Frequently asked questions
NOTE: There is no cookie cutter response [or at least there shouldn’t be] to
any one question about any one dog. All dogs are individuals and all
individuals require special consideration. Each family has its own set of
issues; however, I will put myself out on the proverbial limb to address some
FAQ I receive.
Can old dogs be trained?
YES. Learning continues right up to the end of life. We need to adjust our
approach a little. Some older dogs need a little longer to process; hearing or
seeing may become an issue as animals age.
My dog is deaf; can he learn commands?
ABSOLUTELY! I have trained deaf dogs with great success. It is important
however that a deaf dog have a good solid temperament since deafness can
make some dogs more jumpy, more prone to bite or over-react. If handled
correctly deaf dogs can make great pets and have the ability to learn just as
many commands using sign language. Dogs are very adept at reading body
language, so in some ways this is a more natural way for them to learn than
using voice commands.
Can all dogs be housebroken?
YES. Will it be harder for some than others? Yes, especially those little tiny
dogs that we love to spoil. They tend to be the very hardest to teach but is it
impossible? No, absolutely not.
Are crates cruel?
Only if you use them in a cruel way. Crates can be an extremely effective
means of housebreaking and even protecting your dog from hurting itself or
from preventing problem habits from starting. Like any training tool they
must be used in the correct way and introduced appropriately to be effective
and not “cruel”.
Is it possible for dogs of the same sex to get along under the same roof?
“Who’s making the rules at the house?” would be my question to you. I have
had as many as 10 animals under the same roof at any one time in transition,
sometimes all males. However, and this is a big however, they were all
spayed and neutered. I especially and most strongly do not recommend
trying to have multiple un-neutered males living together. This tends to be a
recipe for disaster. Females tend not to be as difficult or necessarily as
dangerous, but when they go into heat can give the average owner a great
deal of unwanted difficulties. I have witnessed some pretty nasty girly fights
when hormones have flared. The bottom line is neuter and spay unless you
plan on showing to improve the AKC breed of your choice and even then,
please do all your research first, talk to breeders who show, talk to your vet,
visit a shelter, and see how many of the breed you are planning on breeding
are being put down daily, how many rescues are already full to the gills with
these breeds and ask yourself- “does the world really need another breeder of
this breed?” Okay, back to the question….the key to multiple dogs of the
same or different sexes living under the same roof is leadership, strong and
consistent.
Why does my dog ______________?
These questions can usually be answered by either lack of leadership, lack of
consistency, or lack of exercise.
If you have questions specific to your dog I’ll be happy to put together a plan
for you and your family. Contact me, and we can set up a consultation. Let’s
get started. One thing is certain, the longer you allow bad habits to continue
the harder they are to break. It is far easier to train a dog than to un-train
one!
