Training a shelter dog!
Article Source: examiner.com
Article by: Keith Smith
Everyone loves a cute little puppy, that sweet puppy face, the puppy smell, and those adorable eyes. But what about the poop, stolen shoes, shredded paper and chewed furniture. Adopting an adult dog certainly has its benefits. The old myth that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is just that, a myth.
Shelter dogs make great pets. They are sometimes partially trained, usually at least housebroken, often past the stages of puppy destruction and normally very thankful for their new chance at life. They will express their thanks in their uncompromising devotion and unconditional love. Just imagine coming home everyday to a dog that is so thankful for the home you have shared you can simply glance over and see it in his eyes.
So what does it take to train a shelter dog? Often not much, but take into consideration how long they have been cooped up in a tiny room, the conditions they were kept in, their age and the often lack of stimulation and human interaction. Many shelters do their best to keep the dogs happy and healthy but it is often impossible to provide for all of their needs.
As with all training patience is one of the most important points to remember. Without it you will become stressed. When you are stressed your dog will be stressed. At that point training becomes futile. There is no one correct way to train. As long as the methods are humane and safe anything goes. If a method you are trying (even if it worked for you in the past) is not successful don’t be afraid to try something else. The first areas I recommend working on are, of course, the relationship between you and your dog followed by the relationship between your dog and others. That means socializing, lots and lots of socializing. If your new pal has been in contact with a mere handful of humans in the past six months it is unfair to ask him to sit like a good boy after only being home for two days and meeting your friends.
