Right now this is only the foundation. Only having had our new family member for a few months. The plans are to add  information using a fair amount of humor, as we learn new things. 

While the page is meant to be entertaining, it addresses different issues that should be considered, when getting a dog and training it.

What happens when a "cat person" decides to get a puppy? - The world changes!

While both cats & dogs have four paws, sharp teeth, and the need to be loved and cared for, that ends any resemblance.

We had discussed getting a dog, but the time never seemed just right. Too busy, not enough room, cost,..... Then it happened, we stopped off at the pound, just to look.  Of course it was never spoken, but we both knew what would happen, and it did. We now own a puppy dog. Not just any puppy dog, a rather unique one.

One thing we had agreed on is that the dog, had to be small to medium in size. With short to medium length coat. Well one out of two isn't bad.

The one thing we hadn't discussed was training and manors. Being a cat person I expected a certain set of standards, however my other half had a different set.
 

 

Mine	His
Dogs eat dog food	Dogs also eat people food
Dogs are fed from their dish	Dogs eat from my fork
Dogs do not bite	Love bites are OK
Dogs get ONE treat when they have earned it	Lots of treats
Dogs do not jump on people	He loves you

 
Well you get the idea. About the only thing we agreed on is that they should not run off, and that they have to be house broken!
 
We did agreed that some basic training couldn't hurt either. Especially since I have hopes of maybe doing some Search & Rescue.

After a couple of weeks of doing some research on the subject of training, and checking out several different schools, we found one that fitted our needs. 

Giving the instructor fair warning, I was a novice dog owner, and that we had a very smart pound puppy. We paid our fee, and reported to class. 

The first thing we were told about is teaching the dog who is boss, better known as the "Alpha-Dog". Then all the do's and don'ts, like when and where to feed, biting, jumping, ...... 

Now with this information coming from a paid "professional" and in writing, I was armed with facts about the rules that were to be enforced in the home. Alpha-Bitch was born.

Not only was the puppy to be trained, but so was another particular human.

 
Finding the right class is no easy task! First do you want private lessons, or a class room setting? 

Which training method to use, some use food reinforcement, while others only use verbal praise. Some use "clickers", others a soft but firm voice, then some use very loud strong voice. 

Once you decided on the method, than you must find the school or instructor and start checking  their references. Any one can call themselves a "dog trainer". 

Then  comes the cost and scheduling. 

I have yet to understand why the call them "dog training classes". I feel that the correct name should be "dog owner training classes". After all the dog may learn a few things at class, but most of the training, is teaching the owner how to train the dog. There are some places that will do the training for you, however I haven't met anyone that supports this method, unless it is specialized training such as "Service Dogs".

Classes provide the dog with a great opportunity to show the owner who is the real boss. You work the dog everyday, by the end of the week, he is doing what you request (most of the time). Then you go to class, and he acts like he has never herd that command before. 
 

You say come, and he runs off.  You say sit, he lays down.
Some of the things I'm having to learn:
 
Speaking in a higher pitch that sound more exciting -  excuse me I don't even do this with human babies

There are different types of toys - WHAT! He needs a play toy? He has: a hard rubber ball, a hollow ball that squeaks, a squeaking thing that looks like a dumbbell, a nylon bone, a bone made of rope, a toy that holds treats, and a big basted beef bone. As it ends up these are what are called "chew toys" not "play toys". 

How to use a pinch collar. - This includes putting it on and taking it off. No easy task, when your dog has what the instructor calls, "a lot of flab" under the neck.

"No Bite" my leg is not a chew toy
"Leave it" cats are not play toys
"Give" that's my shoe, sock, undies, T-shirt....
"Off" (used for the kitchen table, computer desk, and company so far)
"Good Boy" is used the most, if the truth be known

Other common questions a phases now commonly used

NO! He eats after we are done
Only one treat.
Tell him "no bite", he has to learn. 
If you give him that, I'll be up all night walking him!
What happened to that new bag of treats?
Has anyone seen my other shoe?

Having completed our first level of training, we are a little more educated! 

Speaking in one and two word sentences has become the norm, to the point that my other half has informed me he isn't a dog.  "SIT", oops sorry about that. I meant "Have a seat".

Rusty was a 16 week, 28 pound, Lab/X when we adopted him from the city pound. HOWEVER, as of August 3rd we made a great discovery. The now 8 month old, 60 pound, Lab mix is really a Rhodesian Ridgeback and Lab mix. 

Of course I had never seen a Ridgeback, but I assumed that at least one of the following might have noticed: the pound, the pound's vet, my vet, or our trainer.

Rusty has ALL of the personality traits of a RR, he is smarter than some humans I know, eats like a goat (anything he can find), stubborn as a mule, gets bored faster than a toddler, runs like a race horse if given a chance, only barks if he has something to say, chatters up a storm when excited about something, and thinks laying on the couch watching TV is a "born right".

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