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By Teri DiMarino-Davidson How often do you hear this: "My dog doesn't behave. He jumps on everybody that comes in the house." "My dog is very sweet, but sometimes he bites… but I don't think he means it." "My dog failed obedience class!" All of these statements are nothing but excuses for the bad behavior we see exhibited by some dogs. We all love our dogs. They are each as different as we are and we attune ourselves to the unique demeanor of each and every one of them. But while some dogs conduct is better than others, some carry a dark side. A poorly behaved pet is not only an embarrassment for the owner, it can also be a liability. A nicely trained pet listens to their owner and they are a pleasure to be around. They don't have to perform a repertoire of tricks or be like Lassie or Rin Tin Tin, they just have to be well-behaved and possess good social skills. You can't imagine how often hear an owner say that their dog has failed an obedience class? Well, I have news for you… dogs NEVER fail obedience classes. People do. The gift of obedience training is the best present you can possibly give to your dog. It enhances your connection with your pet, as you are now communicating with a common language. Dogs are smart and will do nearly anything you ask of them. The trick is that you have to show them what you want first. People will say that they took the dog to a class years ago, but it didn't work. Well, the dog can't get out the car keys, take himself to class and practice his obedience work alone. Taking a dog to one group of lessons and not making it work in everyday life is like teaching a child to memorize the alphabet and not giving him a book to read. When you work with your dog you form a bond so the dog looks to you, his owner, for guidance and approval. And if you don't give them something to do. Chances are they will begin to make up their own rules. These independently thinking dogs are the ones who get in trouble, as they are bored and there is no leader to follow and give instructions. Many end up living in the back yard, where they get little human interaction or, worse yet, end up going to a shelter and are branded as "difficult." I firmly believe that there would be half as many dogs in the shelters if people would only obedience train their pets. Jeff and I have recently added a new puppy to our household. This baby Standard Poodle, Kona, is amazingly smart! But smart doesn't get us anywhere if we don't teach her manners and good social skills. It is time consuming to properly train a dog, but that's what we signed on for when we welcomed her into our home. I have trained professionally for years, but I have entered her into a local group class as exposing her to a multiple dog situation will help teach her good manners in public. Just because I have trained dogs before doesn't mean that she doesn't need classroom time. Sometimes we send our dogs mixed signals that confuses them or increases undesirable behavior. Next month's column will touch on some of the ways we can avoid ingraining bad habits in our pets. Until then, I'll see you on the trails. Dear Tabby, We hear about the occasional rattlesnake found here in Four Seasons. My dog chases anything that moves! What can I do to assure he will not be bitten by one of these local snakes? Signed Concerned dog owner Dear Concerned, You are justified in your apprehension regarding the snakes in the area. Let's face it, they were here long before we were and they, along with the hawks, coyotes and bobcats, do a good job of rodent control in the area. But when they get a bit too close to home is when we have to start worrying about our pets. There is a Rattlesnake Avoidance Class given locally several times a year and I highly recommend you put your dog through this training. They use live, caged rattlesnakes, as the dog must associate the sight, the smell and the sound of the snake in order to effectively avoid it. We put our dog, Cooper, through it and now we just go for a refresher every couple years. The training really sticks with them, as Cooper will not even get out of the car once he smells the snakes. The Banning Veterinary Hospital is instrumental in organizing these classes. Contact them at (951) 849-3864 for more information on dates, times and prices for the training. Send your pet questions to DearTabby1@aol. com. FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | MARCH 2015 7 Training Your Dogs Worth the Effort

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