As a dog trainer, I enjoy leading someone through the training process so that they can better enjoy their dog or evaluating a specific situation in order to solve a problem. Young puppies (eight to twenty weeks old) present slightly different challenges. Because they develop so rapidly (and are emotionally immature), our goals are shorter range and simpler than for the adolescent or adult dog. The first priority is housebreaking, and the second is surviving a very oral stage of their development with most of your stuff intact. Third in importance would be to begin to establish some basic manners.

People sometimes ask me what they need to acquire to be prepared for the arrival of their new pup. The list is short and simple:

1). A crate small enough (or one that can be partitioned) so that the pup can’t use one end for a bathroom and use the other end for a bedroom. In general, dogs do not like to pee and poop where they are confined, so this is just a way of using their natural instinct for cleanliness to begin to teach them to relieve themselves in the appropriate place—usually outdoors.

2). A flat collar and a lightweight leash to facilitate taking them in and out. Leashes are our primary training tool later on, so it’s good to get them accustomed to one sooner rather than later.

3). Three toys. Puppies, like babies, tend to be quite oral and like to have something to put in their mouth. I recommend three toys because it allows for some variety, without being so many that the dog is encouraged to think he can put everything in his mouth.

4). Separate bowls for water and food.

5). Hydrogen peroxide or Syrup of Ipecac to induce vomiting if your puppy eats something toxic.

6). Time: Puppies need to go out often and should not be expected to last an eight-hour workday in a crate. If a family member can’t be home with the dog a good deal of the day, hire a dog walker to come in mid day to play with the dog and give him a chance to relieve himself.

Also puppies are fun. You need some time to just enjoy watching them discover the world and grow up. Puppyhood doesn’t last long, so you don’t want to miss out.

Recently there was a cartoon on the cover of The New Yorker magazine that made me smile. It was a drawing of a man in a bathing suit sitting in his beach chair a few feet from the water’s edge pointing his remote control at the sun. Similarly the movie “Click” depicts a man who can control the people around him with his hand held remote. At one point when his dog is barking he simply turns down the volume to a less obtrusive level. There’s no question that on some level the idea of easily controlling all aspects of our lives electronically is appealing. In reality, things aren’t so simple.

E-collars for dog training are widely available these days, and people sometimes think that they can avoid the time and expense of training a dog by purchasing one. Not so fast. Unless you know exactly what you are doing with a remote collar, you can make a dog confused, anxious, and mistrustful.

Not long ago, I started working with a client who has a young, exuberant, and somewhat opportunistic German Shepherd. Jumping and mouthing were two of their problems, so they borrowed a remote collar from a friend. At our first meeting the woman remorsefully confessed that they quickly realized that the dog had no clue what he was being zapped for, so they stopped using it. Good for them!

A friend of mine who owns a grooming salon told me of a situation with one of her clients that didn’t turn out as well. For some time she had been advising this client to get some training for their out of control Golden Retriever but to no avail. One day these folks showed up at the salon with an e-collar on the dog. My friend did notice a change in the dog’s behavior but not for the better. This dog, who in spite of his rowdiness, had always been amiable, started growling at her. Not good!

E-collars are not bad in and of themselves, but like any tool you need to know what you’re doing before using one. Dog training is about much more than control. It’s about building trust, responsibility, and a rewarding relationship.

In 2006 I had the privilege of participating in a mission trip to Uganda and Tanzania. You may be asking, “What on earth does this have to do with dog training?” Well, we were blessed with an experienced team leader named Jim who had a great sense of humor. One thing that amused Jim was watching newly minted missionaries trying to make themselves understood in English to somebody whose native tongue was Buganda or Swahili. As the level of frustration rose, invariable so did their voices, as if by talking louder they could make themselves easier to understand. This would go on until one of them would look over at the next table where Jim was laughing himself silly. At that point there was nothing left to do but laugh with him and try again in a more thoughtful and considerate way.

Dog training can be frustrating sometimes for similar reasons, and a common response is to yell louder. Since we are tying to communicate with an animal who’s native language isn’t spoken language at all and who’s hearing is 16 times as good as yours or mine, this is not likely to succeed. Many times when I ask my clients what they want to accomplish with the dog training, I get the reply, “I just want my dog to listen!” When I delve a little deeper, I often find out that they want their dog to listen when they tell him to stop doing something like jumping on the counter or chewing something he shouldn’t. At that point I ask, “Wouldn’t it be better to just teach him the rule and be done with it?” For some, this possibility is a revelation. You see, the dog doesn’t have a hearing problem; the dog has an understanding problem.*

The technique for teaching dogs simple rules like not chewing, mouthing, or jumping is simple and it’s usually the first order of business with a new client. Many are amazed at how much more they enjoy life with their dog when repeatedly yelling at him becomes unnecessary because they’ve learned a clear way of communicating called the “Out” Correction. And that was just their first session!

*(some Dalmatians excepted)

It seems counterintuitive doesn’t it? Wouldn’t disciplining a timid dog compound the problem? Not at all. You see dogs want to know to things; who’s in charge and what are the rules. The last thing a timid or fearful dog really wants is to be in control and yet sometimes it’s hard to tell, especially when they act aggressively.

This was brought home to me again this week as I worked with a medium sized mixed breed female I’ll call Rosie. When my client first called it was because the dog was acting fearfully around men in general and in particular the man of the house who is very kind and was being extremely solicitous of her. In fact he was feeling a bit hurt that Rosie wasn’t being more friendly with him. I had had almost the exact same situation earlier in the year with a male Collie. What was interesting is that neither of these dogs acted very afraid of me even though I was a complete stranger. What’s the explanation? When we behave solicitously toward a dog, we are conveying the idea that they are in charge and that is the very last thing a timid or fearful dog wants.

By laying down some simple rules and enforcing them in a clear coherent way, my client family was able to clarify the two big questions dogs have; who’s in charge and what are the rules. The on leash obedience work further opened the lines of communication and understanding. I like to define dog training as the establishing and maintaining of standards of behavior. Once a fearful dog knows what her responsibilities are and exactly what to expect, she has much less to be fearful of. The proof is in the pudding—Rosie is doing just fine and carrying herself with much more confidence. Because she’s more confident, she’s also a lot more friendly.