Comments on: How Well Should We Train Our Dogs?

By: New Challenges For 2014 | Tales and Tails

New Challenges For 2014 | Tales and Tails — Fri, 03 Jan 2014 06:06:24 +0000

[…] thing we’re going to work on is some training since January is Train Your Dog Month and Something Wagging This Way Comes has issued a challenge. I want to teach Bunny a specific trick that Küster uses to help us with […]

By: Megan Folse

Megan Folse — Sun, 29 Dec 2013 14:48:34 +0000

We would love to joint the challenge and we are interested in hosting this on our blog, too.

Princess is still a puppy so she needs to learn a lot of commands still. Nessie has had previous training but she’s still terrified of men and doesn’t listen when there’s men close by, even my husband.

By: Lauranne

Lauranne — Mon, 23 Dec 2013 09:26:04 +0000

I think it sounds like a brilliant idea!! I would love to learn a new trick to teach Mity and BD – although I feel that might be more work for you!

By: slimdoggy

slimdoggy — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 23:11:10 +0000

Well, we’re all about Resolutions this year. Our new Hop (Resolve to Move Your Mutt) is about ‘moving’ with your mutt – exercise, fitness, and all that – so I don’t think it counts as training, and Jack could use some training – first goal is recall…so I’m in.

By: Donna

Donna — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 22:53:18 +0000

My mom just came to this conclusion with her dog Luke recently. He is a very good dog at home and with company (once introduced) but he has dog anxiety with dogs he does not know that comes off as aggression. After over a year of going to classes to try to “fix” it, where she ended up more stressed and worried than anything else, she has decided it no longer needs fixing, because really, the only place he was running into other dogs – was at class.

As for the train your dog month challenge, I’m opting out on this one. It seems I always find time to work with the dogs and walk the dogs and play with the dogs and blog about the dogs, but I’ve realized, lately, I’ve not had much time for ME. So that is what I’m going to work on a little more come the New Year. Right now I’m just trying to get thru Christmas! 🙂

By: Kristine

Kristine — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:39:40 +0000

In reply to Pamela. I know exactly what I am going to work on as well. The subject matter is a little dull but I am sure it will provide interesting enough blog fodder! ;-) I'd love to join you and Alfie. My hope is that if I laden myself with obligations I will have to see it through.

By: Kathryn Durno

Kathryn Durno — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 11:42:46 +0000

Well….I don’t think I am quite where you are yet with my two Brittanys ….they do a lot of things right, but we are still out there on the loose leash walk….practice practice practice 🙂

By: 24 Paws of Love

24 Paws of Love — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 07:14:32 +0000

since most of my training issues are behavioral, I don’t know that I could judge when is enough. I’m continually taking things to the next level with each dog, only because it’s the next step. But I do agree about the work bonding friendship. That’s when my bond with the dogs really gets down to business.

I would be interested in doing the Training Month. I’m hoping by then we’ll be able to sled and can really start to get down our commands. I’ve been really loose with them and I’d like to sharpen them up.

By: houndstooth

houndstooth — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 03:12:27 +0000

Most of the training that I do with Bunny involves safety issues. For example, “leave it” is extremely important in the nursing home setting. If there are pills on the floor, that’s very dangerous, so that’s one of those commands that shall not be ignored. We also have some basic obedience commands that we use both in the nursing home, when we go out in public and when we do photography. When Küster was a little, the first command my husband taught him was “on it” and it first involved him putting his front feet on it an object and then moved to include his back feet. Now that we’re visiting more hospice patients, I’m wishing Bunny knew that trick, because she’s too big for me to pick up for people who are in beds and often they can’t reach over far enough to touch her. Bunny also has a Greyhound friend on Flickr and Facebook who has some fantastic modeling tricks, like “ears up” and “sit up” that make for some stunner shots.

Your challenge is very timely for me. I have been wanting to start clicker training with Flattery in the worst way, but it keeps getting put off. I want her to be able to do all those things and she’s really young, so she could be doing them for a long time. So, my goals are to introduce the clicker with Flattery and start working on basic commands with her like “sit” and “down” and to work with Bunny on a command to put her front feet up on something so she can be a better hospice visitor.

By: Dachshund Nola

Dachshund Nola — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 03:01:26 +0000

Heck yeah, we’re joining! Nola has her first Rally trial March 2nd, and we’re perfecting everything as well as learning the finishes and such. I’d also like to teach her to heel while walking between my legs, but that’s not a top priority.

I think how well your dog is trained depends on both your needs as well as the dog itself. I have four dogs. They all know the basics, because that’s non-negotioable, but Nola is the only one whose training goes above and beyond that. Nola TRIVES on training and loves to learn, so we’re always doing new things and adding to her cue list.
For me, Nola needs to be good with new places and be good with traveling. She needs to stay close to me, have a solid recall, not pull, ect. She has to have a good stay, and a flawless watch me, so I can photograph her. I don’t require her to be a friendly, loves everyone dog. That’s not in her nature, and frankly I don’t like sharing her. :p She’s confident and non-aggressive, but she just isn’t a dog who enjoys people outside the family.

Nola’s Mom