How to Train your Dog

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Answering to His Own Name

The first essential in communicating with a dog is to teach him to answer his name. With the baby puppy this is quite simple. Whenever you are going to talk to him or do anything nice for him, use his name. 'Spot, dinner', followed by a nice meal of dog food is a sure way of teaching him he is Spot, and when Spot is called he is in for a treat of some sort.

It follows that if the dog's name is to be useful in his training you must only use it when something nice is to follow. When reprimanding by saying 'no' to the dog simply use the word 'no' without his name. You will only be using it when you are able to control the dog so there can be no chance of him thinking that you are talking to someone else.

Naming older dogs which come to you as strays should be a matter of thought rather than fancy. Just because your last dog was called Cuthbert is not a good enough reason for using the same name with a new dog. Try the newcomer with various well-known dog names, and if he shows interest in anyone of them, then use that one. In any case, far better a name which attracts his interest than one that happens to suit your own whim. Get the dog used to the name by using it on all occasions when it can influence him.

Many owners, when they first come to an Obedience Club, tell us that their dogs are very disobedient. 'He just won't come when called.' Often this is because the owners have unconsciously taught them not to do so.

When do they call their dogs? When they want him, either to shut him up because they are going out and they can't take him with them; when they think it is time to go home from a walk irrespective of the lovely time the dog is having; when they want him to stop chasing the cat or greeting the little bitch across the road; in fact, any time they think he should stop enjoying himself. After a few doses of this treatment the dog becomes awake up to the general pattern and says 'I know that I'm only a dog, but every time you call me its the end of our good times. Oh no, I prefer to keep well away.'

Another bad habit started. Obviously, if you are going out and not taking your dog with you, he has got to be shut in somewhere; obviously, every visit to a park or reserve has got to finish some time.

Make sure that every time you call your dog is not the end of something he is enjoying. When you are out in the park call him to you several times, make a bit of a fuss of him, and allow him to trot away about his affairs again. If you do this he will get the message that he has to come when called, but will attach no further importance to the matter.

Time your walk to the park so that he gets his dinner when he arrives home and is not immediately shut away for the night, or because you have to go to work.

If you work to a plan of this sort the dog will not associate the calling as always leading to some unpleasant occurrence, because it is not always the direct and immediate result of coming when you called him.