Dogs 101
This series will help you learn the basics of how dogs think and why they do the things they do. You will be able to train your dog and solve most problems if you understand some basic truths about dogs.
Dogs have to figure out what you want them to do. Imagine you’re in a foreign country and you don’t know the culture or language. That’s your dog’s world! Remember that your dog, like any foreigner, has to constantly interpret what’s going on around him. So, your family has to decide, from the beginning, which rooms your dog will be allowed in, whether he can get on the sofa, and what words to use for training cues. If you’re consistent, it will be much easier for your dog to understand what you want. And when you teach a new skill or behavior, use rewards as a way to tell your dog that he has just done the right thing. Sometimes, when your dog “misbehaves” or “doesn’t listen”, all it means is that he doesn’t yet understand what you want.
