Can my dog be trained?

It's a puzzle to me!

Jeanne Perciaccanto

Ultimate Dog Training

There is usually a tipping point which compels a dog owner to call a dog trainer!

Behaviors can range from annoying to serious but most owners will put up with one type of behavior as long as the dog doesn't cross an imaginary line and do "that" behavior found totally unacceptable.  Jumping is tolerated as annoying rather than problematic because it is not as intolerable as using their home as an outhouse! Pulling while walking may not be fun but is something that can be accommodated, however, a dog constantly barking is not permitted!

So, the dog has crossed the line drawn in the sand and is doing "it" and "it" must stop!  You have tried everything and now call a local dog trainer. You tell the trainer you don't need all that fancy stuff and just want your dog to stop doing "it!"

Dog owners love their dogs. If possible, they would want the perfect well behaved, calm and well mannered family pet.  Due to most interactive histories, many owners don't believe this possible.  Instead, out of frustration, they look to "spot" train, dealing with individual problems, rather than learning as a whole.   "It" is the problem and 'it" is what has to be solved. Dog training being viewed as an item to be selected from a menu of choices and miss the concept that all behaviors are inter-connected.

Column A.                                          Column B.                                         Column C.        

biting                                                  leash pulling                                        not listening
possessive aggression                     running away                                      chewing
growling                                             jumping on company                          barking
nipping                                               House training                                    getting into garbage  

Dog trainers see what they do as putting the pieces of a puzzle together!  The pieces are all there but have to fit together to make a whole picture.

The dog trainer will ask owners questions about the dog which lead them to developing a history of your dogs behaviors and building a full picture of what and how learning needs to take place based on how learning has already occurred.

The owners see the problem as the single entity of concern, "just stop my dog from doing "it!" but to a dog trainer, "it" is the end result of a series of unresolved issues or behaviors that caused "it" to have happen in the first place.
What or how has your dog learned and why does your dog think it is okay to do what they are doing?

How do the pieces of the puzzle need to be re-arranged and be put into place so the picture becomes crystal clear for your dog?

Your dog jumping may be part of the same behavior as going to the bathroom in the house.  Both could be demand for attention or marking space as a social/ territorial act.  Further, both behaviors could just be your dog hasn't learned what is acceptable and how they should behave in a manner they understand clearly.

Pulling on the leash is the same as barking since both are expectations of follow the leader.  All behaviors, no matter which column they come from can all be part of the dog never learning how to have self-control nor developed proper problem solving skills, leaving the dog to their own devises of how to communicate with you.

A knowledgeable and experienced dog trainer can see how the pieces of the puzzle fit into place.  Allowing the process to unfold, dog owners begin to see their dogs learn, make self-controlled choices and watch as the dog begins to understand clearly what and how they are to behave.  Give the process a chance and allow the pieces of the puzzle to come together and let your dog become a well behaved family pet because they choose to behave!


www.ultimatedogtrainingnj.com