Dog Health Questions: My dog is a good dog. Is yours?

My eight year old BC is an excellent dog. He potties outside, doesn't bark, minds his manners, eats healthy, isn't possessive of people, things, or food, and knows more tricks and commands than I thought I was capable of learning.

My point? I didn't know ANYTHING about dog training when I got Luke. I didn't know anything about the breed, or even how to potty train. So how did I end up with a "good dog"? Luck?

How about you? What did you know now that you didn't know then? Did your dog suffer from your own ignorance? Mine sure did.

Passive and Active Dog Training Techniques

Recommended Answer:
I know a lot more now than I did 15 months ago - too much for this answer!

How did you end up with a great dog when you started knowing little about dogs? Common sense goes a long way - too bad it is in such short supply!

Basics of Dog Training

• hahaha well about 2 years ago my parents said I could get a dog, and so first thing that came to mind was border collie. BUT after spending several months looking up the border collie and listening to people who have had experience with the breed, I came to the realization that the breed is not for me (at least not at this time in my life) so 747237663672 dog breeds later, I came back to the german shepherd and well I will pick him up in 3 weeks. But no, I usually do research before buying. But you sound like your lucky lol.


• I have actually LEARNED a few things from my dog! She is a 11 month old Pit bull and she has won my trust over for ALL Pit bull Terriers! I could not even think that I would have taught her how to act on a leash (since she is still a puppy) but we have actually just accomplished that! I have also taught her how to sit, stay, lay, fetch and many more things! Something She taught herself was to let us know when someone was outside of our fence...but once they get inside all she can do is wag her tail and try to lick their feet!


• I knew very little when I got my first dog, but you learn as you go along, as long as you teach your dog the basics when they are pups, and you treat them with the respect they deserve, then I don't think you can go far wrong.
  Common sense is one of the main things you need, not just for raising your dog, but in all areas of your life.


• I have had Dobemans for 19 years.
  My first was an adult dog and he was great. Well behaved and great house manners. He came knowing all that.
  WHen we started with Weimaraners it was because I wanted to expand my training abilities and work with field dogs.
  But I visited many breeders and did much breed research before getting the Weimaraner breed. We looked at other breeds but thought this would best fit into our lifestyle and into our home.
  Turns out we were right.
  Now I can say I have trained field trail dogs for upland game bird hunting and Dobermans.


• He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart. You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.
  


• Titus came from the pound- He already knew everything when I got him. He is a great dog! He's a bit of a jerk to walk though,
  My girl violet...Not so much- she barks when some one comes to the door and she is a bit in your face- when she wants attention. But other then that she a great dog- I think I did pretty good with her so far concidering she is my first puppy. We are still learing and fixing thing together as we go...


• The dog I had before I got Max and Penny was a little Pug/Boston terrier mutt and she was a wild thing. I didnt know anything about training/obedience, I let her do what she wanted. The end result? My ignorance got her hit by a car.
  
  when we got Max our APBT I did extensive research to see if we could handle his breed and what all to expect. I can say now he would be a hellian if we hadnt. We made sure to train him properly to listen to us. An untrained dog is a dangerous dog in my opinion.
  
  I know a lot now after seeing his behavior and working out the glitches here and there with him. When we got our little mutt training was a breeze with her because I was so set on how to train our Pit I did the same for her.
  
  All in all though both dogs are excellant, they listen to us and still need some work done but they are amazing.


• Bailey could have been who he is today so much sooner if I had a better grasp of how to deal with his "issues" as well as I do now.
  
  I certainly didn't know nothing, but I knew very very little about how to deal with anxiety and confidence issues. I have, over Bailey's 10 years, learned a tremendous amount about confidence building and helping a weak nerved dog to best overcome their genetic disadvantages. He and I both suffered from that lack of knowledge. However, today we are both very grateful for each other. Because of Bailey, his new little sister has a huge advantage in life and I think he knows that - he constantly takes her under his wing and trys to help her escape that same fear he once had.
  
  Did I get lucky to have such a well behaved dog? I don't think so, really. I would have to credit far more of our succes to my natural gift for canine communication and our constant working to get better. We've been going to classes for Bailey's entire life because we both enjoy it - surely that's part of it.
  
  While we've suffered our shortfalls together, we've also triumphed together - and that will make a proud mama out of anybody!!
  
  People talk about how because I don't wish to have kids I will never get to see the day my daugher goes to prom, or graduates, gets married, etc...
  I wish people could understand that I don't need those things when after weeks of working on conquering the fear of the agility tunnel, Bailey runs through it at full speed coming out the other side with a smile from ear to ear and an expression that could say nothing other than "I DID IT!!! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT MOM? I DID IT!! ALL BY MYSELF!! I DID IT!!"


• I have 3 datshunds and all three are very well cared for and listen very well eat well and sit so cute when they beg and they love to be with me 24/7 no matter where I go they are there well when I first got Jacksun my choc male he was fine then developed a rash after several vet cks and over a thousand dollars worth of treatments I found out he allrigic to grass beat that yea Grass But no matter what was wrong I wasnt going to give up like previous owners did. Yes he was a toss away but now hes my best buddy and alls well. Then heres Tink she is black and tan her owners didnt care for her very well she kept running off and stuck in a hot garage all day so she came to us I took home 3 times the last she stayed I had her fixed and de wormed and now shes part of our family too she such a sweet heart and Loved so much.Now comes Jewlee shes spoiled rotten I bought her from a friend. she red and full of spunk and barks some more than the other 2 but she gets you attention when she wants it.All 3 are my best friends sleep with me and sit in lap all at the same time.Jacksun -male 7
  Tink female 1+2mos Jewlee 1+3 mons aLL ARE FIXED AS WELL AND UP TO DATE WITH SHOTS AND FLEA TREATMENTS AND HEARTWORM.


• My poor dogs that I had before Eli.....I was so ignorant. My 2 chihuahuas actually turned out to be good dogs somehow. I'm not sure how. My ex and I worked at the same place. It was an hour drive to work, we worked 12-14 hour shifts and an hour drive home. The dogs were litter box trained as well as outside trained. My ex was a firm believer in the old-fashioned way of training. I remember them chewing the door framing once. He rubbed jalepeno pepper juice up and down the wood then rubbed their mouths on it. They never chewed it again, but, that was the wrong way to go about it.
  
  I have no idea what we fed them. I've been divorced from him for 7 years. I do know that we did give them table scraps sometimes. Peewee loved meatloaf. He'd eat so much that he couldn't walk. He'd stand still or fall over on his side so we'd have to pick him up and carry him to his bed. Yeah, how healthy is that????
  
  My Springer Spaniel got ran over because he wouldn't let him be an inside dog and we didn't have a fenced in yard.
  
  I learned SO much before I got Eli, after I got him, and on a daily basis. The most important things that I think I have learned is positive training, good nutrition and patience!


• My cardigan welsh corgis are wonderful(not perfect) in spite of me.
  I have learned a great deal in the last four years. I have also become more at ease and relaxed and comfortable in my relationship with these 2 lovely boys. Consistence, love, trust, and respect (You know all the ingredients of any good friendship) are key. I did have a bit of an advantage because I work in behavioural therapy with people. The principles are mostly the same. Dogs are more straight forward in terms of their motivations and they tend to be saner than people,
  Always strive to be as good a person as your dog thinks you are.