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Dog training is best started when pups are tiny. In the U.S, forward-thinking breeders are starting to use clicker training for pups starting at 3 to 4 weeks old. When I say training, I do not mean hours of trundling around the yard or a training ground doing repetitive sits, downs and recalls.

Many people turn up with all the latest training gear or want to buy all the equipment without knowing what it is their dog needs. Or worse, they think that the equipment is the most important thing. Actually, the most important thing to have for training is patience.

What should you look for in a dog trainer and where can you find one? Ask your vet for a recommendation. Call the East Africa Kennel Club (020 209 2319) for a trainer. Get recommendations from your friends that have had a good experience. If you are looking for classes, give the EAKC a ring as they keep a diary of the German Shepard Dog League classes. The Labrador Retriever Club has classes every Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM at the Kennel Club in Karen.Beware the following: Good trainers don’t need to post signs on the side of the road nor advertise on the bulletin boards. Especially beware trainers who want to turn your dog into a “security” dog. Training a dog to attack or do bite work without proper control (obedience) is very dangerous, akin to driving a car with no brakes. You can easily get a dog to attack by scaring or intimidation, but it’s very difficult to call them off. Ask your potential trainer where he has taught or how he came to be a trainer. Many, many trainers with sign boards up around town worked for security firms as dog handlers.  That, however, does not make a qualified trainer! Beware trainers that ask for money in advance; you may never see them past the second lesson, if that! It’s not possible to chat over the phone or even do one evaluation and know how many lessons a dog needs, so don’t fall for the 20 or 40 lesson plans. It really depends on a number of factors such as  your goal for the dog (i.e. fixing specific problems, house training, jumping, leash aggression or just learning basic obedience). Most courses for purely basic obedience covering leash walking, sit, down, stay and recall are approximately 10 lessons. Outcome will depend on the dog’s age, ability to learn as well as practice and consistency at home when the whole family and staff are present.What to look for in a good dog trainer: Trainers should use positive training methods; praise, either by petting or voice, play sessions, or training treats (can be bisquits or yummy things like bits of cheese, sausage). The methods the trainers suggest should be humane and fair to the dog. If something the trainer suggests makes you feel uncomfortable, then call them on it. Ask for an explanation. Don’t just go along blindly. Your dog should look happy when the trainer shows up.  If the dog seems fearful or reluctant then pay close attention, it might be time for a new trainer. Training should not be boring for the dog or the humans. Your trainer should be creative so that learning is fun! There are plenty of games you can play with your dog that teach at the same time. A good trainer will spend time with you and your dog so you can make the dog work for you. The trainer’s job should really be to train you how to train your own dog. Trainers should not be allowed to take your dog off your property or out of your sight. There are many stories of dogs coming back acting frightened or with visable marks on their coats from rough handling. I recently heard a funny story of a family that looked out the upstairs window to catch their trainer lying in the grass with the newspaper, dog by his side calling out commands such as Sit, Down and Good Boy all the while dog snoozing next to him! Happy Training!!Amy L. Rapp, Custom Made K-9 SupplyCustomMadeK9@aol.com

It’s the time of year that my phone starts to ring off the hook with enquiries about dog training. Most of these are not new puppies, but older dogs that still jump on visitors, steal things from kitchen counters and won’t stay off the furniture.

We offer the following services • Guarding Services • Valuables in Transit / Overnight Valuable Storage • Cash services / Cash management Services • Dog Handlers / Dog training • ...

Last week I had the pleasure to again teach at the Kenya Police Dog Section. I usually teach there at least once per quarter depending on their current requirements. I chose the topic I wanted to teach this last time as they were all experienced dog handlers with 5 or more years of experience.

Kenya  is still years behind in positive dog training advice by professionals.

NILF is a dog training method that uses the understanding of pack behavior to train a problem dog. What is NILF you ask? Well, the acronym stand for ‘Nothing In Life Is Free’. If you have a dog that is being difficult, pushy or even slightly aggressive, it is a fast way to get better behavior. Teenage dogs that have lost their manners overnight are great candidates for a couple weeks of NILFing. The idea is that you have to understand the pack mentality and then show your dog who’s boss.  In the wild, pack leaders get the best choice of resources first including food, sleeping places and reproduction.  Then in descending order, the rest of the pack gets to pick.  The premise is that your dog has to work for what he wants.  It’s not meant to be a program you follow forever and it’s not meant to be punishment. It works like this. Your dog comes in and bumps his nose on your arm because he wants attention (his demand) You ignore him but then ask him for a sit.  He sits and THEN you pet him. You might even get up and go into the yard to throw the ball, but he has to siteach time before you release the ball. Then he is lead to the water bowl after playing fetch, you make your pup sit, perform a trick he already knows or he has to lie down before you let him have a drink. As you walk back into the house, you have him wait or stay  at the doorway so that you enter first then call him through after you. As the pack leader you control all the resources, just like in the wild. Warning, if you have a dog with serious aggression issues do not attempt. It may too late to try this without professional help. Your dog may already view himself as the  ‘boss’ at your house, in which case he may feel entitled to reprimand you as he would a lower status pack member, with his teeth!!Happy Training!!PS Please keep Easter Grass, (the colored, shredded,  cellophane stuff  in the bottom of Easter baskets) away from pets. If your pet eats it, call your vet.  The vet might be able to give  your pet something to help ease it’s way through the intestinal track without damage as it is quite sharp and harsh on their insides.  

There are a couple of advertising billboards around town showing a Rottweiler baring his teeth with a man googling dog training on a fancy LG phone. It has a caption about turning a killer into a pussycat. After getting over my shock at the blatant breed discrimination, I have on subsequent trips past the billboards, looked closely at the photo.

Last weeks column covered equipment that you should have on hand for your pup before it arrives. This week we address the discussions that the family should have before the puppy comes home. House rules must be decided so that your puppy knows what is expected of him. If the family is undecided, then how your pup will ever know what is right?

Today, my personal feelings about dog training; what I like and don’t like, the joys and heartaches.  The best part about being a dog trainer is going to a client’s home for a new puppy consultation.

There are several new players in the imported dog foods market. Some of the brands are marketing quite heavily and some are just quietly getting stocked on the shelves of pet stores, vets and Nakumatt.

Dog training, especially to change a very long ingrained habit, takes lots of repetition. It can be as boring as watching paint dry, but it will work if you stick to it.