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Five things every dog should know
By cuzzy | February 29, 2008
I read this in a new Halifax Dog Magazine called Furry’s.
They list five things every dog should know and I found it quite interesting and wanted to share what I learned and how it relates to Bosco.
- A fast response to their name - Yep Bosco knows that all to well. He may ignore it sometimes when he has found treasure but he knows not to push it. I give him the benefit of the doubt sometimes cause I know he thinks with his nose sometimes. Some tips are to not repeat the dog’s name over and over again and to use a happy voice.
- Come when called - Now this one can be tough for Bosco even as a seasoned vet. He sometimes ignores Katie or his one weakness is kids. He loves kids and just wants to lick them. At this point is when I have to use my “don’t even think about it” voice. Some tips are if you are still worried, invest in a really long leash until your dog gets the hang of it.
- Loose leash walking - Bosco is a loose leash walker on the way home haha. On the way to where we are going he pulls and wants to be way out in front as a leader. I don’t really care but I know it can be hard for Katie because he will drag her. Bosco is not the best on leash and that is because he has been an off-leash dog since his puppy days. I was spoiled and lived near a giant off-leash park. One tip to remember is if your dog keeps pulling just stop walking until the leash is loose. Keep this practice up over time and it will get better. Maybe a gentle leader or harness will be a good fit?
- Bomb-proof stays - Now Bosco is great at this (for me) but when others are added into the mix his brain shuts off. He is a great sitter but his bum does do a little dance of excitement. To this day he will not touch his food until he is told he can and he will sit in one spot until released. This is a fun thing to try and teach when they are pups. See just how strong their will power is. Reward in the beginning and set them up to succeed.
- Give! (even if they don’t want to) - Now this one Bosco would get an A+ in. One thing that really annoys me about being at a dog park or elsewhere is if another dog will steal Bosco’s ball. No big deal if they are playing but if the other dog won’t drop it or give it back it really bugs me. There are a lot of owners out there who can’t get anything out of the dog’s mouth. Bosco will drop anything in a second on command. I really worked on this as a puppy and the work paid off.
All five things have the same goal. To teach your dog to be well mannered so you can take them anywhere. Routine is key so start as early as you can for best result.
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