August 2009

Last week I sent out an email asking all the Dog Training Blogger readers to send me an email with a question or two that you would like answered in a blog article.  This is the first answer,  I hope you enjoy them.  Keep an eye out for your question to be answered soon.

No dog is going to be good at obedience unless you, the owner, actually take the time to work with him and teach him what you want him to learn. You could have the smartest, easiest to train dog in the world and it wouldn’t make any difference if you don’t pick up a leash and work with your dog. He’ll never learn anything without a commitment from you.

However, if you are willing to work with your dog and train him, there are some breeds that are believed to be easier to train than others. In a book called The Intelligence of Dogs, author Dr. Stanley Coren asked over 200 professional dog obedience judges to rank 110 breeds based on their “intelligence.” The top 12 breeds ranked as follows:

1. Border Collies

2. Poodle

3. German Shepherd

4. Golden Retriever

5. Doberman Pincher

6. Shetland Sheepdog

7. Labrador Retriever

8. Papillon

9. Rottweiler

10. Australian Cattle Dog

11. Pembroke Welsh Corgi

12. Miniature Schnauzer

Dr. Coren measured intelligence to mean learning with fewer repetitions, ease of training and willingness to please, so these would be good criteria to use in choosing a dog for obedience training. Can you train dogs of other breeds? Certainly. There are over 170 breeds and varieties recognized by the American Kennel Club and more than 400 breeds of dogs in the world. Many of them are quite intelligent and they may be excellent at obedience training.

The dogs that made this top 12 list are generally breeds that have a history of working closely with humans — herding dogs, sporting dogs, working dogs. It’s in their nature to watch closely for commands and to seek to please their owner, though that doesn’t account for all of their intelligence.

Dogs that are more independent or which were bred to operate alone, such as the sighthounds and terriers, had a harder time doing well in these intelligence ratings. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t intelligent. It simply means that, according to the dog obedience judges who rated the breeds, these breeds are harder to train. Sighthounds and terriers may not be as motivated to please their owners and they were not bred to look to an owner for frequent commands.

Any of the breeds in the top 12 are capable of doing very well at obedience work but you should keep in mind that, in general, dogs of these breeds are very smart. That means that you do need to provide things for them to do, especially in the case of the Border Collie. These dogs need training to be happy. They need things to occupy their minds, especially when they are left alone. And, with many of these breeds, they need plenty of exercise to keep them calm and happy.

In addition, all of the dogs on this list tend to be in the medium size range — from small to medium-large. That makes most obedience work easier for them to do. They don’t have the physical problems that some giant breeds or very small breeds have in trying to do obedience. None of these breeds are brachycephalic so you don’t have to worry about breathing problems or special problems with heat.

Many people like the idea of getting a very intelligent dog but if you do you should make sure that you provide the dog with the kind of training he needs in order to develop mentally. Not only are these dogs good at obedience training but it is recommended for them.

What do you think is an easy dog to train…let us know in the comment section below.

Until next time……………………..

Many people today live in multi-dog households. Living in a household with two or more dogs means that there are many times when a person feels like doubling up on some of the chores that go along with owning a dog. Especially when it comes to things like walking their dog, people may decide to walk two dogs at once. Is this a good idea or not?

There are many people who have a hard time just walking one dog. You see them out trying to walk their dog and the dog is pulling them along. The owner has little or no control over the dog. When you add a second dog to the mix, perhaps pulling in an opposite direction, the result can be a disaster. It doesn’t matter if the dog weighs 10 pounds or 80 pounds, walking two dogs at once can be very difficult if the dogs are not leash trained. Two large dogs can pull you apart. Two small dogs can easily tangle themselves around your legs and trip you.

Walking two dogs at one time can also present problems if you have any kind of emergency with one of the dogs. If one dog gets away from you and you need to catch him quickly before he becomes lost or injured, you are still stuck with the second dog. You can’t just forget about him or tie him up somewhere. He will slow you down while you try to catch the first dog.

Walking two dogs at once also means picking up twice the poop and waiting for two dogs to relieve themselves. This doubles your walking time. It probably more than doubles your walking time because when you have two dogs out together they seem to put their heads together and find more things to explore. It takes longer to get them to concentrate on anything important, like potty breaks.

On the other hand, walking two dogs at one time can be more efficient if you can get your two dogs to cooperate. But it takes practice and ruthless efficiency. Your dogs must be properly leash trained. If they are not they will pull you in two directions like you’re a wishbone.

If you plan to walk two dogs at one time you should try to wear clothes that have belt loops. In case of emergency you can snap or tie the leash of one dog to your belt or belt loops to keep your hands free to deal with the other dog.

If you want to walk two dogs at one time you may also wish to consider a coupler. A coupler is a small linking chain that attaches from one dog’s collar to the other. This allows you to use one leash for both dogs and it keeps the dogs walking in the same direction. It’s used to walk dogs in what is called a “brace.” Your dogs won’t have as much freedom on their walk if you use a coupler but if you need to make sure they both walk in the same direction without any monkeyshines, a coupler is a good idea. Dog walkers use these couplers so they can walk multiple dogs at one time.

The most important thing to remember before you try to walk two dogs at one time is that your dogs should be properly leash trained, both for their safety and for yours. If your dogs are leash trained then you should be able to walk two of them at one time. If they’re not leash trained then you’re asking for trouble if you try to walk more than one dog.

What do you think about this subject I would love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Until next time…..

I’m posting this blog here because I know that a lot of you readers are professional dog trainers or are studying to be dog trainers.  If you fall into that category I have some exciting news for you!

I would like to tell you about a great new site I have started called DogTrainerWeekly.com .  This site is going to be a must for all dog trainers that want to be more successful or anyone that wants to get into the dog training business.

Besides offering a FREE Newsletter we are also offering a FREE Weekly Webinar each week to help you become more successful with your business.  Dog Trainer weekly will also offer a weekly blog article to discuss the things you want to know more about!

Thanks and I hope to see you at DogTrainerWeekly.com soon……………

You may have a Velcro dog if your dog follows you from room to room and never lets you out of sight. Some people attribute this to separation anxiety but that isn’t always the cause. There are simply some dogs who want to be with you all the time. You may have a dog who has never been abused, never been allowed to be lonely, and who is normally quite confident. And, yet, it still prefers to be with you more than anything else in the world.

Some breeds and kinds of dogs have a disposition that makes them more inclined to desire human companionship. In general, sporting breeds, toy breeds and some others want to be with people as much as possible. These dogs have been bred for hundreds of years to have a close relationship with humans. They are very attuned to pleasing people and like to anticipate what you will do next.

Other breeds and kinds of dogs can be more independent. Hounds and terriers, for instance, may prefer to work on their own. These dogs are just as intelligent but they often don’t feel the need to be at your side every moment.

These are only generalizations, of course. Individual dogs may vary greatly.

If you do have a “Velcro” dog you’re the only one who can say whether you like it or not. Some people like to have a dog that wants to be with them all the time. Other people prefer a dog that is more independent.

If your dog stays by your side all the time because of separation anxiety or because the dog has been abused in the past, then there are ways of helping the dog but it will take time.

Separation anxiety can be helped by gradually showing your dog that you will return each time you leave the house. You can reduce your dog’s anxiety by leaving the house on practice trips and returning immediately. Keep your emotions calm and relaxed. Don’t be excited or emotional when leaving or returning. Make sure that your dog has plenty of toys and other things to keep her occupied while you’re gone.

If your dog stays with you constantly because she has been abused at some point it will take time and patience to reassure it. Abused dogs do recover emotionally and can become wonderful pets but it takes time for them to put the past behind them. If you think that your dog’s emotional baggage is causing it more problems in the present than it can cope with, or if it is displaying behavior problems, talk to your vet. He may be able to make some good suggestions. If it has serious behavior problems you may need to talk to a good trainer to get help.

If your dog is a Velcro dog because it is shy and lacks confidence you can increase its confidence by doing some extra socialization. Go places with your dog. Take it out so the two of you can meet other people and dogs. Go to pet supply stores, dog parks, parks, and other places where dogs are welcome. With a little work your dog should start to come out of its shell and you will see the confidence increase. As it gains confidence it will probably leave your side a little more.

If you simply have a Velcro dog who loves to be near you and do things with you, that can be a wonderful thing if you have the kind of personality that likes a dog like that. Velcro dogs can be very sensitive and responsive. They generally learn fast because they want to please you. You will probably be the center of your dog’s world and that’s not such a bad thing.

Until next time……