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Saturday, Oct. 03, 2009

The Old Trainer: Common mistakes when training

Dear Old Trainer: I just got Minnie, a 10-month old basset hound, from a rescue group Saturday. She was fine over the weekend, but the last two days she pooped on the floor while I was at work. I immediately took a newspaper and spanked her lightly, then put her outside. I love her already so I want to do what is best. Am I doing the right thing?

Unsure, Fresno

A: No, Unsure, you are making several mistakes.

First, a dog that has moved into a new situation cannot learn a new schedule in just 48 hours. It takes several days. In addition, you only discipline Minnie if you catch her in the act.

What you are teaching her with your current routine is that when she sees the door open after you have been gone she is going to be disciplined. Minnie cannot connect an act that may have occurred an hour or more before your arrival with the punishment.

Minnie will never do something against the rules once she understands what the rules are. To educate her do the following:

Make sure you take Minnie out just before you leave work.

Place newspapers in the spot where she has relieved herself.

Take her outside the instant you get home.

Take her outside on a regular basis when you are home for the next week or so. Once she does her business outside, praise her and pet her and tell here what a good dog she is.

If it is possible, come home and let her out during a break or lunch.

Minnie will try her best to adjust to her new schedule once she understands what it is and adjusts to it.

Dear Old Trainer: My 9-month old Jack Russell, Koko, is a wonderful dog, but if she finds one of my shoes when I am out she will chew it up. When she does I put her on her blanket for half an hour and scold her every time I walk by. Is this the right way to show her she is wrong?

Terrier Lover, San Diego

A: No.

You are making a common mistake, Terrier Lover-assuming that canine psychology is the same as human psychology. It is not, and canines do not learn the same way humans do.

First, never discipline a dog unless you catch her in the act. The discipline and training has to occur contemporaneously with the act. If not, Koko will be like Joe Pesci in "My Cousin Vinny" when the judge admonishes him about wearing his leather jacket in court, and he stands there saying, "What? What? What did I do?"

In addition, thirty minutes is far too long to extend a training lesson. If you catch Koko doing something wrong, whack your hand with a newspaper to make sure you have her attention, stand there and give her a stern look for 10-15 seconds while you tell her not do it again, and then forgive her. Dogs love to be forgiven, and it helps them remember the lesson.

It is natural for puppies to chew up something interesting they find, especially when it has the scent of the owner they love. Make sure your shoes are put away, and leave Koko a couple of chew toys so that she can chew all she wants. She wants to please you, so she will learn fast.

Send Questions for The Old Trainer to: theoldtrainer711@yahoo.com.