What's the best dog related advice you've ever received?

[BostonBanker]

Well, one of the most helpful bits of advice I've ever gotten, in regards to Meg, was from this board. I can't remember if it was Doc, DoberLuv, or Sammy, all of whom were enormously helpful when dealing with Meg's fear issues, but someone basically said "reward confidence". I took it to heart and used that in so many situations, looking for any sign of decreased stress and increased confidence, and it did wonders for transforming her.

[elegy]

Buy Control Unleashed

[smkie]

Always make sure they are having 50 percent of the fun
Always enforce a command that you give
Always leave them wanting more

Read your dog, you have all the time in the world before you send them. This was at field trials.
This advice my old boss gave me helped in just about everything from how I made my decisions to how I raised my children.

[Danefied]

Originally Posted by elegy

Buy Control Unleashed

Too true.
And crate games

[PlottMom]

Originally Posted by Raegan

Look at the dog.

Hehe... While we were practicing formal obedience heeling - the advice given to me was "DON'T LOOK AT THE DOG!" lol

[xpaeanx]

They are dogs, not people. They think like dogs, not people. They act like dogs, not people.

[Emily]

1.) Don't freak out over fear periods in puppies.
2.) Buy Control Unleashed (LOL)
3.) General tips on grooming from our very experience groomer at work. She's awesome! And has me wanting some kinda coated dog.

[Teal]

Originally Posted by Freehold

Not dog advice - horse advice, but it fits too: Never end on a bad note. If training (or anything similar) make sure you find something - anything good to finish up with, even if it is something super easy and already well known.

This is one of my favourites

[Dogs6]

Crates can be your friend. I seriously would probably have murdered Aura if it wasn't for crates. She's not the dog you just walk away from when you're frustrated. She will rip apart a room just for the fun of it and not even think about it. Crates and a secure yard to put her in has saved (what's left of) my sanity.

Don't expect perfection. No one is perfect. This is especially true of my relationship with Fudge. He is so good at everything that occasionally I forget that he isn't perfect and put too much pressure on him.

[Red.Apricot]

Originally Posted by Emily

1.) Don't freak out over fear periods in puppies.

My dad's had to tell me that about 400 times.

Also, "She will grow out of this."