Teaching a Dog to Obey Begins with a Strong Relationship

Who says you can't teach old dogs new tricks? Good behavior not only could -- but should -- be taught to all canines, for their safety and well being. This was the message presented by members of the Trap Falls Kennel Club. Chris Sweetwood and his wife, Lauren Friedman, brought their two Spinonis Italiani, a breed from Italy, to Fairfield Public  Library Saturday to demonstrate what a “Well-Mannered Dog” looks like.

“There's no such thing as a bad dog — there are only bad owners,” Sweetwood told 30 children and adults attending the seminar. “It's never too late to train your dog.”

On Saturday, Sept. 10, Trap Falls Kennel Club, which is part of the
American Kennel Club, is sponsoring its annual Responsible Dog
Ownership Day, from 9:30 a.m to 4 p.m. at The River Walk, 100 Canal
Street, in downtown Shelton.

“We want to teach people how to be responsible dog owners,” said Wells, owner of Pawz for Wellness and member of the Trap Falls Kennel Club. A resident of Shelton, Wells is also the president of the kennel club.

“Sometimes you don't know which website to go to or who to call when you have a question. We want to help point everyone in the right direction," said Wells.

Dog lovers of all ages are invited to learn more about the AKC Obedience and Rally Matches, AKC Canine Good Citizen Testing, and micro-chipping, and to observe Police Dog and Search and Rescue demonstrations and visit vendors from animal adoption groups.

“Please come with your families and bring your dog with you,” Wells said. All dogs are required to be on a leash, that can measure up to six feet in length, at all times. 

During Saturday's program, Dona Campbell, of Fairfield, led her two
Brittanies, named Hannah and Rikki, in exhibiting proper responses to
simple verbal commands. Both dogs are therapy dogs who regularly
visit nursing home residents and local libraries. 

She also demonstrated how to get the dog's rapt attention by spitting
special treats, such as chicken, from her mouth to theirs. Not only
is she teaching the dogs that she is the one who is in charge of the
food, as the pack leader, but Campbell is also getting the animals to
focus on her face for cues. Having the ability to focus on their master is a vital skill for dogs to master before they are in put in unfamiliar situations with other unfamiliar dogs and people. 

Questions from the audience prompted discussions about crate training to what kind of foods to purchase for one's new puppy. Campbell told the audience that in many ways raising a dog is similar to raising a toddler. “Only buy food that is made in the United States,” she advised.

Wells added, “Read the ingredients. It's just like feeding children. You
don't want your dog's food to contain a lot of additives or
preservatives.” Also, Wells pointed out that puppies need a great deal of exercise to tire them out, in much the same way that toddlers require physical and mental stimulation so that they will not display unwanted negative behaviors. And, reinforcing good behavior is done by simply offering small morsels of special 'treats.'

Wells provided a simple recipe for making your own treats: microwave hot dogs that have been cut into nickel-sized pieces. Tiny chunks of string cheese and cubes of leftover chicken also work well. “Never, ever go out without a pocketful of treats," Wells added.

Pet owners should plan to spend five minutes a day on obedience training. “The light bulb doesn't go off in a dog's head until they're around 15 or 16 months old,” Wells said. “Be consistent.” Sweetwood
pointed out that dogs understand the “tone and frequency” of the
language spoken. “They don't speak English but they learn certain
words,” he pointed out. “They really tune into you.”

Wells agreed. “Training a dog is all about developing a relationship with the dog,” she said. “You need to first establish the relationship,
then it will be much easier to teach him commands.”

For more information, go to www.trapfalls.org.