Dog Training and Obedience Classes|American Pet Spa|Argyle and Keller Texas

Training Q&A

For more information on how to accomplish the Canine Good Citizen please call American Pet Spa and Resort and speak with our Trainer, Judy Estes.

General Dog Lingo Glossary

“Look” – The dog should look in your eyes or at your face to show that he is paying attention or focusing on you.

“Off” – This command is the correction for four feet on the floor. A dog should not jump on objects or people.

“Wait” – This means you want the dog to stay where he is for a moment. Give the wait command at the door on enter or exit, or when you are getting out of a car.

“Stay” – This command is to hold the dog after the “Sit” or “Down” command and stay there until released.

“Release” – This can also mean “All Done” or “That’s All” for releasing the dog from any command or series of commands.

“Come” or “Here” – This is the command to call the dog to you. He should come directly in front of you and sit “knee to nose”. (His nose to your knees)

“Eh-Eh” or “No” – This command is to correct the dog when you want to redirect his behavior to one more desirable.

“Heel” – The dog walks on your left side with the head even with your left knee. AKC requires the left side.

“Leave-It” – This command tells the dog to quit going after or mouthing an unwanted item.

“Find-It” – This command tells the dog to find a hidden item without touching it.

Answer: AKC's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program Sponsored by K9 Advantix®. CGC is a certificate based program designed to reward dogs who show good manners at home and in the community.. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.

The test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to approach it and speak to the handler in a natural, everyday situation. The evaluator and handler shake hands and exchange pleasantries. The dog must show no sign of resentment or shyness and must not break position or try to go to the evaluator.

Test 2: Sitting Politely for Petting

This test demonstrates that the dog will allow a friendly stranger to touch it while it is out with its handler. While the dog is sitting at the handler's side, the evaluator pets the dog on head and body only, then circles the dog and handler, completing the test. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

This practical test demonstrates that the dog will welcome being groomed and examined and will permit a stranger, such as a veterinarian, groomer or friend of the owner, to do so. It also demonstrates the owner's care, concern and responsibility. The evaluator inspects the dog, then combs or brushes the dog and lightly examines the ears and each front foot.

This test demonstrates that the handler is in control of the dog. The dog may be on either side of the handler, whichever the handler prefers. There must be a left turn, a right turn and an about turn, with at least one stop in between and another at the end. The dog need not be perfectly aligned with the handler and need not sit when the handler stops.

This test demonstrates that the dog can move about politely in pedestrian traffic and is under control in public places. The dog and handler walk around and pass close to several people (at least three). The dog may show some interest in the strangers, without appearing over exuberant, shy or resentful. The handler may talk to the dog and encourage or praise the dog throughout the test. The dog should not be straining at the leash.

This test demonstrates that the dog has training, will respond to the handler's command to sit and down and will remain in place commanded by the handler (sit or down position, whichever the handler prefers). The handler may take a reasonable amount of time and use more than one command to make the dog sit and then down. When instructed by the evaluator, the handler tells the dog to stay and walks forward the length of a 20-foot line. The dog must remain in place, but may change positions.

This test demonstrates that the dog will come when called by the handler. The Handler will walk 10 feet from the dog, turn to face the dog, and will call the dog. The handler may use body language and encouragement to get the dog to come. handlers may choose to tell dogs to "stay" or "wait" or they may simply walk away, giving no instructions to the dog as the evaluator provides mild distractions (e.g. petting).

This test demonstrates that the dog can behave politely around other dogs. Two handlers and their dogs approach each other from a distance of about 10 yards, stop, shake hands and exchange pleasantries, and continue on for about 5 yards. The dogs should show no more than a casual interest in each other.

This test demonstrates that the dog is confident at all times when faced with common distracting situations, such as the dropping of a large book or a jogger running in front of the dog. The dog may express a natural interest and curiosity and may appear slightly startled, but should not panic, try to run away, show aggressiveness or bark.

This test demonstrates that a dog can be left alone, if necessary, and will maintain its training and good manners. Evaluators are encourage to say something like, "Would you like me to watch your dog?" and a person will hold the leash of the dog. The dog will be held for three minutes and does not have to stay in position, but should not continually bark, whine, howl, pace unnecessarily or show anything other than mild agitation or nervousness.

A dog that is pulling, sniffing, going the other way, barking at people, is aggressive etc. needs to be corrected.

1. Pull the lead towards you with a short fast jerk. Don't hurt the dog; don't yank so hard to create a neck injury. It is only to get his attention off what he is doing and on to you. And then relax your arm keeping it by your pant pocket. (if you want your dog to relax, you must relax! If you want your dog to be confident in You, be confident yourself!). The goal is to put your dog in a relaxed state of mind. He won't go there if you're not there. Put your thumb in your pocket to get used to where it should be. Hold the access lead in your right hand.

2. Adopt a verbal correction. I say Shhh very fast in an authoritative manner while quickly pulling the lead towards me. Used in a consistent manner my dog's understand what this means. I use this correction off and on lead. Off Lead I point at my dog, look him in the eye, Square off to him in a dominant position and say Shhh. I also gently move the dog to assist him to know what I want at times. I NEVER, YELL AT MY DOGS! I teach by example.

3. If the dog remains stubborn, I gently touch the dog with my foot. If your dog is on your left, use your right foot, bring it behind your left leg to touch the dog. I do not kick the dog or hurt the dog; I simply touch him to get his attention off of what he is doing and on to me. The Goal is to shift from one drive to the other and get his attention on me in order to place him in the relaxed submissive state.

These corrections are to be used in the same order, escalating your response to his lack of submission. When consistent they work very well.

Your dog won't submit if he is afraid. The key is to get him to relax. I teach my dog to sit when I stop. And if stubborn I often stop until I have his complete attention.

The above corrections are designed to take the dog's attention off what he is doing to put his attention on you. The more he is corrected the more he will learn to pay attention to you and the less he will do the undesired behavior. Corrections must ONLY OCCUR AT THE MOMENT THE DOG ACTS. Not 1 minute or 10 minutes later, an hour later and so on. You can prevent pulling or aggressiveness by correcting just as he turns his head to pull or to become aggressive. You can prevent barking by correcting the moment he starts to bark.

PRAISE YOUR DOG
Just as important is Praise. When your dog is doing what you want. Say Good Heel! Good Sit!. This gives your dog a word picture he can relate to desired behavior. Pet your Dog.
Hug Him. Give him a treat when he is doing what you want.

BIKE WITH YOUR DOG
Get an attachment for your bike so you can run your dog without him pulling you over. My dogs love bike rides. It burns off excess energy fast. I love it too, because I can go as fast as them.

RETRIEVE RATHER THAN TUG OF WAR.
Tug of War brings out the dog's aggressiveness. Its a good Idea not to play this with your dog until you have a handle on him. Walk to a field and get your dog to retrieve a ball. All that running is good for your dog and he will love you for it.

BE A GOOD PACK LEADER - SOCIALIZE YOUR DOG
Until a dog has been in a specific situation he does not always respond the way we want. For that reason the Dog needs to be exposed to many different things on a regular basis.

Have your dog sit or lay at your side (on Lead) and practice having friends walk in front of you and around you. Practice having them walk dogs around him also. Correct your dog immediately as above for in appropriate behavior. The second your dog turns his head to act inappropriately correct him Don't let him follow through with the behavior. If you allow him to get into fight drive it will be harder to get him under control.

If your dog does not react inappropriately, but allows people or dogs to be near, Let your friends come up to him slowly. No Eye contact, hand out. Let him sniff their hand and look at them. Proper dog introductions, are first nose, then Eyes. If he reacts. Either you or someone has invaded his space too quickly and the people need to correct their behavior. If he reacts to a proper introduction, correct him as above. Consider going more slowly with him. If he accepts them. Praise him.

Practice in many situations. Someone at the door. Socialize your dog with children, with bikes, skateboards, busy streets, loud machinery, lawn mowers, blow dryers, blenders, to give him confidence on how to handle the situation.

Be sure to teach your dog to pay attention to you on walks and to avoid dogs and distractions. But also teach your dog proper behavior around other dogs and people, socialize him with your neighbors and friends and their dogs.

BE A PACK LEADER WHEN YOU FEED YOUR DOG.
Do NOT leave food out all day for your dog. Do not feed your dog until after his walk in the morning so he feels like he earned it as he would in the wild.

Leave the food out for 15 minutes. The remove the Bowl. This teaches your dog that Meal Time Is meal time. If he has to miss a few meals, he'll learn to eat when the bowl goes down.

PRACTICE LEAVE IT COMMAND (Teaches Self Control. Teaches not to be aggressive around food also)

Practice a Leave It command by placing food on the floor. Hold his collar as he is lying down. When he goes for the food say "Leave It" and hold him back by his collar. When he moves back say Good Dog. Teach him to look at you and wait until you say OK before he gets the treat. Make noise, a clicking sound with your mouth to get his attention at first. I've taught all my dogs this and meal time is a piece of cake...Uh Kibble....

This translates into leaving things he shouldn't get into around the house.... and on walks.

A dog with rules and boundaries, structure, consistency and exercise are a happy dogs. Doing this teaches your dog how you will react too. The more he can anticipate your reaction the more he will want to please you.

Get yourself some good books that help you to understand how a dog thinks and how to train your dog and how to become a pack leader.