What is a Well-Mannered K9?

• A dog that is well behaved around people and other dogs, whether at home or in public.
• A dog that is safe with children and would be welcomed as a neighbor.
• A dog that is a pleasure to be with and a nuisance to no one.

The Well-Mannered K9 Quiz:

• Is your dog welcome almost anywhere because it behaves around people and other animals?
• Is your dog a pleasure to take for a walk because it walks nicely on a loose lead without pulling?
• Does your dog sit politely for petting instead of jumping up on people?
• Does your dog “Sit”, “Down” and “Stay” in place when asked?
• Does your dog “Come” when called, no matter what kind of distractions are present?

If you answered YES to all the above questions, congratulations … You have a Well-Mannered K9!!

However, if you answered NO to any, or all, of the above questions, your dog probably needs some additional training to become a Well-Mannered K9.

Every interaction you have with your dog counts because every time your dog interacts with you it is learning something, whether it is good or bad.  Punishment damages the relationship between you and your dog.   Dogs are only disobedient because they have no idea what you want them to do, are unmotivated to comply with your request or something else has won their attention at that moment in time.

Positive Training is a positive reinforcement system (both non-clicker and clicker), which does not focus on stopping bad, unwanted behavior but on building good, wanted behavior.

1.  Ignore what you want to extinct    2.  Reward what you want repeated

The non-clicker training system uses a “marker word” as a signal to tell your dog it is doing an action that will bring it a reward.  The clicker training system uses a “clicker” as a signal to tell your dog it’s doing an action that will bring it a reward.  The kind of reward you use may be anything your dog enjoys (food, praise, a pat, etc.) and the timing of your signal is very important to communicate to your dog it has done the correct behavior.

Training with positive reinforcement can be exciting and fun for both you and your dog.  It doesn’t damage the relationship between you and your dog and your dog will become enthusiastic about learning because this method of training doesn’t include punishment.

Trying to determine who is truly qualified in the field of professional dog training can be a difficult task.  The following criteria is offered to help you make your choice:

• Widespread experience. Inquire about his or her training background, years of experience, and areas of expertise. You deserve to have your questions answered, so don’t be timid about asking them.
• Humane training methodology and gentle, effective handling skills. Reputable trainers are concerned about their dogs’ welfare. They also know that harsh or abusive handling methods are not only unnecessary, but are often counter-productive as well.
• A genuine love of and devotion to dogs. When you find a trainer with this important quality you’ll know it. The joy of living and working with dogs makes this person shine.
• Good teaching and communication skills. Trainers who have this gift make the learning process quicker, easier and more enjoyable for their students.
• A sense of humor. Training can and should be fun for both dogs and owners. A positive attitude and a little laughter goes a long way.
• Affiliations with reputable associations, organizations and training clubs. While this is not mandatory, it’s certainly a plus.
• Ethics before profit. Is monetary profit his or her primary motive for training dogs? Is everything this trainer does geared towards making money? While financial success is great, ethics must come first.
• A note of warning: Unless a dog trainer comes highly recommended to you by *at least* one reputable source, the bottom line for the consumer is Buyer Beware!