Reading Work Sample
Julia Burch
How to Train a Dog
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
- Summarize the text as though you are trying to explain it to someone who hadn't read it. What would you say?
- Dogs express emotions through body language. Describe the emotions sent through their body language.
Interpretation:
- Provide opinionated details about dog ownership. Is it for everyone?
- Your friend wants to adopt a dog from an animal shelter. What do you think they should take into consideration about the decision? What evidence helped you come to this conclusion?
Evaluation:
- What do you think drove the author to create this article? What were her/his reasons?
- The author views dog training in a specific way. Provide evidence from article to support your conclusion.
Answers
- This section of an article is explaining how to train a dog. By understanding a dog's body language, interpreting their barks and noises, and dog-training tips.
- They send all kinds of messages through their eyes, ears, and tails. Scrunched up eyes and ears pointed backwards means they are angry.
Interpretation:
- I do not believe dog ownership is for everyone. If they truly love animals (not just dogs) then I believe they could have a dog if they wanted to.
- Are you ready for that much responsibility? Do you think you can train him/her? Are you ready to try and understand a dog through their body language? "The more you understand their messages, the more you understand them and how your own messages are being understood."
Evaluation:
- I think the author created this article because he/she wanted to let people know the proper way to train a dog and how you could understand them through their body language.
- It tells you how you can understand your dog through their body language and how they bark & make noises. "Well-trained pets are easier to care for and love, cause less damage to your home (and theirs), and live happier lives."