Consider this: Even
though good training is imperative to your pet's behavior, many owner don't
recognize that with just simple changes, they can turn a rowdy puppy into a
doggone hero.
Jennifer Arnold, the founder of Canine Assistants, a
groundbreaking program that trains service dogs for people with special needs,
has developed several secrets to raising brilliant and loving pups.
The following tips are some of the same ones Canine
Assistants uses on its elite service dogs, who can do everything from opening
doors and signaling for help in an emergency to detecting seizures and
dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.
Teach Don’t Train
While most dog parents make the mistake of conditioning
their dog to do a certain behavior when cued, Canine Assistants dogs are taught
to think for themselves.
Find the Fun
Canine Assistants teachers play fetch, hide-n-seek, or
tug-of-war with their dogs —letting them both win AND lose — to keep the dogs
happy and responsive to their handlers.
Speak “Dog”
Canine Assistants teachers know to listen carefully for
changes in a dog's bark. Subtle changes could mean the difference between a
bathroom break or a life-and-death emergency.
Champion A Choice
Canine Assistants hero dogs will choose to let themselves
get brushed or be given a bath because association with eating Milk-Bone treats
makes these actions desirable for them.
Focus on Focusing
Just as Canine Assistants hero dogs exercise their cognitive
skills by learning to identify new toys by name, you can develop your dog's cognitive
prowess with games and exercises designed for mental stimulation.
Learn more about the Milk Bone Canine Assistants.