Rick Caran - Canine Bootcamp: Basic Training for the Dog You Love

CANINE
BOOT
CAMP

Basic Training for the Dog You Love

Rick Caran

Copyright 2007, F+W Publications, 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: 1-59869-090-6
ISBN 13: 978-1-59869-090-3
eISBN: 978-1-44051-720-4

Printed in Canada.

JIHGFEDCBA

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available from publisher

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

Contains portions of material adapted and abridged from The Everything Dog Book by Carlo DeVito and Amy Ammen, 1999, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Puppy Book by Carlo DeVito and Amy Ammen 2002, F+W Publications, Inc.; The Everything Dog Training and Tricks Book by Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz, 2003, F+W Publications, Inc.; and The Everything Dog Health Book by Kim Campbell Thornton and Debra Eldredge, D.V.M., 2005, F+W Publications, Inc.

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

CONTENTS

Introduction

H amlet was a treasured member of my family, from the beginning of time, or so it seemed to me as an eight-year-old. He was a gentle giant of a Great Dane, who I would lie next to or right on top of, and hang out with. My four brothers and I were told of how Hamlet once stopped a baby carriage containing one of us from rolling down a hilly street when my mom turned away for a moment. And then there was the time when I was two and had disappeared. Hamlet seemed to understand what the frantic search was about and sniffed me out in the laundry closet taking a nap. He barked to alert the family that I had been founda scene right out of Lassie.

I never considered training him. Me, an 85-pound, nine-year-old, train this 190-pound gentle giant? He seemed to have natural wisdom, knew what to do, and certainly seemed to know right from wrong. Hamlet was like my third parent; he took care of us.

Then Skippy came along when I was nine. Skippy was a mutt, a little black and white stray. But, best of all, Skippy was mine. It was the old story: My folks said, You can keep this dog, if you care for it. Because he was mine, the very first living creature that was all mine, I felt the need and responsibility to be there for him. I was all he had.

Hamlet seemed to be as attached to this little scruffy pup as I was and Skippy adored him and followed him everywhere. While Hamlet was princely, Skippy was a court jester. He made me laugh all the time. I learned my very first lesson about training dogs from Skippy. I noticed that he felt good when I was smiling and he quite obviously went through antics to get me to smile. He was aware of my emotions. When I was sad, he was sad. When I was scared, he would comfort me. But mostly, when I was happy, he was happy very happy! It was my first lesson in the value of positive reinforcement. I realized that you can accomplish so much more with a smile than you can with anger.

I didnt think of it as training. I was just having fun, teaching him a few tricks. The more I taught him, the smarter he became, or so it seemed. He absorbed every lesson and begged for more. There was a communication that developed with this little pup that amazed me. It was in the eyesa knowing, understanding, and loving look.

I began training Skippy a little every day. Then, to my amazement, I noticed that Hamlet, who was always there, started imitating some of the things I was teaching Skippy. I started including him in the lessons. At eleven years old, he was slowing down a bit, but this seemed to perk him up. He was as excited as Skippy at training time. I learned that you can teach old dogs new tricks. Maybe not as many or as fast, but it can be done.

I dont know if they had much in the way of dog training manuals in the 1950s, but Canine Boot Camp reflects the self-taught methods I discovered as a boy, and gets to the heart of it more directly. This book is more than just a dog training manual; its a dog training philosophy, stressing the use of positive reinforcement, rather than punishment to achieve desired results. It discusses many aspects of the canine/human relationship, including the characteristics of various breeds, as well as how to discover and deal with the personality and ability of your own dog, and much, much more.

What do a good boot camp drill instructor and a good dog trainer have in common? They both strive to produce good citizens through conditioning, practice, repetition, education, and discipline, delivered with love. Love? Yes, even the crustiest drill sergeants want to prepare their trainees for the world, as they would their own children.

We share our homes, our lives, and our love with these wonderful canine creatures; why not, using the right training methods, develop your dog into one thats a pleasure to be with.

Rick Caran

CHAPTER 1
Enlistment: What Is Your Dog Like?

T aking a moment to get an idea of who your dog is can help you design a training program that will be effective in teaching him to fit in with your family. Finding out how your dog responds to distractions and whether toys or games motivate him may be helpful in putting together a basic training program that is easy to implement.

How Well Do You Know Your Recruit?

Breaking your training sessions down into small steps, finding out what motivates your dog, and finding out where your dog is most distracted will help you know where to start. Below are some questions you might want to ask yourself before you begin your training program.

Is he energetic or laid back? A maniac retriever or a couch potato?

Does he do something that youve always meant to put on cue but didnt know how to?

Is his attention span short or long? How does he respond amid distractions?

What is his favorite treat or toy?

Does he give up easily or does he persist until he gets the job done?

Understanding your dogs personality and learning style is essential to enjoyably and successfully teaching him tricks or anything else. Combining an energetic dog with a fast-moving and flashy trick is exciting and invigorating not only for the dog, but also for your audience. Knowing your dog includes knowing what motivates him. Finding just the right kind of treat, toy, or game will help your dog associate training with fun and help your training program be a success.

Energy Level

Some dogs are couch potatoes; others run circles around us all day. Differences in breed, temperament, and personality all come into play when designing a successful training program. Living with your dog makes you the expert when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of her personality and just what will work for her. Paying attention to how active your dog is can help you learn about her personality and help you train and teach.