Measurement Guide

WELCOME
01-02
Few things are more rewarding than setting a
performance goal for your dog and then accomplishing
that goal as a team. In this manual I am going to lead
you, step by step, to a successful result: An obedient
dog that loves to work and be with you. There will be
frustrating training sessions where everything does not
go as planned, but as long as you keep your focus, you
will reach your goal.
Let me emphasize right now that electronic training is
safe. No harm will come to your dog if you follow the
steps I set up for you. This program is built on more
than 20 years of success with virtually every breed.
Many people are concerned that e-training will cause
their dog to dislike them or lose its happy and playful
attitude. This will not happen if you follow two very
important rules:
1. Follow the steps in the order I’m presenting them.
Do not jump ahead.
2. Be careful about accepting outside coaching or
information. There are many good professional
trainers capable of training your dog, and they
have their own programs, but their methods may
not be compatible with this one. And many well-
meaning but less-experienced folks will toss out
information that may not be best for you or
your dog.
When finished with this training, you and your dog
should be able to comfortably face most any distraction
while you maintain total control. We will start with very
simple goals in our training sessions and move forward
at a pace prescribed by your dog, not a timetable.
Initially, you will learn to properly use a leash and then
progress to verbal commands and obedience drills. Only
after these skills have been mastered will you start
using the e-collar. From there the lessons will become
more challenging. No matter what phase of training
you’re in, attitude should always be top of mind. This
is one of the most important words I will mention.
First, your attitude toward your dog should be very
positive and direct without a lot of unnecessary chatter.
Straightforward, one-word, simple commands will make
your dog’s job easier. As important as your attitude is,
your dog’s attitude is the one that requires the most
attention. If your dog is walking around with head down
and tail tucked, you need to back off and slow down.
There will be a fair amount of mental pressure during
this program. Most folks think of physical pressure
during training but in reality, most of the pressure your
dog feels will be mental. When this occurs, I will explain
to you how to relieve that pressure and get the tail
wagging again. A happy dog learns faster, so make sure
both your and your dog’s attitudes are positive.
OK, let’s get started with turning this business of dog
training into part of your daily routine.
LEARNING TO TRAIN
Every animal on the planet has an alpha or beta
relationship with every other animal. We usually think
of “beta” as submissive and beaten down, but in wild
packs or herds, that is not the case. The beta dog in a
pack of wild dogs is still quite happy and lives a good
life. So your dog should live the comfortable life – while
remaining in the beta position. Your dog will be quite
happy being beta as long as you show the dog that
beta is a good way to live. In dog terms, you are the
“alpha,” giving your dog everything it needs to survive.
The essentials of food, shelter and, most importantly,
companionship (the pack) are provided by you. For
those things, your dog will work and be happy as long as
you demonstrate that you will not submit to challenges.
To be sure, the beta dog will present regular challenges
in hopes of gaining the alpha position. If the beta dog
wins the challenge, there is a new leader of the pack, so
do not give in. Some of the challenges are subtle. Those
are the ones you must pay close attention to while
Dogs develop behavioral
patterns early in life. The
sooner a dog recognizes
you as being in charge,
the less resistance it will
give you, and this makes
it easier for the dog to
accept instructions.
Sometimes you may
unknowingly give in to a
dog’s resistance, and that
creates a problem later.
For example, let’s say
you pick up your puppy.
Well, puppies have a short
attention span, so often
after a few minutes the
puppy starts squirming
so you put it down. Your
puppy just learned how
to get its own way by
resisting you. In effect,
you taught your dog to
resist you. To keep this
from happening, next time
your pup squirms, roll it
over on its back and hold
firmly. The pup will resist,
but if you don’t give in,
eventually it will relax,
and then you can set it
down.
Another behavioral
pattern that is good
to establish early is to
get your pup used to its
crate. Dogs like enclosed
areas, and if introduced
early, a pup will consider
the crate to be its den.
The crate is where your
pup sleeps. It is also the
means to train your pup to
do its business outside. A
dog doesn’t want to mess
in its den, so using the
crate you can “den break”
a pup. And, a dog that is
accepting of its time in a
crate will be much easier
to transport in the car or
truck.
A TRAINING TIP FROM RICK SMITH / SETTING YOUR PUP UP FOR SUCCESS
400-1131.indd 4-5 9/14/09 11:08:43 AM