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz, 2003, F+W Publications, Inc. Additional material also excerpted and abridged from The EverythingDog Book and The EverythingPuppy Book, by Carlo DeVito and Amy Ammen, 1999 and 2003, F+W Publications, Inc.

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations

Interior illustrations by Kurt Dolber.
Interior photographs by Karen Hocker Photography.

This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases.
For information, call 1-800-289-0963.

Contents

Introduction

Can any book really be The Only Dog Training Book Youll EverNeed?

No way, youre probably thinkingespecially if your untrained dog is wreaking complete and utter havoc on your life. Maybe youre pulling out your hair because you have a new puppy who keeps having accidents on your good living room carpet, sinking her razor-sharp baby teeth into you every chance she gets, and chewing through any electronic device, pair of shoes, or purse she can get her eager little mouth on. Or, maybe an older dog who has never been properly trained has just become a member of your family, and you are now desperately trying to undo past damage. No easy task, most likely, if he jumps uncontrollably all over guests, pulls on his leash full force whenever you try to take him for a leisurely stroll, and attempts to dig his way out of the yard with more tenacity than an imprisoned convict. Whatever the specific reasons, the problems that come with training a dog can be overwhelming and exasperating. No wonder youre skeptical!

Try to put your doubts aside, though. Yes, this really is TheOnly Dog Training Book Youll Ever Need. And yes, you really can train even the most unruly canine. But it wont happen overnight. Proper dog training requires serious commitment on your part. Youll never succeed without consistency and constant effort, so be prepared to work hard.

If youre eager to improve your dogs behaviorand you must be, if youre reading this bookyouve probably stared at the seemingly limitless range of dog toys and training tools stocked at your local pet store. Perhaps youve sorted through some of them and have found tools you like, but youre not sure youre using them properly. Or, perhaps youve thrown money away hand-over-fist on all sorts of devices, only to be disappointed when they make no difference whatsoever in your dogs behavior. Either way, its important to remember that these things are just the tools, not the solutions.

When it comes to training, the only real solution is you. Yes, admitting that its all up to you might sound stressful, but think about it. Just as parents are the primary source of guidance and shaping for their children, so are you for your dog. The responsibility is huge, but the end result is infinitely rewarding. The good news is you dont have to rely on all sorts of gadgets, because you do have what it takes. You just need to learn the proper techniques.

The basis for all of the techniques in this book centers around clicker training. As you read through each chapter, youll learn more about what it is and how it works. The important thing to keep in mind is that with clicker training, yelling, punishing, or forcing will all become obsolete, because the skills youll learn will enable you to communicate with and teach your dog effectively. These methods arent temporary solutionsyoull be enabling learning for the long haul.

Start by paying close attention to your dogs personality and habits, being mindful of what causes her to misbehave and then preventing it, and praising and acknowledging the things she does right. Most of all, set yourself up to be the best leader you can be for your dog. If youre serious about learning along with your dog and building a closer, more rewarding relationship with him while youre at itgear yourself up and start reading this book now!

1: The Tricks to Good Dog Training

T he time you spend training your dog is critical to fostering your relationship with him. Its important to establish a good relationship with your dog from the start, and training a dog is like any other relationship. Its partly about providing your dog with rules and boundaries for what is and isnt acceptable, partly about teaching your dog what is expected of her, and partly about spending time together and learning to enjoy each others company.

From the moment you bring your new puppy home, she is learning how to get along with your familya species entirely different from her own. Remember, an untrained dog still learns things, just not necessarily the things you want her to know. As I often tell my students, you get what you reinforce. If you dont give her any instruction, or youre vague and inconsistent when you do instruct her, shes sure to get confused, and this confusion will result in undesirable behavior and mischief. But if you pay attention to what your dog is doing right and spend time teaching her what is expected of her, you will be rewarded with a well-mannered pet who becomes a beloved member of your family.

Much of your dogs training has to do with the structure you provide for her regarding what is and is not allowed. Teaching your dog the basics in the midst of various distractions and in new environments is part of being a good dog owner and will help you avoid future behavior problems. The better trained your dog is, the better relationship the two of you will share.

Good training strengthens your bond with your dog, because when you are training him, you are teaching him to share a common language of words and signals. Teaching your dog the meaning of the basic obedience commands gives you a vocabulary for communicating effectively with your dog in day-to-day interactions. As with any communication, you and your dog need to understand each other, and when you do, youll be amazed at just how intelligent dogs are and what can be accomplished through training. Once you learn to communicate effectively with your dog through training, you can nip behavior problems in the bud and even avoid them altogether.