Training and Behavior Tips
The first step in training is building your relationship with the dog. Then, we try to motivate the dog to behave in ways that we want him to and to get his attention. We use these premises:
1. We must first gain the animal's trust.
2. We have to have their attention.
3. We have to be really interesting or have something they want.
To learn more about motivating and training your dog, check out the training guides below.
Training Guides:
Establishing a Relationship (Relationship-based Training)
Crate Training
Dog-to-dog Introductions
Nothing in Life is Free
Love and Leadership
Managing with Tie Downs
For introducing cats to a new family, please read:
Introducing Your Cat to a New Family Member
All of the foster parents and volunteers with A New Hope practice the positive relationship based training methods outlined here. Every dog with A New Hope has already been started on a solid training path. Adopters of A New Hope dogs can easily continue with the same training methods, creating an amazingly behaved pet.
Reading Recommendations
Love Has No Age Limit by Patricia B. McConnell, PhD and Karen B. London PhDFamily Friendly Dog Training by Patricia B. McConnell, PhD and Aimee M. Moore
Puppy Primer by Patricia B. McConnell, PhD
Other Booklets by Patricia B. McConnell (quite affordable!):
How to Be Leader of the Pack: How to become a benevolent leader who your dog will love
The Cautious Canine: How to help dogs get over their fears
I'll Be Home Soon: How to prevent and treat separation anxiety
Feisty Fido: Help for leash reactive dogs
Feeling Outnumbered? Help for multi-dog households
The Fastidious Feline