Dog Blog

Helping Your Dog win Friends and Influence People

When you have a dog, just like when you have a child, you want him to do well in the world. You want him to be smart, well-behaved, and successful at being a dog. Though your dog most likely has what it takes to be all of these things, he’ll have a lot more luck if he gets the right guidance from you. You don’t want your dog to be ostracized, do you? You want him to fit in with the better social circles and be able to hold his own among show dogs and working dogs alike. For this you need to be his guide, his champion, and his most ardent supporter.

* Train your dog! No matter how the old saying goes, you can teach a dog tricks at any age, and you can teach him the basic commands. If you have adopted a puppy, start teaching him the basics at about 4 months of age. Throw in a lot of self-esteem helpers such as “you are magnificent!”, “Donald Trump’s dog has nothing on you!” or “Paris Hilton called and said she wants to carry you around instead of that useless Chihuahua.” If your dog is older when you adopt him, you may have to help him unlearn some things and then work on building up his ego while you show him the ropes.

* Be Fashion Conscious. Would you go out in public wearing something that is laughingly out of style? Of course not. Keep fashion in mind when it comes to your dog, too. Check to see what collars and leashes the best dressed dogs are sporting and make sure your dog will blend with the in-crowd. For casual occasions such as a walk through the park a bandana works well, but be sure that you always call it a “doo rag”, bro.

* Treat him like he’s ‘all that’ in public. Whenever you and your dog go out in public, pet him a lot when people and other dogs go by and say “easy, boy, easy.” This can get him some immediate respect. It works especially well if you’ve trained him to sit or stand still on command and not jump around barking and yelping. (By the way, obedience training is really important, I’m not kidding here.)

* Make sure he will always be proud to be seen with you. If your dog is trying to look his best to impress, don’t drag him down by looking like a slob when you are out in public with him. Take a hint if your dog hides when you tell him it’s time for a walk and check yourself. Remember, you are a reflection of your dog, don’t make him look bad in front of his friends!

In all seriousness, your dog is going to be a lot better socialized if he knows what is expected of him. Train him to hold his head up and be comfortable around other dogs and people, and make sure he knows some basic commands. Both of you will be much happier for it.