by Debby Richardson

Created on: January 23, 2007   Last Updated: May 07, 2007

The best way of raising a smart dog is not only respect and patience, but like children they need constant consistency.
By constant consistency I mean taking the dog out every hour when a puppy on time, talking to the dog and teaching in a consistent manor to do a certain trick after realizing potential behaviors upon watching the dog closely.

When you see new behaviors in your dog, utilize this as a new potential. My dog Baby now when she is in need of attention, she will rub on you. Once she gets my attention and start rubbing on her what I call Itchy spot she will stand there and rub and rub.

When she was just a six month old puppy I took a treat and had her stand on her back legs and do what I call "dance" which is her command. She twirled around, so twice a day I would work with her to do this with a treat. She now can do this not once but four times until she gets tired of being on her hind legs. Now I do not need treats but praise her when she does this and she loves showing off for visitors who come to my home.

Same with the "Sit, Stay" command, I consistently had her and worked with her for an hour a couple times a day until she learned this trick. (Do not change a command on a dog keep using that same command over and over and teach others to use the same command as you are using so not to confuse your dog.)

The more I watched her actions of things she would do on her own, the more I had emphasized on those patterns.

Talking to an animal all of the time is good as well, I praise her when she does things right and reprimand her when she does things wrong such as take away a treat or send her to lay down in her bed. Like at the dinner table. When she wants to sit and beg for food, all I have to do is tell her "You know where you belong." Then give her a look. She hangs her head and goes under the table and lies down until we are done eating.

She knows if she goes under the table and waits for someone to give her something she will get it after we eat. If she wants to continue to sit and stare while we are eating, she doesn't get anything good to eat. This I have been working on with her since she was eight months old. I started her training early so that she would be easier to teach.

Grant you, some of her behavior patterns such as waking me up at night if she has to do her business by nudging me until I get up was her own behavior she hadacquired on her own, knowing that I would get up and take her out during the night. After she does her thing outside,

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