| I don't suppose you are aware of this, but a certain | | | | So, how do you avoid your dog declining into such a |
| London University recently conducted a poll to | | | | mental state. |
| discover how many groups of dogs there are, and | | | | Simple, you make sure its is properly trained. |
| which groups really needed training. The survey cost | | | | But it doesn't stop there. There's no point getting |
| over £7,000. Would you like to know what the | | | | your dog trained, if you don't get involved yourself. |
| results were. These were the groups that needed | | | | Getting your dog trained is a two way street. |
| training. | | | | Nowadays too many dog owners are sending their |
| Wild Dogs | | | | animals off for training, thinking that's it. Like, sending |
| Guard Dogs | | | | the laundry out. They get back a fully trained, well |
| Guide Dogs | | | | mannered citizen who is a pleasure to be around. But |
| Domestic Pet Dogs. | | | | what then. They don't know how to handle the dog |
| Wow, and you know what. Apart from wild dogs | | | | so the well mannered dog is then confronted with a |
| ,which included foxes and wolves. all groups would | | | | whole new set of commands to live with. Result, one |
| benefit from proper training. That's not much of a | | | | very confused dog. |
| revelation is it. So my view was, 'What a waste of | | | | Training a dog is an important decision for both you |
| tax-payers money to tell us the obvious.' | | | | and the dog, and unless you accept that, not only |
| Now, I've just returned from a quick trip stateside, | | | | are you wasting your time and money, you will |
| but while in New York ,what a wonderful place. I | | | | achieve nothing, nada, zilch. |
| spent a happy couple of hours wandering around | | | | So what do you do. |
| Central Park. | | | | If you can possibly avoid it, don't try the so-called |
| Well, I don't know whether it is the Park Police, the | | | | easy way out, by sending the dog off to be trained. |
| average New Yorker's pride, or the hefty fines that | | | | No, unless you, the dog's main 'master' is aware what |
| can get slapped on you, but I didn't see any poop | | | | training the dog has had, what commands they |
| lying around, and children and dogs played quite | | | | respond to and how to give them, you are lost. You |
| happily side by side with no screams from the dogs | | | | must be willing to work along the lines the specialist |
| either. | | | | has recommended, in order to achieve that |
| The point is, if dogs are properly trained, a whole | | | | wonderful experience, where your dog knows, |
| new experience can be gained by both dogs and | | | | probably before you do, what is expected of him. It's |
| owners alike. Forgetting guard dogs and guide dogs, | | | | consistency that brings results so unless you carry on |
| who get trained to work, unless you train a domestic | | | | with the dog exactly as the trainer did you are |
| pet dog, how does it know what is expected of it. | | | | wasting your money. It's as important, if not more |
| It is perfectly natural for a dog to chew, bark, | | | | important, to train the owner as well as the dog. |
| scratch, poop, and run around. So when it gets | | | | Try training the dog yourself. Get a book, go to |
| bawled at by its owner for doing what comes | | | | puppy classes and try the experience out for |
| naturally to it, the result is, one neurotic dog, who | | | | yourself. It can be great fun and a learning |
| behaves even more erratically. The same thing could | | | | experience for you both. |
| be said for young children, and when you see | | | | With a well trained dog, and an understanding and |
| screaming tantrums in shops with kids hurling | | | | well trained owner, all of a sudden, life takes on a |
| themselves on the floor in anger, why is this. It's | | | | new dimension. The mental state of both of you is |
| because they haven't been trained in the basics. | | | | immediately more relaxed, more fulfilled and straight |
| Exactly the same goes for dogs. | | | | away, taking your dog for a walk becomes that |
| Only with dogs, it can get worse. They can attack | | | | perfect blend of healthy exercise, understanding, and |
| people, bite, and generally cause nuisances to | | | | a time to be at peace with the world. |
| themselves as well as the general public. | | | | |