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HOW TO BE YOUR DOGS BEST FRIEND by the monks of New Skete (Michael Evans)
THE ART OF RAISING A PUPPY by The monks of New Skete (Michael Evans)

The main ability every trainer should have is to asses a dogs temperament.. how else can he even think of training a dog. There are many trainers but few with that extraordinary ability. Another way to put it would be "good knowledge of dog psychology. Think like a dog and find out why does the dog behave a certain way.

Before getting to the topic of obedience I'd like to give you a short revue about

When you think about it, it seems absurd to call both Pomeranian and Rottweiler "Dogs". They are so different in many features however each one is a dog as even a child will discover quickly.

Of all animals the dog is the only one that really shares our human lifestyle, working, playing with us on equal terms. The dog has become in truth, as in words, "Man's Best Friend.

The dog's family is divided into two distinct lines the Wolves and the Jackals and Foxes. Hereditary adaptation to the environment, and selective breeding have played a part to the gradual developments of the dog. man quickly realized the value of the dog's assistance and got more attached to this animal.

The domestication of the dog took place approx. 13.000 to 15.000 years ago fossils indicating a domestic dog in association with man, back 6.000 B.C. as well as fossils found in Australia indicating that domestication started as early as 50.000 years ago.

In Order to understand the dog's social structure we compare him with his ancestors the wolf, which belongs to a pack. Each wolf pack has it's social community and like humans they require a system in order to coexist. In each packs there is a dominant male and female, also known as "Alphamale-Female". The alpha male keeps order in the pack, he is the leader.

Each member of the pack hold a certain position in the packing order, but will always look for an opening to challenge the "Alpha wolf" to get the leadership. If the alpha wolf can no longer maintain dominance over the other males in the pack, the challenge begins.

In Order to train our dogs, we have to understand how the packing order works, because it relates directly to them. You will have to learn how to become the leader and you must remember that your dog will look for a challenge whenever you do not keep the "Alpha control" over him.

BE CONSISTENT, FIRM AND FAIR when dealing with your dog.

Conduct business like training sessions at least twice a day, ten to fifteen minutes is long enough.
Exercise your dog before each training session, give him enough time to relieve himself before you start.
Begin each lesson with a review of one or more of the previous lessons so that the dog can earn praise right from the start. This will put you both in a positive mood and set the stage right for a happy training session.
Make all commands definite and clear. Be firm and consistent.
Never let yourself become impatient with your dog. Do not scold, nag or punish harshly. If you lose your cool- do a simple exercise, praise him, and take a break.
Never let your dog disregard "even one" of your commands. Once you give an order, see that it is obeyed. If you let him get a way without fulfilling a command "just once", he will think he can do it again, and "he" will pick the time and place.

Always end the session with a command he can do easily, make him and yourself happy.
The equipment should be a slip or also called choke collar and a 6 ft leader lead. The collar used in training a dog must be tailored to the dog. It must be made of good quality steel and not of nylon or leather. Metal collars are used because they "slip" smoothly and make a noise when they are shook. This noise is part of the positive/negative reinforcement system used in training. The collar must be put on the right way and when tight should have about three inches to spare. In order to be effective the collar must be pulled or jerked sharply, then immediately released.

Commence the exercise with the dog at your left side and hold the leash in your right hand, which should be about waist high in the center of the body.
The leash should form a slight loop and should not be held tightly.
Move forward with the dog giving a slight jerk on the leash at the same time giving the command "HEEL". Walk fairly quickly, taking short bouncy steps rather than long strides, start walking always with your "left foot".
Your left hand is kept free of the leash and you should use this hand to encourage the dog to keep the dog close. This can be done by tapping your left side or some similar movement.
Do not try to pull or drag the dog along on the leash as it will cause the animal to pull against you. A sharp jerk or snatch is all that is needed.
As heel work training progresses, the sit exercise may be introduced when you come to a halt , where your right foot should be the last in motion by placing it nicely beside your left, and you will commenced with the "SIT" exercise.
As you come to a halt, you should jerk slightly the leash upwards above the dogs head and with your left hand push the dog into the sit position, at the same time giving the command "SIT" as you do.
Your hand should be flat open and move from the bottom up in front of your dogs face.

IN ALL COMMANDS - THE COMMAND SHOULD ONLY BE GIVEN - ONCE -.

The left arm is held in front of the dogs head, with hand open and the palm facing the dog.
Commend the exercise with the dog at heel on the leash and in the sit position.
Holding the leash in the left hand, using your right foot and step in front of the dog. At a later date take a few steps away from the dog, always using your right foot first, and then turn and face him , with extended arm and flat hand giving the "STAY' command from the front.

Give the hand signal as previously described and the word command always at the same time.

REMEMBER BE FIRM AND CONSISTENT!!!!!!!!

You have already taught the dog sit at heel, so place the dog in the "SIT-STAY" position.
Place your left hand on the dogs back just behind the shoulders, and with a backward movement of the hand gently press downwards, at the same time pulling the dog into the "DOWN" position by using a shortened lead in the right hand.
The command "down" should be given simultaneously with the pressure from the lead and left hand.
Your hand should make a down moving motion towards the ground in front of the dog.
Do not use more than one command such as - lie down, sit down - and so on, only the one word "DOWN" otherwise you will confuse your dog.

Start this exercise with your dog on the leash, put your dog in a "SIT-STAY" or "DOWN-STAY" position.
Got to the end of the leash, using your dogs name first, give the command "COME" with the hand signal - your right arm brought to your chest where your hand should be almost touching your left shoulder or visa versa -.
If the dog hesitates, give the leash a jerk and hand over hand take up the slack until the dog is brought in front of you, then give the command "SIT".
DO NOT UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES CALL YOUR DOG TO "COME" FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION.... NEVER...no matter what he did wrong. It is very substantial to ALWAYS prays for the "come" or the dog will loose trust in you, feeling it will be punished and refuses to come.
This is unfortunately the biggest problem of most dog owners which I discovered over the years as a trainer and it is twice as hard to retrain the dog and get it's trust level back so it will come at ALL TIMES..

AFTER EVERY OBEYED COMMAND GIVE LOTS OF PRAISE !!!!!