9781422280867

Understanding and Caring for Your Pet

Dog Training

Understanding and Caring for Your Pet

Dog Training

Written by Julia Barnes

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, PA 19008 www.masoncrest.com Developed and produced by Mason Crest

© 2017 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher.

Printed and bound in the United States of America.

First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Series ISBN: 978-1-4222-3691-8 ISBN: 978-1-4222-3694-9 ebook ISBN: 978-1-4222-8086-7

Every reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of this publication. The Publisher and Author cannot accept liability for any loss, damage, injury, or death resulting from the keeping and training of dogs by user(s) of this publication, or from the use of any materials, equipment, methods, or information recommended in this publication or from any errors or omissions that may be found in the text of this publication or that may occur at a future date, except as expressly provided by law. No animals were harmed in the making of this book. You may gain access to certain third party content (“Third Party Sites”) by scanning and using the QR Codes that appear in this publication (the “QR Codes”). We do not operate or control in any respect any information, products or services on such Third Party Sites linked to by us via the QR Codes included in this publication, and we assume no responsibility for any materials you may access using the QR Codes. Your use of the QR Codes may be subject to terms, limitations, or restrictions set forth in the applicable terms of use or otherwise established by the owners of the Third Party Sites. Our linking to such Third Party Sites via the QR Codes does not imply an endorsement or sponsorship of such Third Party Sites, or the information, products or services offered on or through the Third Party Sites, nor does it imply an endorsement or sponsorship of this publication by the owners of such Third Party Sites. Words in bold are explained in the glossary on page 127. QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD PARTY CONTENT

Understanding and Caring for Your Pet

Guinea Pigs Hamsters Kittens Parakeets

Aquarium Cats Dog Training

Ferrets Gerbils Goldfish

Puppies Rabbits

Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, providing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic moments, and much more!

Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text, while building vocabulary skills.

Contents Why train your dog? .  08 For the family.   14 Golden rules.   16 For the community. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20 Socializing your dog .   22 For your dog.   26 Great expectations .  30 Family companion.  32 Good citizens.  36 Obedience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Agility.  40 Flyball.  44 Working trials .  46 Dancing with dogs.  50 Showing.  54 Winning ways.  56 Rewarding your dog .  58 Finding a reward.   62 Food.   64 Toys.   66 Physical praise.   68 Verbal praise .   68

Correcting your dog .  70 Who is to blame?.  72 Finding a way forward .  80 Ignoring your dog .  82 Interrupting behavior.  86 Good manners.  88 Mouthing .  90 Giving up toys on request.  92 Good manners at meal times.  96 What is clicker training?.  98 Introducing a clicker. 102 Tips for clicker training . 104 Basic training exercises. 106 Sit . 108 Down. 110 Stand. 112 Wait. 114 Stay. 116 Leash training. 118 Coming when called. 122 Finally... . 125 Find out more/Words to understand. 126 Index. 128

Why Train Your Dog?

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Why Train Your Dog?

Owning a well-trained dog is a pleasure. You have a dog who does as he is asked, fits in with your lifestyle, and can be relied on to behave impeccably in a variety of different situations. T his is what you want—but can it be achieved? The short answer is, yes it can, but only if you are prepared to work at it. A dog does not come into your home knowing what consider to be accepta- ble behavior. He has no knowledge of “good” or “bad.” You need to teach him how you want him to behave. We have a good starting point because a dog retains the instincts of a pack animal, and is prepared to look for leadership and find his place in the human pack that he is to be part of.

Why should you train your dog?

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Dog Training

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You need to provide that leadership so that you have a dog who respects you, but also one who loves and trusts you. There are a number of ways you can build this relationship: Spend time with your dog so that he really gets to know you, and vice versa. Make sure you are, generally, the person who feeds the dog so he sees you as the ultimate provider. Set aside times to groom and handle your dog so he accepts you completely—even if you are carrying out tasks such as nail trimming, which are invasive. Be consistent with your dog so he always knows what is expected of him. Have fun with your dog; this includes going for walks, playing games, and training, so your dog looks to you for mental stimulation. If you keep your side of the bargain and establish a good relationship with your dog through consistency and training, you will be rewarded a thousand-fold.

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Dog Training

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For the family If you are bringing a dog into your family, it is even more important that he learns to fit in with your life- style. You can work on having a one-on-one relation- ship with your dog—but what happens when you are not around? A dog has to understand his place in the family pack, and this means he must respect every person that he lives with. Obviously, he is not going to view everyone in exactly the same light; he will have the strongest bond with the person who feeds him, trains him, and exercises him. But he must live alongside, and in har- mony with, everyone—right down to the smallest child. A dog who does not learn his place in the family pack can be a major problem: He will have no respect for other people’s space, and will push and muscle his way around, so that he is always first in line.

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Dog Training