How To Train Your Dog
Brandon Thomson
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
1) How would you clarify the meaning of "no sense of correct behavior" in the Dog Training Tips?
2) What would happen if a older dog made a loud growl towards you, and you decided to ignore it and try to pet him?
Interpretation
3) Discuss the pros and cons of having a puppy over a older adult dog.
4) Why do you think understanding a dogs barks and noises are important?
Evaluate
5) What would you suggest to a new owner of a puppy?
6) Rank the importance of identifying a dogs body language on a scale of 1-10 (1 being not important, 10 being very important). Explain why you think that.
Answers
1) "No sense of correct behavior" means that they do not know what is good or bad because they were never taught the difference. So they could urinate or chew up a slipper and they wouldn't know what was wrong because they wouldn't know what was wrong that they did.
2) A loud growl would probably mean they are angry or mad and will bite you if you get to close. Nobody should be to close to a dog if they do this because it is a safety hazard.
Interpretation
3) A puppy will be easier to train because it is easier for animals and people to learn at a younger age, but the puppy will cause moRe harm to start because of lack of knowledge. Yo would also have to keep a close eye on the puppy, where as a grown dog you could let out back and run around.
4) Understanding a dogs barks and noises are important because it allows you to understand what your dog is saying or feeling at most times.
Evaluate
5) To a new owner of a puppy I would suggest to start potty training him/her as well as teaching him/her right from wrong for things to chew on, claw on, or be on. This will chase the puppy to learn what to do.
6) I would say a dogs body language is very important and deserves a solid 8. I chose this because I believe training your dog is slightly more important than this but understanding your dog is one of the key point of becoming a friend with your dog.