Dog Health Questions: Tips on Dog Training?

I have a 7 year old American-English Bulldog I just got her from a coworker of my boyfriend. She was a breeder dog and spent most of her life off of a leash and behind a fenced in area. She has never had any obedience training or command training. Thankfully she is house-trained. However I need some tips in getting her to listen when she gets excited. If something excites her, forget it, the command sit goes out the window. Also, she wants to attack my cats. Who were here first. She's never seen one up close or been socialized with them.
What kinds of things can I do to make this transition easier? What can I do to train her better? Thanks.

Importance of Dog Training Videos

Recommended Answer:
Our list of trainers includes only APDT certified trainers and training kennels. We've had all great feedback from owners that have used them. You have multiple issues to confront here.

Keep her away from your cats though, until you can start training. Have gates up isolating her to a main area. Cats can hop over the gates.

Start obedience over as if she doesn't know any commands, using highly palatable treat rewards to train her to come to her name EVERY time, sit every time, etc. Walk her 20-30 minutes twice daily when it's cool out, as she is brachycephalic and will have trouble exercising in hot climates.

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Dog Training Tips - Training Dogs For Your Own Benefit

• Wow, bull dogs are tough to train. Ask your vet to recommend someone to help you with training Probably a clicker would be a good start, the sound of the clicker might snap him out of a bad behavior. They sell clickers at pet stores for about a dollar. make a clicking sound, give the pet a treat, click, then treat over and over so the dog associates the sound with the sound of a treat. The clicker works well in situations where the dog is focused on a mission and the sounds snaps them out of it.


• Bark busters.
  
  http://www.barkbusters.com/
  
  i have a little dog named teddy, and a guy named Greg Kleva is helping me out. (he was on the martha stewart show)


• Get books,CDs,desks,DVD,or videotapes


• You start off slowly stick to one trick until the dog grasps it


• The light line
  Also known to many trainers as a check-cord, the light line is an invaluable aid to training. It allows the handler to control the dog at a greater distance than is possible using the training leash.
  
  Fifty feet of light-weight cotton awning cord can be purchased at the local builder supply for five or six dollars. Get a couple of small bolt-snaps at the same time. Burn the line in the middle, so that you have two pieces, twenty-five feet long. Tie a bolt-snap to one end of each piece and tie a hand loop in the other end. Use a bowline knot at both ends.
  
  It's a good idea to wear gloves when using a light line, especially with big, strong, dogs. If he suddenly decides to take off at full speed, and you grab the line, it will be stripped through your palms before you have a chance to marry a loop over your thumb. With bare hands, this can result in rope burns that will leave a lasting impression, not only in your mind, but on your hands as well. Doeskin gloves are great for this kind of activity.
  
  I regularly use the light line to help make the transition from working on-leash to working off-leash. With the dog trailing the light line, it's easy to prevent the dog from escaping if he breaks a sit or drop. Until he has learned that I can control him from a distance, I just stay near the end of the light line. If he makes a dash for freedom, stepping on the line, or picking it up, allows me to maintain control.
  
  The light line is also good for the dog that runs off instead of coming when called. Let him trail the line around the yard for a few minutes until he forgets about it and then call him. Just make sure you're close to, or standing on, the end of the light line so you can grab it if he tries to beat you.
  
  There are many situations where the light line can help you teach your dog at a distance. Just don't ever leave it on him when he's not supervised.
  
  Good luck with your training!
  Neil


• You need to watch the Dog Whisperer. Or read one of his books. You need to make the dog understand that you are the "Pack Leader." This is done with calm assertiveness. Dogs "read" us and react. If the person isn't calm and in charge then the dog takes over. You must make the dog understand that the cats are yours.
  If you can, watch a couple of episodes of the Dog Whisperer. Cesar Milan is amazing. I don't have any dogs myself. But my neighbor has two. She was having problems with one of them not doing what she wanted. She was stunned when in just a matter of 5 minutes or so I had the dogs under control. No yelling. No hitting. Just standing up straight. Acting confident. They knew that I was "top dog" and responded to that.


• a good obedience class is a must. Walking on a leash and getting her to pay attention to you are the basics of an obedience class. You must establish a training regime to build rapport with a dog to even begin to handle it when it gets excited. Hand feed the dog and use the time to reinforce commands she already knows. Don't free feed. Make sure you include in the training sessions look at me, target, sit, down, and heal. When you have gone past those, then move in to recall. For some dogs that have been back yard ornaments, like my rescued corgi, one must use regular and long term measures. My corgi can't control herself when guests come over. We we have her gentle leader trained and put this on before guest arrive. I used to have to stand on it for her to stop jumping on our guests. Through consistent use we now just put it on her and she dejectedly behaves.