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

[yoko]

Pay attention to her when she's trying to tell you something.

This was the best advice I ever got. Yoshi is SUPER food motivated. It doesn't even have to be food it can just smell kinda like food and she'll be going crazy for it. When she bloated I thought something might be wrong. Her stomach was kinda big and she was acting off. I gave her a chicken strip to get her to eat something. She took it from me, made sure I was looking at her and then put it back down right in front of me.

That second I was like 'This is an emergency'. I called out of work and took her to the emergency vets and was fast enough to save her.

[StillandSilent]

"You won't make your dog in a day, you won't ruin him in a day either"

Or, as I have to remind myself sometimes

"Well, what did you expect? He's a dog!"

[JessLough]

If you spend your dogs life worrying about keeping them from what *may* make them sick, neither you nor the dog will enjoy the life.

[ACooper]

When I was a kid my gram told me consistency. She didn't use that word (probably 'cause I was about 7-8 ) but she explained how to be the same with my expectations and allowances of the dog every time. She said whatever I allow and expect today will be what the dog will do and expect tomorrow.

I have gotten lots of good advice through the years, whether it was food, health, or behavioral, but I believe that is the single most valuable thing..........it works for dogs AND kids!

[Kayota]

Well... When I joined Chaz I was a Dog Stupid Kid, so I learned a lot from you guys.

My dad bought me a book about dog body language that taught me to pay attention to what my dog is saying--even the subtle things.

I learned that dogs aren't wolves and I don't need to alpha roll my dogs shortly after I decided I should be Cesar Milan and alpha roll my dogs (around 11-12). That was probably from Chaz

And my mother taught me that not all small dogs are hellions after she acquired a pair of Dachshunds... Leading to my adopting Roxie.

Also, I think that never repeating a command has helped my training a lot. And clicker training.

I swear half of this is advice I got from this forum LOL

[corgipower]

Originally Posted by PlottMom

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

I was told to always look at the dog...do you wanna know how many things I ended up walking into?

[Red.Apricot]

I was told not to look at the dog while teaching her to heel. When I asked, "Then how will I know when to click?" the trainer said, "Click when she's in position."

BUT I CAN'T SEE HER! D:

Originally Posted by ACooper

When I was a kid my gram told me consistency. She didn't use that word (probably 'cause I was about 7-8 ) but she explained how to be the same with my expectations and allowances of the dog every time. She said whatever I allow and expect today will be what the dog will do and expect tomorrow.

I have gotten lots of good advice through the years, whether it was food, health, or behavioral, but I believe that is the single most valuable thing..........it works for dogs AND kids!

...until the pod people come and leave you teenagers

[SpringerLover]

My best friend Elizabeth did rally with her Greyhound, Beckett. During training one day she said, "Sentiments of love and kibble never have the same currency as aged, moldy dairy product."

And then it ended up on Crystal's blog, because it is that awesome, to sit with quotes by Sue Ailsby and Albert Einstein!
http://reactivechampion.blogspot.com/p/quotes.html

[Danefied]

Originally Posted by Red.Apricot

I was told not to look at the dog while teaching her to heel. When I asked, "Then how will I know when to click?" the trainer said, "Click when she's in position."

BUT I CAN'T SEE HER! D:

I watch my dog. And run in to things. I’m SO excited to do “real” obedience and be told when to turn and not have to read anymore darned signs.