SUSAN'S CORNER

         Ask Susan: Time-saving Tips, Tricks & Ideas

Q. Help, my dog is out of control! There are so many well-mannered dogs out there, how can I make mine one of them?

A. Did you know that it is possible to train any dog? Most dogs are not too old or too young to learn, all it takes is a plan, consistency, and four five-minute sessions for four days. Please let me explain how it worked for me and our Sheltie, and I’ll show you how easy it is to have a dog that is welcome everywhere.

I had concerns when we were planning on getting our Sheltie. I wanted a dog that was a well behaved as the Golden Retriever that lived across the street. He was one of the best animals I’ve ever seen. He came when he was called, he didn’t try to leave the yard, he didn’t bark, and children adored him. His behavior is what I wanted for our dog.

I knew that in order for our dog to learn, I had to learn how to teach. I started my research on how to train a dog when we were in the planning stages of getting our Sheltie. I read everything I could find on dog training and obedience classes and then compiled everything I read, and adapted all the suggestions into a custom package that worked for me.

My husband and I started with a list of what we expected from a dog. He must know his limits, come when he’s called, learn how to walk on a leash without pulling, meet strangers without jumping at them. Once we had the list, I got started on the order I’d teach and the times of the day.

My research showed that the training is limited to a five-minute session, repeated four times throughout the day. Be consistent and use the same training times for all four days. By following this method the dog doesn’t get stressed, and looks forward to some one on one time with you. By the end of the fourth day he’ll realize from the repetition that this is something you expect him to do.

We brought Buddy home and showed him around. His training was going to start first thing in the morning.

First, he needed to learn his boundaries. I showed him his harness, saying ‘class time, put the harness on him and we walked around the perimeter of the yard. He walks on my left side and I allowed the leash to be just lax enough for him to almost reach the boundary lines. If he pulled or strayed where I didn’t want him, I pulled lightly on the leash, saying "too far". We did this for five minutes, I gave him a reward for being a good dog and we went inside.

We followed the same routine again just before I left for work, again in the evening after dinner, and again just before dark. Each time ending the training with a small treat, a great pat, along with praise. A "Good Boy" goes a long way in good behavior.

By day four, I wasn’t leading Buddy around the yard, he was showing me that he knew where the limits were.

We then started the next behavior—again four days. The second stage of training reinforced the first session. Buddy spent four days again walking the perimeter with me (only this time we stayed in the back yard and he wasn’t in harness).

This behavior had a three-fold benefit. The limits were reinforced; by using the same "too far" as a trigger when he strayed, he learned to walk on my left side and stay at my side; and he gained an even better understanding of the phrase.

Ultimately, keep the doggie treats in your pocket at all times, work in five-minute sessions, and limit the sessions to four times a day. Your dog will expect the reward given at the end of a successful session. This makes it easy to get him into training mode, in no time at all, you’ll have a dog you’ll be proud of and he’ll be proud of himself.

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Last updated: July 04, 2003.