I realize now that for the past six months, I should have just started a second blog titled, Doggy Truths.  Because my thoughts each day have been less about what works and doesn’t in raising the kids and more about how to raise the dog.

 

After seven months with us and at ten months of age, our Golden Retriever, Archie, is giving us a run for our money: Financially, emotionally, materially (furniture, rugs, socks, beach buckets, dish towels, napkins, did I mention socks?). Now, he’s  even acting like a toddler and the minute I get on the telephone he starts nipping at the bottom of my pants. (The squirt bottle finally stopped that. Lesson #1: Use a spray bottle of water to stop really annoying behavior!)

 

So, here encapsulated are my doggy truths, training tips, lessons learned. Since you are probably a parent if you’re reading this and may or may not have a dog; take what you will from my doggy truths for raising children.

 

Train Consistently

Before and after we got Archie, people would frequently mention that there’s a lot of work involved. They’d say you have to “train” him a lot. But training is a vague concept – it was for me – and I didn’t really understand what this entailed.

 

At eight months old, Archie was so rambunctious around the house, I realized that I not only hadn’t understood the meaning of the word, I simply hadn’t been training him.  When I finally started asking advice from friends with dogs; I learned the truth: You need to do “obedience” work with your dog multiple times a day.

 

Obedience work simply means having the dog obey a few commands (Sit, Stay, Come, Leave It), get a treat when he does, and remind him that you’re the boss. According to Tamar Geller (more on her later), this gives him structure and a sense of what’s what and will help him be generally better mannered the rest of the day.

 

Treats Work

Always have treats on you. Use them to get your dog to do everything! Don’t be afraid to stink up your pockets. I took Archie to Son’s Little League game yesterday and smelled like a walking lamb chop (yes, the better treats are more odiferous – but they work!).

 

That’s the other thing: Good treats matter. Buy high quality treats (Solid Gold, Zukes Mini Naturals) for occasions where you really need the dog to listen. In other words, Milk Bones for “Crate In” or “Sit” and turkey for learning a new skill or coming in a highly distracting situation.

 

Meet Basic Needs

We fed Archie Iams large breed puppy food from the start. He didn’t eat a whole lot and I figured, hey, he’ll eat if he’s hungry. Plus, he always got compliments on his trim figure.

 

Recently, the vet asked me if he finishes his food. Um, no. So, we switched him to better quality dry with some wet food mixed in. The result? Archie loves mealtime, finishes all his food right away, and is happier and more relaxed. Wow – a well fed dog is a happy dog. Hello?

 

In her books, The Loved Dog and her new 30 Days to A Well-Mannered Dog, trainer Tamar Geller, lists the seven basics needs every dog needs to have met each day. These have been very helpful in orienting me to what makes Archie happy – and well behaved.

 

Tamar’s Seven Basic Needs are (read the book for details):

1.    Sense of Security

2.    Companionship

3.    Understanding the Hierarchy

4.    Excitement and Surprises

5.    Physical Stimulation

6.    Mental Stimulation

7.    Love and Connection

 

(Yes, I think the list works for kids, too.)

 

Play First

Like kids, dogs want your attention immediately upon seeing you. If you play with them for a bit first, then they’ll settle into their own thing.

 

Seek Advice

Okay, so, I reached a sort of breaking point a couple months ago when Archie couldn’t settle down in the house and we just were’t enjoying him. So I started asking friends with dogs for advice. I signed him up for another dog training class and I badgered the trainer with questions before and after class.

 

The most helpful information for me was:

 

1. My friend, Tanya, who has three dogs; came over for a morning and gave me some training tips. Some of the best were holding the treat at eye level so he looks me in the eye when I’m training him and using a firm but not stern voice when commanding him.

 

2. Tanya also gave me her copy of The Loved Dog book and turned me onto this approach. It was a lifesaver.

 

3. One dog trainer showed me how to walk forcefully into him when he jumped up on me. It wasn’t in a mean way, just an, “I’m the boss and you can’t do this” way. Even better: she’s now my dogwalker and Archie hasn’t jumped up on people since the first day she came over. Brilliant.

 

 

All in all, raising dogs is like raising kids. When all else fails, get help or better yet, get a sitter!