Dog Training in Guelph – Scratch and Sniff Canine Services
Positive Reinforcement Dog Training in Guelph, Ontario
From this month’s “Ask the Trainer” Column in the Speaking of Dogs Newsletter:
Vacation Bound
We love to bring our dogs everywhere, and summer vacations are no exception. Whether going camping, renting a cottage, or visiting family, taking certain precautions will keep our canine companions happy, healthy, and safe.
Training and socialization classes have become a very important part of rearing a new puppy. Young pups learn to interact appropriately with their peers, owners learn to teach basic obedience to their dogs, future behaviour problems are prevented and existing problems can be promptly addressed before they get out of hand. A well-run puppy class is the best way to get a puppy off to the right start.
People, animals, and environments that a dog is not exposed to as a youngster will be unsettling for her as an adult. This is precisely why many adult dogs become reactive, aggressive, or fearful. Raising a puppy in a social/environmental vacuum is more often the cause of behavioural problems in an adult dog than is abuse or being attacked. Socialization is far more complicated than simply exposing a puppy to other dogs. Poorly executed attempts at socialization can be about as harmful as not trying at all!
VETO
noun \ˈvē-(ˌ)tō\
plural: vetoes
Definition of VETO
1 : an authoritative prohibition : interdiction
2 a : a power of one department or branch of a government to forbid or prohibit finally or provisionally the carrying out of projects attempted by another department; especially : a power vested in a chief executive to prevent permanently or temporarily the enactment of measures passed by a legislature
b (1) : the exercise of such authority (2) : a message communicating the reasons of an executive and especially the president of the United States for vetoing a proposed law
If dogs could request one thing of us people that would assist in preventing, managing, and changing most behaviour problems, they would say “gimme some space!” Continue reading “Gimme some SPACE!”