Dog Training E book rough draft

Dog Training-101

A Basic Guide To Training In The First Months
Author: Charlie Thibodeaux
January 2015

1

Go ahead and consider yourself locked in boot camp for about 6 weeks or so. That is
essentially what you signed up for. What do you say?

In the military they don't let up on the conditioning in order to get a desired result- a positive
result. In order for the leaders to reach the desired outcome, they follow a plan. Every day
without fail they apply the same principals. Guess what? They achieve the desired outcome.

When we got our puppies, I committed myself to the best treatment, training, and affection
that any dog would want. I have done exhaustive research into training and took the best
principals that made since to me and applied it to the training and discipline for our family
pets.

Because I had so many questions, and didn't know what the right methods and the wrong
methods were, those questions had me searching for countless hours for the best information.

So, what I have done is collect the basics for that information and published into my free E-

2

Book. Hopefully as you move through this basic guide, you will find it very useful and practical
in implementing the best do it yourself dog or puppy training possible. Please be sure to
provide feedback on my blog at: www.howtoraiseafamilydog.com.

Negative Attention
Some teach that you should give no attention to a dog when there is bad behavior, or negative
attention as they call it. I do not necessarily agree with this psychological training. Because
there are many times in the day that you are not giving the dog attention already. You have to
ask the question: How will she understand the difference? Negative attention should only be
used once the pecking, or the order of command of the family or pack has been established.
She will need to understand her place in the pack first, before she understands why you are

3

ignoring her. In her puppy-go-lucky ways she will need what you expect of her and to get to
know you and your ways before this can be implemented.

Top Ways To Respond To Bad Behavior- Influence Good Behavior
Abuse- Some believe in hitting the puppy or dog or other extreme measures for
correction. If you become angry over the couch or pair of shoes, and understandably so,
go outside and kick the tires on the car. and then come back when you cool off. Hitting a
dog is a cruel and a terrible way to treat a family pet. And it will never work. You will
damage your dog physically or mentally. And this can create a whole new set of
unwanted problems.
During correction time, it is extremely important that the correction is done immediately and
during the time of the unwanted behavior. Not minutes or hours later when you discover that
the dog ate the sofa. He will not relate any type of correction with the bad behavior unless he
is caught in the act.

4

It is highly recommended to reinforce good behavior, on this most trainers and dog owners
agree. But when it comes to correction, this practice is all over the place.

Lets face it, if you have a dog ruling the home and calling the shots, you are more likely to be
one of those dog owners who gives up, and abandons the dog.
I believe in establishing the pecking order correctly from day one - the day that you bring your
puppy home. This will eliminate more problems down the road.
Not only do you need to assert yourself as the pack leader, but everyone else in the family
needs to do so as well to some extent, from the youngest to the oldest. I have taught this in my
house with my wife and 3 kids. It works.
Establish yourself as the top dog, or the Alpha dog. In a dogs world, there is a pecking order.
Your are either the higher rank or she is. All dogs in a pack know who is "it."

5

But you have to assert yourself to be a higher rank in your pack.
Every dog has unwanted behavior at times. My dog loves to surf the counter tops for food and
she loves to take food out of my kids hands when they are not looking. And whenever I am
not at home, this behavior seems to magnify. This is because she knows that I am not at home.

Party Dog
When she sees me with my suitcase in hand, she knows that the party is on.
Some people like to have a puppy with a more dominant personality. Some like the more laid
back and subdued personality types. But no matter how you look at it, there are personality
types to fit almost every one's preference.
Is your dog the dominant one? Does he think he is the pack leader? When you brought your
new puppy home, you probably got to know his personality very quickly. It is very important
to know the personality of your puppy before you take her home. This will eliminate any
unwanted puppies being abandoned down the road.

6

Most reputable breeders do a temperament testing for free. Hopefully, you chose a breeder
that does temperament testing so that you would be more likely to take home a puppy to fit
your family's lifestyle.

Time Out- Give the dog time out, such as crating. This works and can be used once everyone
in the family has established the order of the pack first.

Say "NO" at Your Dog- Believe it or not, your dog understands you more than you think. She
probably understands you more than you understand her. It is good to have a plethora of ways
to discipline her. The more tools and tips that you have up your sleeve for correction, the
better it will be. This will help you to be unpredictable. Never let your guard down and never
let up on the training. Always be ready to do your job in the training process.

The training process never ends. When you have established your pack order, there is nothing
better than saying a good old “NO” at your dog when he is caught in the act of unwanted
behavior. He will immediately understand and probably retreat or lower his head at your feet.
This is good because he will associate the bad behavior with your displeasure in him. He
doesn't think badly of himself. Rather, he feels bad that you are displeased with himIt totally
rocks her. And she will do everything she can to please you afterwards. So when you catch
your dog in the act of unwanted behavior, go on and give her a good "NO"!.

Say PSSSST!- When you catch you dog in an unwanted behavior give him a good PSSST! This
is a noise that they truly dislike. And the best thing about it is that the correction can be
instant and you will save your voice while you are at it. You don't have to go over to your dog
or call your dog to come. The timing is perfect.

Bang Pots and Pans- If you are in the kitchen and you catch her in the act of an unwanted
behavior, bang some pots and pans together and she will get the idea that this is unwanted
behavior.

7

Shock Collar- If you have a dog that is a persistent barker, or continues unwanted behavior,
this is an alternative method in behavior correction. The button is pushed when the unwanted
behavior happens.
Some collars help keep a dog in the yard. Whenever they attempt to cross an invisible barrier,
they will get a jolt. Some think this is inhumane, but it is harmless, there is no amperage, and
the dog gets positively stimulated to not repeat the behavior.
On a personal not however, I would never shock my dog. The main reason is that I am
determined and have been diligent to make training more of a dog/trainer experience. Doing
this provides more interaction and communication that your dog needs.

8

Spray Bottle- Fill a clean spray bottle with water and as you catch him in the act of
unwanted behavior, give him a good spray in his face. With repetition, this will get his
attention that the behavior is extremely unwanted and there will be consequences if he does it
again.

Correct Your Dog!- If you don't correct your dog, the behavior will continue. Regardless of
what some say about negative reinforcement, when positive reinforcement is done properly,
you can do no damage to your dog. So go ahead, and correct your dog, and be sure to reward
the good behavior.

Say NO! and a Gentle Take Down- Have you ever watched a mother growl and snap at
her pups? She does this because of unwanted behavior such as biting, or trying to nurse when
they have been weened.
Similar to how a mother disciplines her pups, you can do much the same thing. This easy step
will help you establish dominance in a safe, quick and corrective way. This needs to start the
day that you bring the puppy home.
When you observe your puppy in the act of an unwanted behavior, simply place your hand

9

just behind the dogs head and carefully push the puppy to the ground as you say "NO!" She
will immediately submit and roll over. When your puppy rolls over, you know she has realized
you are the pack leader and will understand what you are teaching her.
After using any one of these methods be sure to let your dog know immediately afterward that
you love her. Never, never use force or yell at your dog. She needs to know that you are not
upset. So “kiss and make up” with your dog immediately after correcting the unwanted
behavior, and tell her that she is "such a good girl." This will ensure your relationship with
your dog continues to be strong.
Being a dog advocate and desiring for my dogs to have the most enjoyable life possible brings
me a lot of joy in life. Having the patience and methods in place to be used when needed is
highly important. Much frustration and negative feelings about being a dog owner can be
eliminated by following a few simple guidelines.
Don't go through your pet ownership selling you and your family short of what real dog
ownership can be like. Take charge and be the alpha you were supposed to be and receive the
blessing of the ownership.

www.howtoraiseafamilydog.com

10