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POTTY-TRAINING
So
you have now brought your special friend home. Be it a puppy
or full-grown dog, the first order of business is
potty-training.
Here is where the crate comes in. The
principle of the crate is very simple: you inculcate good
habits in a puppy or a dog, making certain things unavailable
to it (e.g. your nice furniture!). Also, the dog will not want
to soil its own sleeping place and refuge, and this is a way
of training it to go outside to do its business. However, this
has to be used responsibly. It is cruel to be away for 8 hours
at a time, and expect the puppy to hold it in for that length
of time. For more information on crate-training, try: http://www.hsus.org
A small anecdote about some dog-owners who left their dog
crated in a wire crate for very long hours, that got extended
as they found that the dog would hold in his needs. Well,
their luck ran out, when the dog decided to stick his rear
end against the wire, and projectile-pooped OUTSIDE the crate.
It brings a new dimension to "thinking outside the box"
but the point of the (true) story is that the use of the crate
as a training tool must not be abused.
One of the most
useful things in potty-training a dog is a consistent
schedule. For example, you could take the dog out briefly
first thing in the morning, and then for a longer walk after
breakfast. And then it may get to go out for a short walk at
midday, and then a outside again after dinner. If you get the
dog door and train the dog how to use it, it can go in and out
as it pleases. However, keep watch on this. Sometimes, a
neighbor can instal a new motion light or in the summer may be
out in the tool shed sawing away, and these new sounds and
sensations may make the shy dog wary of going outside. By far
the best way is to maintain as consistent a schedule of
walking as possible, at least for an initial period of at
least a couple of months.
Apartment dwellers now have certain options for when they
are unable to let their dogs out. There are dog elimination
systems that can work in a designated area, almost like a
cat. These would be more suitable for the smaller dog, and
are really not a very nice or natural alternative to letting
the dog go outside. But they are good at a pinch, for a short
designated period (one afternoon) or for emergencies. After
all, a WALK is the high point of a dog's day!!! Check this
site for pointers on training a small dog to use a litter
box: http://www.kturby.com/litter/litter.htm
If you are adopting a full-grown male dog that
may choose to mark its territory, you may want to invest
initially in a diaper, and combine that with the crate
training and regularly scheduled outings. Remember, prevention
is key. Once the dog has decided to mark a certain spot, it is
very hard to stop the dog from returning to the same spot.
A word about accidents: unless you actually catch the
pup in the act of relieving himself indoors and manage to pick
him up and put him outside, it is pointless, aggravating and
negative to lose your cool. Just clean it up, swear under your
breath if you need to, and go back to crate-training and
regular schedules. The next time the dog behaves in a
desirable manner, i.e. goes to the bathroom outside, reward
him with a treat.
So far, we have discussed the issue of potty-training. However,
you should be aware that there are particular breeds of dogs
that have a nasty habit of wanting to ingest poop. Some will
sneak up to the catbox, and scavenge for tasty treats (apparently,
catfood is richer than dogfood, although I have not tried
either one as a before or after). Some will even try to ingest
such "recycled" material in the park, or bring it
into the house when you are not looking to save for later.
No one is particularly keen on this habit, not least because
of infections/diseases that may be contracted, and a watchful
eye, barriers in the house, or the immediate removal of materials
can take care of this. So is a simple "NO" that
by a certain time, your dog will have learned to understand
and respect!
BEHAVIOR TRAINING
There are certain things every dog should
learn to do. There are certain other things that dogs have
been taught to do that are not essential to its safety, your
convenience, and the functioning from day to day in its
relationship to you and its surroundings.
Here are some
essential commands:
- Sit
- Lie down, or down
- Heel (for walking)
- Stay
- Coming when it?s called
- Yes and no
Certain dogs are taught verbal commands, others hand commands,
and others a combination of both. It is not within the scope
of this website to provide comprehensive training tips --
this is a job given to professionals. Many petstores will
offer evening or weekend training sessions for a period of
6-8 weeks. This does not work if your dog tends to be overly
aggressive or overly shy. In certain extreme cases, petowners
bring their pooches to day or even weekly "bootcamps."
A very good alternative if
the massmarket dog school does not work is to bring in a
dog-trainer into your home. Then the trainer can examine the
relationship between the dog and your children. For example,
in a certain case, a dog was exhibiting aggressive tendencies
only towards the youngest child in the family. The trainer
suggested getting a stuffed dog that the pooch could dominate
(as well as do other unspeakable things to), and it solved the
problem completely.
The bottom line is that early training will integrate your
pet into your home quickly and smoothly, and you will be able
to enjoy his/her presence. The dog NEEDS to know the parameters
to be happy and well-adjusted. Behavior problems are never
"malicious" or the "fault" of the dog.
There is usually a reason for it.
For more information, look at: http://www.apdt.com/ (Association of
Professional Dog Trainers)
A fascinating account of
animal behavior with many chapters on dogs and dog behavior
can be found in Animals in Translation : Using the Mysteries
of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior by Temple Grandin,
Catherine Johnson
Also check out: Cesar's Way : The
Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common
Dog Problems by Cesar Millan, Melissa Jo Peltier
NAMING YOUR DOG/IDENTIFICATION
Naming a dog is a whole lot of fun! Sometimes, a thoroughbred
may come with a posh name that sticks in the mouth of all the
children in the household. You CAN change the name, and the
dog CAN get used to its new name. Sometimes, it will take quite
a few days for the name to settle on you and the pooch -- a
good name is definitely worth it!
Many dogs now, even if adopted from a
shelter or anti-cruelty society, will be micro-chipped with an
identifying no. which can then be traced back to you. However,
once you have named the dog, you would be advised to get hold
of a name tag from a petstore. You can get ones made to order
with the name of the dog and contact phone number
custom-engraved at one of these machines at the store. Attach
this to the D-ring of the dog-collar, and should the dog run
away or be lost, it will be easy for the person to contact you
WITHOUT going through the shennanigans of taking it somewhere
to get the micro-chip deciphered.
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