Helping dogs learn who’s boss
Good article from the Lansing State Journal’s Hub about training dogs. They break it down into three parts: socialization, stopping things like chewing, barking and jumping, and basic training. These are things that all dogs can benefit from learning.
If you have a puppy the best thing you can do is get him out for some socialization so he learns not to be afraid of people or strange objects. That’s a great start. As he gets a little older you can check with your vet or a local kennel club to find training classes in your area. This can help prevent problems from starting, or stop them before they become serious.
If you already have a young dog or an adult ask your vet or kennel club for suggestions about classes or individual trainers. All dogs can benefit from training and it’s a great way for you to bond with your dog.
If your dog has a behavior problem, like the dog in this article, you may need to look for more serious solutions. Sometimes the answer is letting your dog go to “boot camp” where a trainer can work with him individually for a few weeks.
Don’t give up on your dog. Finding the right approach to training your dog may take a little time but dogs are very adaptable and highly capable of learning. With patience and the right approach you can overcome just about any problem.
Helping dogs learn who’s boss
Behavior issues don’t have to put your pup in the doghouse
Christy Bonstell | for NOISE
Bear was not a happy dog.
The German shepherd was in charge of everyone and felt his family was under constant attack.
Anyone could be the enemy - the mailman, that lady who jogs through the neighborhood, the dogs at the dog park - they were all out to get his family.
That’s a lot of stress for one dog to be under.
This made Bear bark. And jump. And bark some more.
Bear’s family grew tired and frustrated with Bear’s behavior. They loved him but couldn’t quite get control of their beloved 115-pound beast. The breaking point came after Bear knocked over one of his owners, Danielle Martin.
“He was out of control. He would jump on everyone and everything. He would jump and knock people over,” Martin says. “He’d bark at nothing incessantly. He was really aggressive towards other dogs.”
The Martins never considered giving up on Bear but for many pet owners, behavior issues can be a breaking point. The leading cause in the United States for surrendering animals is behavior issues.
“Most dogs are given up because of behavior problems,” says Beth Bishop, co-owner of Canine Coaches, LLC in Okemos. “Certainly sometimes people are giving up dogs for reasons that can’t be helped but a lot of times they are dropped off at shelters for behavior problems. And that could be fixed with training.”
Re-training process
Martin, 21, of Lansing, asked their vet for a recommendation for somewhere to take their four-legged family member.
Their vet recommended they try somewhere with an inboard training center, such as Premier K-9 Training Academy in Grand Ledge. Here, Bear lived for the three weeks training with owner Nikki Brown.
The family visited the camp three times before deciding to leave Bear there.
“It was hard but they made us feel comfortable. We were welcome there anytime. It really was the best thing for Bear. He felt like he really needed to protect us. He was stressed out in a way,” Martin says.
After three weeks, Martin and her family visited Bear three times a week and Brown taught them the training methods she was using to teach Bear. After a few more weeks, Bear came home a changed pooch.
“It works a lot better now that we have control over our dog. We don’t have to worry about people coming over and getting jumped on. We are actually able to take him to a dog park now,” Martin says. “After that training and talking with Nikki, it makes life with Bear so much easier.”
No lost causes
No dog should be left behind, says Brown.
“I think training can help every dog. For me, no dog is a lost cause,” Brown says. “I think you have to try in every way you can.”
There’s a different type of training for every dog. The first level is a puppy class, which Bishop believes all people should attend. Setting the right tone for your dog early on is key to preventing problems later, she says.
Puppy classes do two crucial things. First, they socialize the puppies. This is important because the more the puppy is exposed - be it to people or other dogs or new places - the less likely it is to be scared of that thing later.
The second goal is to stop behaviors you don’t want to have to curb later like chewing, barking or jumping. And you, as a pet owner, begin to learn your role as leader of the pack.
“Training a dog is teaching. It’s just like teaching a human. It doesn’t happen over night,” Bishop says.
As the dogs get older, there are other classes that teach basic commands and training in ways the dog can understand.
“People have got to realize that they are dogs. They are a different species. The relationship we have with dogs is unlike any other we have with an animal. They have different cultures,” Bishop says. “They do different things. I think the problem comes when people expect their dogs to understand them like another human being would.”
Weekly classes vary per training center but usually run between six and eight weeks and cost $80 to $100.
Doggy boot camp
An alternative to weekly sessions is the inboard training that Bear went through.
“It’s like doggy boot camp. It’s not just for dogs with massive problems. It’s done in three weeks. When the dog is staying with me, it’s getting worked in different areas. When the dog is at 90-percent-trained we bring the family in.”
When the pup is finished with training, Brown makes a video of herself and the dog going through the commands that were taught. This video is sent home with families so they can keep up on their training.
Brent Green, 23, of Bay City, brought his German shepherd, Quipp, to Brown’s camp.
“He tried chewing everything up. He’s real high-drive. He’s stubborn. He doesn’t listen. He’s like a puppy multiplied by a worse puppy,” Green says. “He thinks he’s the boss. He likes to chew on wood, anything.”
Getting Quipp trained was important because someday he will be a K-9 officer. Luckily, Green says that Quipp picked up on the training immediately.
“The training was amazing. He came out a totally different dog. It would help any dog. They offer so much different training it’ll work out for anybody,” he says. “I think every dog should be trained. … If you only treat your dog and don’t train it, then you really never have control over it.”
Every dog learns at its own pace, Brown says. Some dogs catch on quickly and others might seem stubborn or opposed to the idea, but they are most likely just not being taught in a way that works for them. Even if your training takes awhile, most don’t think of it as a chore. After all, you’re spending time with one of the most important beings in your life.
“It’s been a lot of fun to work with him. He’s really funny,” Green says. “He does all sorts of stuff now. I think it’s really cool.”
