Reading Work Sample
Jordyn Campbell
Among the many important responsibilities dog owners have, training a dog is among the most important. Well-trained pets are easier to care for and love, cause less damage to your home (and theirs), and live happier lives. In this article, we cover many of the basics of dog training. But we also cover some important facets of dogs themselves -- which you need to be familiar with in order to communicate with your pooch.These include how dogs communicate to you through body language and noises. Dogs send myriad messages with their bodies and their voices -- this is one reason why they're so fascinating and beloved. The more you understand their messages, the more you understand them and how your own messages are being understood. Read this entire article carefully -- there are three sections after this one -- and then put the wisdom into practice. Here's what we'll cover:
Understanding a Dog's Body Language
Dogs use their entire body to communicate. Their eyes and ears are especially dynamic, and they give sure-fire clues to dogs' emotions and impulses. How dogs tilt their heads, move their legs and torsos, wag (or raise or drop) their tails -- all these things contribute to the messages being sent. In this section, we cover many of the silent messages your pooch will give you, from his nose to his tail.
Interpreting Dog Barks and Noises
Dogs are probably the most "verbally" expressive of all domesticated animals, and this only adds to their charm. From the whine of a puppy to the angry growl of an adult, dogs mean what they say. The more you understand these signals, the happier you and your dog will be. At the same time, it's important to know which noises constitute an annoyance, and how to train your dog to stop making them. We'll offer suggestions on teaching a dog to stop barking in this section.
It's important to know not only how to train a dog, but what to train it to do. Puppies have no sense of correct behavior, so they offer a million things you could correct; which should you address? In this section, we'll cover what to correct as well as how to train a pooch. We'll also discuss dog obediences classes -- also known as puppy kindergarten -- and specific thing you can teach your dog if you plan on traveling with it. Life tosses up myriad challenges to a dog's sense of obedience, and the more he's trained to understand, the happier you both will be. Finally, for fun and practical benefit, we'll cover a few basic tricks you can teach your dog. They're a wonderful way to bond with your pet and to entertain the both of you, while teaching it how to behave and react to your commands. Everybody wins!
Fortney, William. "How to Train a Dog." Animal Planet. Discovery Communications, Web. 29 May 2013. <http://animal.discovery.com/pets/how-to-train-a-dog.htm>.
Questions
- What is the main idea of this article?
-What did the author say about "Understanding a Dogs Body Language?"
Interpretation:
-Why do you think this article was written?
-What is the problem with not knowing how to train/communicate with your dog?
Evaluation:
-What is your opinion of this article?
-What is the most important main idea of this article?
Answers
-The main idea of this article is well as the title says "How To Train A Dog." It gives you unique information on how to live a happier life with your pooch. Also, it gives you helpful hints on how to understand your dog better, by communication skills.
-In this little paragraph, "Understanding a Dogs Body Language" the author is talking about ways to communicate with your dog, and how to understand his/her emotions and what he/her is trying to say
Interpretation:
-I believe this article was written because not everybody knows how to train or communicate with their dog. Some people don't know why the dog does little things like wag their tail, but "Dogs use their entire body to communicate, especially with their eyes and ears," says William Fourtney.
-The problem with not being able to communicate or train your dog is well, you both could be living an unhappy life. If you don't know what the pooch is asking/telling you, then the dog could be very unhappy. Well trained dogs, and well loved dogs are always the happiest.
Evaluation:
-My opinion of this article is very good, I believe it is good to train your dog. Training your dog like it says in the article makes both the owner and the pooch happy. If you understand your dog, and the dog understands you, you both will know what each other needs, to make each other happy.
-The most important main idea is well learn how to communicate and train your dog. I know this because it repeats that statement multiple times in the article.