1. Buy a whistle, not a dog whistle. You can just get a cheap little whistle and blow it whenever Ralphie jumps on the furniture or the counters.
2. Love. Dogs respond to praise and affection better than negativity. They are similar to children in that if the most attention they get is when they are naughty, they will be naughty just to get some attention. If you are too harsh, they may be afraid of you and who wants a sad pup?
3. Patience. Little Fido’s bladder is small, it will take time to get him housebroken but, when he is a puppy, he has to go more frequently. When he has an accident, show him the spot and say in a gruff voice, “Bad.” Then put him out immediately.
4. It is never necessary to hit a dog or kick him or any kind of physical punishment. It is cruel and will make your dog afraid of you and not trust you. However, if Fifi bites or chews things up and she doesn’t respond to words and the whistle, a light tap on the nose is enough to bother them but not hurt them. There are sprays at the pet store that taste bad to her and will help her stop chewing but, they have not worked for my pets.
5. Treats. Yes, please! Dogs follow the gravy train. They know who gives them their food and will quickly become attached to that person. Treats have always been a great way to train dogs. It is ok to bribe a dog. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it. After learning a command, taper off the treats until he will do it without expecting the treat. But, give him treats for special occasions anyway, like if he was home all day alone or behaved during bath time.
6. To obey or not to obey. Get Spot into obedience school at six months of age. You can keep training him until he is about two years old. But, early classes really help.
7. The unknown dog. Did you get him at the pound and have no information about him? Was he abused? You need to carefully find what makes him tick and undue the damage which may been caused by previous owners or by living in the streets. Ask you vet if any special care should be given to your wild or emotionally damaged dog.
8. Know your dog. This is the best advice I can give. They each have their own personality which is formed by breeding and fostered by how you raise him. Read books about your breed of dog. Take into account the family dynamic. Consider his past and plan for the future. Be consistent and caring and your companion will be well-behaved and happy.
