If you are looking for the greatest gold-mine of easy to use "change your dog's behavior" advice ever crammed into a newsletter series then read on!
Also, make sure that you check out our 100% authentic testimonials from people who have bought Secrets to Dog Training and find out the massive difference it has made to their owner-dog relationship!
"Hello Daniel, I adopted a Springer spaniel from ESRA (English Springer Spaniel Rescue) in January of this year. JD (which stands for Just Dog) had a few issues but was mostly a "good boy" I was told. We brought him home only to find out he needed a lot of attention and discipline. JD was very nervous. He had been a stray when found, and he lived in his foster home for several months. I was told that JD did not like his new 'foster dad', especially when he wore white t-shirts or when he took off his belt. He also was aggressive toward other dogs, and sometimes other men. However, he was fine with kids, his foster mom and me. I must mention that he is an extremely handsome guy (as you can see from his picture!).
My boyfriend was nervous and wanted me to send JD back to his foster home. Of course, being a Springer lover, I fell in love with JD as soon as I saw him, so I did not want to give up so fast. Someone had told me about your book, Secrets to Dog Training so I decided to look for it online. When I realize I could download it, I opted for this. I began reading and finding good ideas on what I could do immediately to try to correct some of JD's bad behaviors.
One thing I did immediately was to stop allowing JD to sleep next to my bed at night. He thought he was to be the leader of the pack and would sometimes climb up in the bed with me. I had to show him that he was not, so I put up a nice-sized crate for him in the dining room and he started sleeping in there. He actually liked going in his crate, it gave him a sense of security that he sorely needed.
Another thing I did with JD was to begin walking him with a gentle leader several times a day. I trained him to walk by my side, to sit and to walk when I began walking. He needed a firm and consistent mom and I guess I was the one! We still take daily walks and I make him work for every treat he gets from me or the kids. He has become a wonderful pet over the past 7 months but it has not been easy.
JD is now a trusted family member, a wonderful watch dog, and a playful happy guy. He has made a complete 180, and I owe it to your expertise and to the help of a trainer I hired in March. She works on many of the same principles that you/your book does, mainly using strong and persistent techniques to break bad habits. Showing the dog that he is not the boss, is key.
Thank you for your e-newsletters, too. I really enjoy these. Sometimes the problems are similar to mine and JD's, sometimes not. Your answers are always clear and intelligent. I believe you are helping many people and their dogs to become compatible friends-the way it should be!"
-- Rita Randolfi (Vero Beach, Florida)
Hi Daniel,
We have a 4.5 month old female golden/poodle. She is very much the ALPHA dog and we are working on many issues with her. She seems to be getting better about a lot of issues. I have raised 5 Goldens in my time and never had a puppy like this.
The one problem that we don't know how to deal with is when friends come to visit, she becomes very excited, jumping, nipping running, barking (not since she wears a bark collar) piddling on the floor, basically out of control and unmanageable. This goes on for awhile and slowly she calms down.
How I currently am dealing with her on this is to put her on the leash, command her to "down", and will let her off after a few minutes, and if she goes to bother the friend, back on the leash she goes.
I am afraid to bring kids to the house for she is terrible. Not out of anger, just too very much excited.
Please help!
Eddie
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for your email. It sounds as though you have a lovely dog whose behavior can get out of control in certain situations!
There are a number of things that should help you.
1. Please use the Alpha techniques to teach your dog that you are in charge. This should help with her obedience, which will help you get her under control if she is acting up.
2. Check your dog's diet for food preservatives, food colorings and large quantities of grains/cereals. By replacing a diet high in those substances with one that is void of colorings, preservatives and low in carbohydrates, many dogs have been known to calm down almost overnight! While this might not be the cause of your dog's erratic behavior, it is still important for her health and well being that she is fed a well balanced, nutritious diet.
3. Please ensure that your dog gets lots of exercise! She obviously has some energy to burn, so by providing her with lots of play and exercise time, you are helping her to use up some of that excess energy! You should also try to have daily obedience lessons with your dog to help with her obedience, and to keep her both mentally and physically stimulated. Dogs not only need to exercise their bodies, but also their minds! Pay particular attention to the down-stay command.
4. Remember to remain calm yourself. If you try to deal with an excitable dog by getting worked up, it’s likely that this will encourage her hyperactive behavior. Instead, remain cool calm and collected =:) In the wild, the Alpha determines how the pack will react in various situations, so if she sees that you are relaxed, she should follow suit.
The next time you have a visitor, when they knock on the door, attach your dog's leash, and take her to another room. Then once your guest has settled in, calmly bring your dog into the room and put her in a down-stay. Ask your visitor not to look at your dog, or speak to her. If the dog begins to act badly, reprimand her by making a loud noise such as clapping or shaking a can of pebbles and combining it with a guttural growl ("AAHH"). As soon as she stops the behavior, quietly praise her so that she knows the difference between bad and good behavior. If you continue to introduce your dog in this gentle manner, you should find that pretty soon she learns that having visitors is really not all that exciting and the hyperactive behavior will become a thing of the past.
Good luck Eddie, and please let me know how you progress.
Kind regards,
Daniel Stevens and the Secrets to Dog Training Team
"Secrets to Dog Training - STOP Dog Behavior Problems!"
I've been a professional dog trainer for well over 20 years, and in that time I've helped thousands of dog owners just like you to get the friendly, well behaved, slipper fetching, best pal they always wanted.
But it didn't start out that way. I've always loved dogs, some things never change. But when I first started my professional dog training career I relied on the so-called 'best practices' when it came to dog behavior training. It was only when I heard people tell me over and over again that they just weren't seeing results that I started to question the old accepted wisdom. So I started a journey, a quest to search out the best, most effective, techniques, tips, and tricks that really work.
And that's how I came up with Secrets to Dog Training. Year after year I found new techniques that achieved the results I wanted. Eventually I had a whole book worth of great resources: Secrets to Dog training...
So, if you want to:
Then Secrets to Dog Training is just what you've been looking for!
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