Why Train Your Dog and When to Start

Trained dogs are “free” dogs. They are welcome almost anywhere because
they behave themselves around people and other dogs, they stay when told,
and they come when called. They are a pleasure to take for a walk and can
be let loose for a romp in the park. They can be taken on trips and family outings.
They are members of the family in every sense of the word.

2 What All Good Dogs Should Know
On the other hand, untrained dogs have few, if any, privileges. When guests come,
they are locked away because they are too unruly. When the family sits down to
eat, they are locked up or put outside because of begging at the table. They are
never allowed off leash because they don’t come when called. Nobody wants to
take them for a walk because they pull, and family outings with such a nuisance
are unimaginable.
Your dog—for simplicity, we call him Felix throughout this book—has a life
expectancy of 8 to 16 years. Now is the time to ensure that these years are going
to be mutually rewarding. For your sanity and his safety, train your dog. Teach
him what every good dog should know.
WHAT IS A GOOD DOG?
Many dog books tell you that dogs are loyal, obedient, trustworthy, good with children,
born protectors, and wonderful companions. Most dogs have the potential to
be great pets, but few are born that way. Almost all require some training to bring
out the best in them.
A good dog should:
• Be housetrained.
• Come when called.
• Have no bad habits.
• Stay when told.
• Not pull when taken for a walk.
Depending on your dog and what you expect from him, he may need training
in just a few of these areas or in all five.

WHAT IS INVOLVED IN TRAINING?
It may come as a surprise to you, but your dog’s ancestors were bred for their ability
to do a particular job well. Looks were considered coincidental. How readily
you can train your dog to fit into your lifestyle depends on the job for which he
was bred. For example, a dog bred for guarding is easier to train to stay on the
property than a dog bred for hunting.
Today, most owners—and we suspect you did, too—choose their pets on the
basis of appearance—“What a cute puppy!” But when you selected your dog, did
you consider how the instincts for which he was selectively bred over the course
of countless generations would affect his behavior as an adult?
Fortunately, some of these instincts are the very ones that endear the dog to you
and make him such a good pet—the legendary protectiveness of children, the
warning bark when a stranger comes on the property, the friendly greeting when
you come home, and the comfort he provides in times of sorrow. Characteristics
of specific breeds, such as the Newfoundland’s rescue instincts, the Bernese Mountain
Dog’s willingness to pull a cart, the terrier’s untiring playfulness, and the
Labrador’s eagerness to retrieve for his master, are equally appealing.
However, other instinctive behaviorsget the dog into trouble. A dog bred for guarding who does his job too well maybe accused of being vicious; one bred for herding may be chastised for chasing children, joggers, bicycles, and cars;and the hunting dog may be reprimanded for pulling on the leash when following a scent. Only the lap dog can get away with almost anything.