Never Give Up

Before Logan came into my life I would often rehearse in my mind how the relationship with my dog would be. Let's just say I got a reality check. It's okay to have expectations of what you want your dog to be, but understand, dogs are just like people - they have their own minds and are not afraid to use it. As the pack leader its up to you to set the rules and regulations in your house. Your dog, as cute and cuddly as he or she may be, is not in charge. But if you don't check their behavior, they will quickly become the head of your house and you not even realize it.

So, how do you stop Fluffy from becoming the pack leader or how do you dethrone the current reigning canine in your house? Consistency. Training your dog with positive reinforcement, everyday, is the key to changed behavior. No matter what the area of concern; potty-training, excessive barking, dominance, and even dog-aggression, they all can be rehabilitated over time with consistent efforts.

Logan's main problems are dog aggression and dominance. But over the last 3 months he's been with us, he has improved tremendously. He can actually be within 30 feet of a dog and not completely lose his mind. Whereas before, that was not our testimony. Why? Because I never give up and I never give him a break. It's been said that dogs live in the moment and don't really remember the past. This may be true, I don't know. But I do know that dogs are great learners and remember everything you teach them (and even some thing you don't teach).

So this month (if you already haven't) make a commitment to take time to work with your dog everyday. Teach him one or two new commands this month and work with him until he has it down-packed. For example, Logan has learned to go into his crate on command, go to his bed at night on command, wait at doorways and stairs until released, and he has learned that he is not allowed in my closet. It's not going to be easy, but it's so going to be worth it in the end. So stick with it and don't give up!