Yes, You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

Training your dog doesn't mean just "teaching" your dog to sit or shake after you have asked it a number of times.  Does this scenario sound familiar? "Sparky, sit.   Sparky, sit...sit.   Sparky, SIT!"  <Sparky finally gets tired of standing and sits> In some households this may be acceptable, but a well trained dog (one who is eager to please and respects its owner by complying on the first request) generally makes for a better companion and member of the household.  Training doesn't have to be formal or a chore; it can be a fun experience for both you and your dog! There are many resources available to help you learn how you can train your pet; including hands on classes, videos, and books.  Ask your vet, visit your local pet store, or even search the net to find out where you can find these resources.  One of the most talked about methods of training as of late is called clicker training.  Clicker training has even been used on dolphins and birds.  You can get an idea of what clicker and obedience training entail by following the links below.  There are many other fun activities to do with your dog as well. Watch for information and links to things such as agility, tracking, flyball, and other various activites soon.  Never heard of some of these things?  Then be sure to check back soon...you may just find your dog's forte!

Obedience and Clicker Training Links

Dog Owner's Guide: Obedience Training	Clicker Training
American Dog Trainers Network	Super Dog Clicker Training
Dog Training Advice and News	Accounts of Clicker Training
Dogglink HomePage	Gary Wilkes Clicker Training

And the fun doesn't have to stop there!  More and more dogs are becoming invaluable aids to us in addition to providing unconditional love and companionship.  Not only are there leader dogs to assist vision impaired people, there are SAR (Search and Rescue) dogs to help us find lost children, diasaster survivors, etc., therapy dogs to provide love and lots of sloppy kisses to people who are in nursing homes, hospitals, or otherwise confined, and K-9 dogs to help police sniff out drugs, bombs, and bad guys.  And the list goes on!  All in all, dogs give us so much, why not give something back to them?  Positive leadership is one of the most important things in a dog's life, and as the owner of one or more of these wonderful creatures, you are the only one who can provide it.

Service Dog Links

Guide Dogs for the Blind	Roanoke County Police K-9 Unit
Canine Companions	K-9 Sweden
Anvil: Rottweiler Therapy Dog	Caesar: Heroic Police K-9

Lacey and I now have a beginning agility class under our, uh...paws!  We both found it to be quite a bit of fun.  She came a long way, in my opinion...from being scared of going through the tunnel to dragging me to get to it.  We had a bit of a problem with the dog walk, but I think that is simply due to the fact that it is pretty narrow, and she is pretty wide.  <G>    We'll be going back to obedience in the fall, as there aren't any indoor agility classes nearby, but we might give it another try next spring.  If you have taken your dog through some basic obedience classes and are looking for a great way to expend your dog's energy, I recommend looking into an agility class.  You'll be amazed at what your dog can do!