As you read the news and watch television, chances are that you've had your heartstrings pulled by a commercial or two depicting just how many stray dogs are left homeless and dying here in the United States alone. Not to mention similar statistics in other countries.
The number of dogs seeking shelter continually increases, while sadly, the vacancy in those shelters decreases by the day.
As someone who loves dogs, it's so difficult to witness day in and day out. While it would be great if everyone could open up their hearts and their homes to adopt one or two of those dogs (or cats), the realization is that it's not feasible. Not everyone has the ability to do so, even if they wanted.
So what is the next best thing? How can we avoid so many dogs winding up on the streets? What do we have to do so that going forward, every dog will eventually have a home and the population in these shelters stops growing?
There is no easy answer and it might take a few generations before it even affects the numbers, but I believe it starts with education.
Let's ask ourselves why these animals end up homeless in the first place? For that particular question, there's plenty of answers, yet none of them are acceptable.
Spay and Neuter: The first problem that I see is that so many of these animals are not spayed or neutered. If we take one average example and do the math, the answer is evident. Since I'm familiar with the breed, how about a golden retriever? If we choose not to spay and neuter one female and one male and the two decide to go on a romantic date together, it is quite conceivable that in a little over two months that the pitter patter of thirty-two feet will be heard throughout the neighborhood, since the average litter of a golden retriever is six to ten puppies.
Now, if those puppies were born to an actual owner, we can hope that after that litter, the owner will spay and neuter the dogs. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world and sometimes that same golden will become pregnant again and/or so will her female puppies and their female puppies and so on. It's clear to see how quickly eight puppies can become twelve puppies, etc., etc. Sadly, many of those puppies will wind up either on the streets, or worse, killed.
I'm not sure that everyone realizes that if a dog ends up in a kill-shelter, they only have a few days at most before they are euthanized. It is awful to think that a completely healthy pup or senior dog is killed because they simply had no home.
Altering a pet is not an expensive procedure and there are also clinics that can work on lowering the fee. Such an easy fix for such a big problem, yet many fail to have this procedure done on their dog.
I've heard tons of reasons why they chose not to alter their pet, but my all time favorite is that they didn't want their male dog to lose his manhood. I can assure you your dog will truly not care one bit.
If you need other reasons to spay or neuter, however, here are a few:
In females, spaying a dog reduces the risk of mammary tumors and infections.
They will no longer go into heat.
In males, the risk for testicular cancer is reduced. Your male will have less tendency toward aggression and will be less likely to roam in search for a female in heat.
Spaying and neutering is one simple solution to an ongoing enormous problem.
There are many other reasons for these poor animals to become homeless.
The first book that I have written, called Finally Home, was a lighthearted spin on my experience with my golden retriever, that in no way, shape or form was a training manual.
Buddy was the first dog that I had adopted and due to previous owners and training issues, he was quite a handful.
Finally Home was written so that readers will learn two things. For one, that there is no textbook answer that will define the remedy for all dogs no matter how much people want to believe differently. And two, that even if you rescue a dog with a boatload of issues, there still is hope. You just have to work with these issues.
The book is a candid glimpse into every mistake that we made and how with each mistake, we learned from it, and it brought us closer to Buddy than ever dreamed possible. When we first committed to such a huge undertaking that three previous owners couldn't handle, we knew we were in for it, but had no idea just how much.
And that brings me to my next point. Another reason so many dogs end up on the street is because of their dog's poor behavior.
This is a topic I can drone on about for hours and hours. For those who have been blessed with dogs that behave perfectly, it might be difficult to understand what a mischievous dog is like and how they got to that point.
Speaking from experience, there are so many reasons.
The owner might not have done the research on the breed before buying or adopting. They might not have expected a golden retriever to be playful or a Shih Tzu to bark a lot.
In Buddy's case, his previous owners gave him positive reinforcement for bad behaviors. He jumped up, they gave him a treat to get down. He gnawed on the furniture, they gave him a treat to get his mouth off of it.
A few years ago, I met a Rottweiler who would greet you with a kiss and then in the next breath, try to rip your hand off. The owner corrected his behavior by talking to him in a soothing voice and saying, "No, Rover, bad boy" while stroking the dog behind the ears and scratching him under his chin. Do you see anything wrong with that training method? I shudder to think of how that Rottweiler is behaving today.
But, it happens. And these are the dogs that are surrendered to a shelter or worse, put to sleep because no shelter will take them in.
If you've read Finally Home, you will agree that I am not a trainer, or at least I didn't know what I was doing thirteen years ago. However, I will say this. With practice comes knowledge and working with Buddy as much as my husband and I did, we have learned a wealth of knowledge. In essence, Buddy taught me everything I know about training. Because of him, I've done extensive research on training from reading manuals, watching videos, working with a trainer, trial and error, and lastly, asking questions from different people learning varying opinions about training methods. There is no one set rule book that works for all dogs. Each dog is different. Their pasts are different. Their fears are different and their motivations are different. It is not a case of 'one size fits all' and I think this is where some owners feel their frustration, in turn leading to them dropping them off at a shelter or worse, in the middle of an alley somewhere.
I'm a big believer that most, if not all, dogs can be trained. Some important lessons I learned from Buddy.
My newest golden retrievers are Henry and Toby. They make my ninth and tenth dogs. Henry and Toby were rescue dogs. I’m not aware of their previous living conditions, but I believe they were loved and well taken care of.
That brings me to the point of this post. While I don’t have any training certifications, I do consider myself to be well-versed in dog training.
Here, I offer you ten tips for effective dog training regardless of their age.
1. Positive Reinforcement. I can’t stress enough how well this tiny training tip works. Dogs are notoriously people-pleasers. They love praise. They love any attention. While occasionally they do need to be scolded if they do something mischievous, singing the words “Good Boy” or “Good girl” go a very long way. They’d much rather have praise than negative attention. The best part about positive reinforcement is they don’t have to be doing any circus tricks to receive it. A simple pat on the head or scratch behind the ears when they are laying down is considered part of the training. When they do something amazing, a few more words of praise and a yummy treat sends signals to them that they should continue to behave in that manner!
2. Consistency is a key element. Whether you live alone, or have many family members, each person needs to be on board with your routine. If you don’t want your dog begging at the dinner table, then each person needs to follow the same routine. If there is one person who “gives in” to your dog, your pooch will most likely get confused. Being consistent is very important.
3. Patience. Dogs may not speak our language, but they understand more than we know. They are in tune with our sighs, stress levels, emotions and body language. If you show your dog that you are not patient with them, they will pick up on that vibe. While training, only take it as far as you can. If you find that your dog or dogs are not obeying, maybe it’s time to take a break and reconvene once you’ve composed yourself. Training can be tough sometimes, but you always want it to be a positive and fun experience for both you and your dog.
4. Socialization. If you adopt a puppy, you have one advantage over adopting an older dog. Socializing them is easier as there is less risk of them attacking another person or dog. That being said, socializing is important. If you do happen to adopt an older dog (something I always tend to do), socializing can be a bit tricky, but it’s not impossible. Just as dogs can read our body language, we can read theirs. If their body is loose and writhing and their tail is wagging upon meeting another person or dog, chances are, it will be a good encounter. If your dog is tense, overly alert, ears stiff and their tail is not moving, you may want to work with a professional to desensitize your dog. Introducing your dog to another dog often works best when done in a neutral location. Some dogs get protective of their homes, so a park might work better. Sometimes they have had bad experiences in the past that we aren’t aware of. Pay attention to your dog’s reaction and “listen” to what they are saying.
5. Clear Communication. Often, we forget that our dogs are animals and expect them to understand a string of commands. Dogs are very literal. If you say Sit down. They may not know if you want them to sit, or you want them to lie down. The shorter the command, the better. If you want them to sit, say SIT. If you want them to lie down, say DOWN. (Or whichever command you choose to use). When you do need to scold them, calling their name may not work. Be direct. FIDO, Come. Not come here, get over here or anything that isn’t a command they know.
6. Learn to Understand their Behavior. There are many diagrams online that show what a dog’s body language is conveying. Most of the time, you’ll be able to sense if they are happy, scared, anxious, sick or just not themselves. Pay attention to them as you get to know them. This will help you in the long run to determine how they are feeling and what they want.
7. Exercise and Mental Stimulation. Dogs are just like humans in the sense that they get bored. When they get bored, they have to find ways to entertain themselves, which can lead to destruction. It’s important to carve out time each day to exercise your dog. This is not only good for their brain, but for their health as well. Find ways to keep them occupied from walks, to a game of catch, to agility sets. There are so many dog toys online to choose from. Be creative. Your dog will appreciate it!
8. Set Realistic Goals. If your dog is older or sedentary, you don’t want to try training them to jump hurdles. If your dog is younger or more hyper, they will need more exercise and stimulation. If you plan to have a training session, exercising them first will help prepare them to pay attention, rather than trying to chase a ball while you’re giving them direction.
9. Respect and Trust. Regardless of your dog’s age or background, they’ve either gone straight from their birth mom into your home, or straight from another home into yours. They don’t know you. You know that you love animals, but they do not. They need to get comfortable with you first before they start to listen. If your relationship starts off with negativity, they may not bond to you. It’s important to slowly introduce training and expectations. They will soon see that you are their caregiver and start trusting you more and more with time.
10. Seek Professional and/or Medical Help. If you find that you are doing everything possible to train them and they still don’t behave, it may be time to seek assistance. Sometimes dogs don’t feel well and it reflects in their behavior. Other times, they might have had a rocky past and have underlying fears that need to be addressed. Don’t put yourself or your dog at risk if you find this to the case. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help, especially if it leads to a happier pup in the end!
I hope these tips help you in your dog-training journey. I find that routine and consistency play a major role in successful dog training. It takes time. Patience is essential. When your dog accomplishes a command, praise them like it’s their birthday. They will remember that and keep on doing it! If you’ve ever seen a dog who knows their tricks, you may notice, they will sit, lie down, give a high five, roll over and go through the entire routine just to gain your approval. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it will happen. Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint!
“Difficult Doesn’t Mean Impossible!”
Thanks for reading!
~Elizabeth Parker
"Bringing awareness about dog adoption and rescue, one dog at a time!"
Author of Finally Home, Final Journey, Paw Prints in the Sand, Paw Prints in the Sand: Mission Accomplished, My Dog Does That!, Bark Out Loud, Unwanted Dreams, Phobia, Evil's Door and Faces of Deception. All books are available in Kindle and paperback format on Amazon.com.
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