Crate Training

Basic Training

A neighbor of mine asked me to take care of his dog for him over one weekend. Said he and his wife were going on a weekend get-away but couldn't find any kennel space available (because of the holiday coming up). His dog, Taylor, is a 70 pound yellow lab. She's a terrifically friendly dog, but has never gotten along with Quincy. It's not her, it's him. She always gets in his face. So much so, that he growls and snaps at her, which he rarely does with any dog.

Anyway, I agreed to come to his house, feed her, let her outside a couple of times a day, and walk her a couple of times.

Jeff walks Taylor regularly but without the use of a leash. He carries the leash as a precaution but essentially she is free to roam. Trouble is, when I walked her I wanted to be in control at all times. I wasn't confident that she would come to me if we encountered another dog or she wouldn't run off willy-nilly in pursuit of a rabbit. Besides, lots of people frown on having a dog run loose on their property.

So I walked her using the leash. Or perhaps I should say, we tried to walk each other. She pulled and I pulled back. Try as I might I couldn't get her to heel, not even close. She had never been trained in the basics. So for 10 or 15 minutes we fought each other and neither of us won. She strained at the lease the entire walk and I pulled continually trying to keep her from dragging me along.

This got me to thinking that every puppy should be forced to go through "Doggie Basic Training." Even if it meant being set off to doggie boot camp for several weeks. Wouldn't it be nice if every dog you ever encountered had the benefit of receiving basic training?

Anyone who has been in the military understands the benefits of basic training where you learn everything from how to salute properly to close order drill to weapons training. Not to mention the Military Code of Conduct.

Basic training for dogs would involve teaching six basics:
• Sit
• Down
• Stay
• Heel
• Come
• Stop

Anyone from the ages of 8 to 80 could walk Quincy and he would respond to their command to "Heel." In fact, once his choke chain is placed around his neck, he heels without any command. It's simply understood. The point is most dogs are not one-man dogs but will respond to anyone giving the proper command. Makes it convenient for all when you need someone to watch your best friend.

It has always been a pleasure to walk Quincy. And if we happen to encounter one of his friends, I let him off the lease to romp awhile. That's because he is a well trained dog. It's not fun to walk any dog if the whole time your playing tug-of-war.

The ironic thing is, lots of people who could take the time to teach their pet the 6 basics, prefer party tricks: Roll Over, Play Dead, Speak, even how to fetch the newspaper or go to the refrigerator and get a can of beer!. Their dogs are smart enough to learn these 6 basics and doing so would greatly enhance their relationship. Why waste your time teaching your pet to beg or speak when you can teach him a valuable command such as come, heel or stay?