Some dog owners, especially newbies, puppy parents, and people who have adopted Jack Russell Terriers, grasp for training advice anywhere they can get it.
The next door neighbor.
“Your dog looks well-behaved,“ observes the frustrated owner. “What kind of collar do YOU use to walk him?”
The friend who’s cousin once worked at PetSmart.
“Umm, so, my dog just growled at the baby,” admits the frantic owner. “What do you think I should do?”
The hairdresser who’s roommate has a dog.
“So I gave my dog this stuffed toy yesterday to keep him busy,” confides the exhausted owner. “When I got home, I found it in pieces all over the apartment AND he destroyed one of the cushions on the couch. What do I do now?”
The stranger standing in the aisle at Benson’s, contemplating which dog food to buy.
“Excuse me,” whispers the troubled owner. “Do you mind if I ask you a question about your dog? Has he ever peed on your bed? I mean, not on the bed frame, on the actual pillow.”
And well-meaning neighbors, friends and family offer well-meaning advice.
Which the confused and anxious dog owner applies to her dog’s situation – once, maybe twice, and then wonders why it doesn’t work.
“Obviously,” she thinks, “this probably works on every dog but mine. I have the only dog in the world this awful. There has to be something to make him behave. Maybe I’ll ask my supervisor. She has a dog.”
This, to me anyway, is tantamount to asking the attendant at the hospital parking garage whether Lipitor is the drug of choice for your high cholesterol condition. Or the clerk in the office supply store for legal advice because Law for Dummies is on the shop shelf.
Some things to keep in mind when you are soliciting the opinion of others when it comes to training your dog.
1. Consider the source. An accountant would be the person to consult for tax advice, not the accountant’s brother-in-law.
2. Your dog is unique. He or she is a certain breed, age, gender, and temperament. And your dog lives with you, not Aunt Nancy. What works for her dog may not work for yours.
3. There is no magic bullet. To the legions of TV watchers who think hissing at their dogs is the panacea for all behavioral problems, you already know that dogs have no idea why you are making that odd sound at them.
4. Consistency is key. Training is a long term commitment. Most dogs need lots of repetition, every day, for weeks and months, before they “get it.” Trying something once, hoping it will be a quick fix, is almost guaranteed NOT to work.
If you are grasping for a lifeline when it comes to your dog’s behavior, ask your veterinarian for a referral to a professional dog trainer.
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