Downtown has definitely gone to the dogs. These
days it’s impossible to walk more than just a few feet
without bumping into one (or more) of our canine
neighbors. Ever wonder how some pups are so polite while others can be holy terrors on four-legs? As
the city bustles more intensely than ever before, how
can you ensure that your pup is among the former
group of well-healed canines?
Around your home: Use the recall command in your
home in the course of your daily activities, such as
when you want your dog to come for mealtime, or
when your dog runs to the front door or a window
to bark at a buses, trucks, neighbors, or other distractions. Recall is your dog’s most important command, so remember to always make this a positive
command. Treat well and treat often!
A little training every day goes a long way in setting Use all of your dog’s behaviors to earn him “what he
your dog up for successful city living.
wants.” By making your dog earn what he wants before giving it to him is a learning opportunity! If your
One of the most common mistakes we make with dog wants to go out, he has to sit for his leash to be
our dogs is assuming that dogs view training the put on, or lay down at the door, or does a trick insame way that we view schooling—basically; that stead. Do the same when your dog wants his dinner,
learning is reserved for the classroom. In reality, or to play, or be petted or given attention. It doesn’t
both dogs and people are learning constantly, day- really matter what behavior you ask for, as long as
by-day and second-by-second. In order to have the you ask the dog to do “something” in exchange for a
best-behaved companion you can, it is necessary valuable “life” reward. Always remember to be preto reinforce all of their desired behaviors during the pared to reward.
course of daily life. “Use it or Lose it” is a good motto
to follow when exercising both your dog’s new, and Treats are a great way to motivate and reinforce
known behaviors. How can you practice your train- good behavior. Although many pet guardians are ofing during ‘real life’? It’s easier than you may think ten concerned with treating, over-treating or bribing
– Here’s a few examples you can do right now.
their dogs both during the course of training, or their
everyday lives, our team of dog trainers at the TrainAround the neighborhood: Going shopping or grab- ing Lab (Pussy & Pooch Pet Lifestyle Center) adhere
bing coffee? Take your dog! There are many DTLA to the Theory of Motivation. The Theory of Motivashops and cafes that are dog friendly, but if you’re tion states that in order to have an effectively trained
not sure, always call ahead and ask. Once you are in dog, you must be able to obtain and maintain their
the store you can practice walking nicely on leash, engagement, or focus.
sitting politely for petting, no jumping, sit-stays before entering/exiting, or while under your chair ta- How is this done? The answer is both simple and difble/chair if you are seated at a cafe. If you’re ok with ficult. You must be more interesting than anything
people petting your pup, you can use this opportu- else around your dog. There are a few ways to acnity to practice nice greetings by having your dog complish this goal. You can use food, toys, attention,
‘Say Hi!’ in a controlled manner.
or— you can use nothing.
Expecting company: Practice sitting politely when
guests, friends or relatives visit. Practice sit-stays
when answering your door to receive a delivery, or
when you can hear that the trash collection is nearby.
Practice sit and down stays while you are watching
TV, on the phone, cooking, eating dinner, or working at home on your computer. By reinforcing this
positive behavior your dog learns to be quiet and
relaxed during times that you are busy and need to
work; and it doesn’t require much extra effort on
your part to train the dog while you are doing other
things.
The easiest is through the proper application of
treats. If your dog is not motivated by food, feel free
to use their favorite toy instead. Using attention is a
little trickier because whether you realize it or not,
you give your dog attention all day, every day. In order to use this as a reward, you have to use it sparingly so that it becomes a treat, not an expectation.
Lastly, remains the school of owners who wish to
use nothing to motivate their pet because their dog
should simply follow the rules and behave. This is
often the most frustrating scenario both for pet and
parent because there are few successes and fewer