Don't experiment with the methods described here without
first consulting your own veterinarian and trainer. If you use any methods described, make
sure the techniques you use are implemented in an environment that is safe for everyone in
your household––kids, elderly people, friends, other pets, etc.EVERY DOG IS
ONE OF A KIND, A UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL. NO DOG CAN EVER BE DUPLICATED. With this in mind, we
have to realize that we cannot use a set of identical training approaches for every dog.
The training must be designed to apply to each dog's personality, breed, age, and
problems. You cannot use the same approach to train a young puppy that you would use on an
aggressive adult dog you've adopted. The same approach cannot be used on a three-pound dog
and a one-hundred-pound dog.
There is no magic that requires zero effort on your part as the owner. You get out of
any program only as much as you invest in time, thought, and effort. If there was magic,
there wouldn't be so many different training techniques, trainers, training websites, and
articles.
Based on your dog's breed, age, sex, genetic background (reputable breeder, pet shop,
dog pound, stray), you decide what best describes your situation. Discuss all methods with
your veterinarian and your local trainer before attempting to use them. Make sure your dog
has had a complete physical and has a clean bill of health. To discipline or train a sick
dog would be cruel and pointless. If there is a training method you are uncomfortable
using, DO NOT USE IT!
This advice is not based on any one particular breed; it is generic and based on my
many years of experience as a trainer. Hopefully, it will help you understand your dog a
little better.
