Training: Leadership Exercises

Below are a few basic training steps and games you can play with your dog. We also recommend obedience training for all dogs. This is not to teach your dog tricks. This is to teach him to respond properly to other people and other animals, for the safety of others and for the safety of your dog. Good training helps to establish the groundwork for a healthy relationship and a more manageable pet. It is far easier to train proper behavior--in the beginning--than to break a bad habit!

The Name Game

Teaching your dog to respond to his/her name is fun! Responding to his or her owner should be a dog's favorite thing to do. Ensuring your dog's willingness and eagerness to respond to your commands is easy when you apply basic behavior techniques.

Start when you dog is inattentive to you, in a pleasant and "up" tone of voice. Call your dog's name. Say it only once--repeating it teaches your dog to ignore your first request. After you call the name, a fun and exciting reward will be given. Say his/her name, then play, go for a walk, give a small treat. Remember to say the name first, then engage the reward. Your dog will soon associate his or her name with a "payoff."

Once your dog is anticipating the reward by 85% of the time, you are ready for step two. Call your dog's name. If your dog looks at you, then engage the reward. If not, pick up a toy and start playing and having fun by yourself. This will let your dog know that he/she missed something special. Don't give into your dog's attempts to engage you at this point. Wait until he/she is neutral and then try again. Your dog will soon learn to anticipate your call.

Who's The Leader of the Pack: You or Your Dog?

Pay attention to the signals you're sending your dog. Your behavior establishes you or your dog as the leader of the pack! Of course, it's best if you're the one in charge! In a canine's natural pack, the less dominant dog does the following:

Lets the top dog pick the best sleeping spot
Follows the top dog when going out
Give up food to the top dog
Grooms the top dog
Moves out of the top dog's way

Here are a few exercises and ways to demonstrate your "leader" status during your daily routine with your dog:

Have your dog sit and wait while you go through the door first.
Teach your dog to accept being touched while he/she eats.
Have your dog sit and wait to eat until given a command.
Gently move your dog out of the way if he/she is lying in your path.
Have your dog obey a request like "Sit!" before receiving attention.
Pet your dog with long, slow strokes from the top of the head to the shoulders.
Play games like fetch, with you in control of the toys in the end.
Teach your dog that hands are not appropriate chew toys.
Practice touching and handling your dog's feet, mouth and ears.
Speak in a soft, higher pitched voice so your dog is eager to pay attention.

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Archer Animal Hospital, LLC

16105 SW Archer Road. , Archer, FL 32618-5619
352-495-2910

We're A Proud Member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Florida Veterinary Association (FVA), and the Alachua County Veterinary Association (ACVA).

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Updated 01/21/2008 01:31:49 PM