September is back-to-school month for your kids. It's also a good time to think about teaching the family pet.
The easiest time to train your dog is when he's a puppy. Puppies come with an open mind and without bad habits. They are very eager to please. It is up to you to make sure your puppy understands what is expected of him.
Puppies have a series of developmental stages. Initially, a puppy is influenced by his mother and littermates. Within a few weeks, humans in his life play an increasingly significant role. At about six weeks, positive people experiences are important. Most puppies are adopted soon after this stage.
During their third month, puppies experience fear. They can be alarmed by normal objects and situations. It is important to gently guide your puppy through this stage. It usually lasts about two weeks. As this stage passes, puppies become more exploratory. They are refining their social skills with animals and are beginning to focus on people.
Begin training your puppy the day he comes home. Start with house-training and teaching him his name. Try to prevent bad habits from forming because it will be more difficult to extinguish them later. Teach your puppy that your hand is a good thing, and that rewards (praise and food) come when he pleases you.
Your puppy will respond to you quickly. You are his leader and his protector, and he very much wants this new relationship to work. Now is a good time to begin teaching basic commands, such as "sit," "stay," "down," "come," "heel," and "leave it."
Successful training requires three golden rules. First, be consistent. If your dog is learning to "sit" and the telephone rings in the middle of the command, ignore the phone until the command is finished. Otherwise, your dog will not understand why this command must be obeyed sometimes, but not others. Be consistent with language, too. Everyone in the family must use the same word to mean the same thing. For example, "down" usually means "lie down." Don't order him "down" if he is jumping on you and you want him on all four feet; choose another command such as "off."
Second, use positive reinforcement for good behavior. Verbal praise and a pat on the head are treasures for your dog. Occasional treats also work. Do this within seconds of the good behavior; timing is important. Do not punish bad behavior; it will only confuse your dog and make him afraid of you. Instead, learn how you can extinguish it. Your veterinarian can help you or direct you to a trainer.
Third, never lose your temper. This will stress your dog and create a poor learning environment. Your dog will be distracted by your anger and will not understand what you want.
Dogs must learn to interact appropriately with others in their everyday environment. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior states that puppies can start socialization classes as early as two months, after receiving initial vaccines and deworming. Ideally, the puppy's environment should be expanded to include not just adults, but also children, cats and even other dogs. Puppies that are properly socialized have less fear aggression and develop coping mechanisms that help them grow into dogs that are able to adapt to new situations.
An old dog can learn new tricks. However, training an adult dog is more challenging because he already has some bad habits. A trainer can be especially helpful in these situations by providing one-on-one help (often in your home). The trainer can also help guide you and your pet in doggie classes for socialization or further training.
Good training also provides the foundation for techniques to help overcome behavior-based problems. One such problem is separation anxiety, in which the dog experiences extreme emotional upset when his owner leaves, and becomes vocal and destructive. The standard behavior modification plan, enhanced by anti-anxiety medication prescribed by your veterinarian, requires that the dog first understand basic commands such as "sit" and "stay."
Despite common misperceptions, cats can be trained, too. (Catman on Mallory Square in Key West is proof. Look him up on the Internet; his cats are amazing.) The golden rules are the same as for dogs. For example, when your cat is scratching the furniture, lift him away. Have a good, tall, solid scratching post available; when he uses it, give a quick reward with treats or praise. He'll learn quickly.
I recommend school for all puppies, and for adult dogs that need a refresher course. Attending classes with other dogs and being overseen by a reputable trainer can make a big difference. For more information, contact the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior at www.avsabonline.org.
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Dr. Heidi Bassler is medical director of the Veterinary Center of Greater Newburyport. Do you have questions for Dr. Bassler? Send them to ndn@newburyportnews.com.
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