No Such Thing as a Good Dog
People often tell me how lucky I am to have such a good dog but they’re wrong; there is no luck involved. My dog’s good temperament is the product of years of work. And if more people understood this, more people would have had ‘good’ dogs.
I’ve put a lot of effort into exposing him to other dogs, kids, loud motorcycles, noisy power tools, popping fireworks, loud music, and many other disturbances when he was still a puppy; and took him for regular rides in my car. I allowed him to see, hear, smell and feel these influences at his own terms and it paid off. He is comfortable with such disturbances around him and he loves kids.
It is easy to train a puppy. He responds to his name, you give him a treat. He comes when you call him, you give him a treat. He sits when he’s told, you give them a treat. And after a few months, you have a dog that knows simple commands. But this is when many fall off the bus. You have to keep it up as your dog matures. You have to keep your dog stimulated and it also helps him to keep up with you as circumstances change. A dog's training never stops.
A dog needs plenty of love and attention. When given enough of that, he will bend sideways trying to please you. He will protect you with his life… or lose it in an effort to do so.
Regular exercise is another must for your dog. A restless dog is often a sign of not enough exercising. When the weather allows it, I walk instead of driving the 2 km to the supermarket. He knows that he may not go into the shopping center but he also knows where to wait for me. That took a bit of training but eventually, he did learn to wait until I returned. He understands that the word ‘wait’ means that I’ll come back for him.
So, a ‘good’ dog is not the result of some lucky genetic draw; a dog requires a good owner and a lot of work to make him a ‘good’ dog.
So have you taken your dog for his walky, walky today?
Comments (42)
There's nothing more satisfying than seeing happy tired dogs asleep after a good walk.
I see you use the plural. I wish I had the place for more than one dog. But then I sit with a cat, a polly and a goldfish.
Why would he have done that? Maybe he thought we were on the right track to solve his puzzle.
Indeed so, it is exactly the same as two people who don't agree on the discipline when raising a child.
Don't laugh, this is SERIOUS.
Yes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Only twice I rescued grown dogs. The first was a stray dog but in a very good condition. I advertised but nobody claimed him. It was a long and patient job to get him anywhere near some state of obedience.
The second one belonged to a man who trained dogs for a living. When he died his children decided to have it put down. I could not bear to see such a delightful animal killed and I took him. This dog exposed me for the amateur trainer I was. What a glorious animal! He taught me to throw the ball in the pool so he can fetch it.
If they're not after you then I'm in grave trouble. Both the CIA and the Illuminati is after my blood. I wonder how they traced me. Ah well, maybe they want you.
Old dogs can and do learn new tricks.
You just have to teach them a little differently maybe.
But like men, the promise of a treat for good behaviour works fabulously
Hmm, maybe old dogs, like old men, want different treats.
I know why men are called dogs.
I thought you were really talking about women and how they treat their man.
Nope, It is be-kind-to-animals-day.
Something I meant to say earlier but forgot:
I f you take an impoverished dog and give it a home, you have a friend for life. I think that is the most telling difference between man and dog. Man will kick you in the teeth as soon as he does not need you anymore.
Hmm, but it is still the way he is handled by his owner. And I'd agree that it is much easier to make a good dog bad than to make a bad dog good. And the big problem is that once a bad dog had been made good, can you trust it?
You see, many years ago this fella had this 'good' dog. Well trained and well behaved but one day, for some inexplicable reason the dog bit me. Did not really bite, rather just torn my trousers. The municipal regulations of the town ruled that the dog be put away but I did not cause waves and the dog got a second chance which he spilled. About a year later he bit me again. Again not vicious but he did bite. To this day I wonder why this dog went for me for I never did him any harm.
Dogs need a lot of time and effort...and patience!
I've trained all my dogs and they were all admired.
The one I have now..a 4 year old cross Dalmatian Staffie..is a real softie but very obedient.
There are NO bad dogs..only bad people!
Yes, we should expect them to misbehave from time to time. In 1948 - before I was born - my grandmother was killed by the cow she milked every day.
Now you have touched another very important aspect that I left off the blog to keep it shorter. The owner's temperament is of cardinal importance. Animals sense that and act accordingly.
But that does not count. It is brainwashing.
I see people here who are very excited..agitated..and very loud... their kids act in the same way!
As for their dogs..well..they end up with very excited Or nervous dogs that can also become aggressive.
There are many people who refuse to admit that pit bulls are dangerous animals despite statistics and history showing otherwise. Just because a pet owner hasn't themselves experienced an injury or death in their family from a beloved well treated pet doesn't change the fact that others do.
Oh well, mistakes we all make. Unfortunately, there are no rewards or compensations. I regret having to decline your request.
Animals do kill their owners unintentionally from time to time without realizing it. A few years an Eland (large antelope) killed his owner. The luckless farmer was caught between the animal and a wall and was squeezed to death. Animals do not have the common sense of humans and are dangerous whether they are carnivorous or not.
I suppose that happens with bigger dogs and that is why I want my puppy as early as possible. Before he can develop any hang-ups. And funny enough, I always like the runt of the litter best.
In my business I work in peoples homes. Most people are smart enough to lock their pets up while I do my work, but some just tell me "oh he or she won't bite" Experience has taught me not to believe them.
I even had an experience with my neighbor who's son, whenever he visited always brought his dog. I was over there installing a ceiling fan and was bit on the ankle by his dog. I didn't know he was there until he sneaked up behind me and grabbed hold. I knew the dog and he knew me.
My experience with dogs has taught me a healthy respect for their potential unpredictability. My experience has also taught me that when your back is turned is the most likely time a dog will attack, and of the few times I have been bit was when I couldn't see the animal. Every time I have been confronted face to face with a threatening barking dog, I stood my ground until the dog backed off or the owner got a hold of it and removed it.
A dog will not easily bite the nose that comes with the hand that feeds him. You must have done something (maybe unknowingly) to hurt him.
Hmm, don't like killing bugs and spiders either.