Have you ever trained a puppy or dog?

Contributor: Wicked Wahine Wicked Wahine
I agree with P'Gell, everything she said will make your life & the dog's life better. I grew up with lots of different breeds of dogs & we also always had cats. Once you understand how the dog thinks, you understand his actions & it solves so many potential problems if you get it right from the beginning.

If you ever plan to take your dog for a walk, to the vet's office or anywhere else it might encounter another dog, it really helps to have him socialized with other dogs in a controlled environment, so I recommend a class for training puppies. You'll learn very quickly what you're doing right or wrong.

If you have a specific breed, please get to know about them! For example, P'Gell mentioned pit bulls needing lots of safe things to chew on. If you have a working type dog, like a Australian Shepherd, they are bred to do jobs & if they don't get mental & physical stimulation everyday, they will find things to do that expend their energy & interest them, such as destroying the furniture. You might be surprised how closely your dog matches its breed behavior profile. But, ALL dogs respond to Pack Hierarchy type training, regardless of size, breed, or even if an undetermined mutt.

The Nature's Miracle enzyme treatment is a lifesaver because it breaks down the stain or spill, so there will be nothing left for the dog to smell & use as a guide to re-mark the spot. You can use it on all sorts of bad smelling stuff or organic messes, like in garbage cans, laundry, smelly carpets, etc

Good luck!
03/13/2013
Contributor: Allstars316 Allstars316
Yes I have. It is a lot of work. Once we got the basics. We kinda stopped.
03/13/2013
Contributor: js250 js250
I have trained three dogs--and yes, it is time consuming. Very rewarding though, when you see the progress!!!!
03/13/2013
Contributor: spiced spiced
I trained a Labrador Retriever, starting at about 8 weeks. He was so smart! But he was also pretty willful about some things. It was frustrating, but he turned out to be a great dog. He passed away at 14 yrs old. I still miss him.

I highly recommend this book.
03/13/2013