Do you have an impossible dog?

Does your dog come when called, heel properly when you go for a walk, and sit quietly when you ask him to? If your answer is a resounding “No!” then you may think you have an impossible dog. But think again! Most kinds of dogs that people have trouble training (typically Hounds, Terriers, and some Northern Breeds) actually have many characteristics that make them quite trainable—they are smart, are good problem solvers, and have strong drives to get what they want.

The key to training success with these dogs is to figure out what they find rewarding and then use those rewards to get the behavior you want. You’ll be amazed at what your “bad” dog will do when you know how he thinks and what turns him on!

Call them stubborn, call them independent but don’t give up!

• Find out why you shouldn’t train your Pigs Fly dog like he’s a Lab or a Golden.

• Learn how to make your dog operant, a dog who willingly tries to seek out the right behavior in return for a reward instead of always trying to get away with something bad.

• You don’t need to constantly feed your dog to get good behavior. Learn how to use play and other activities your dog enjoys as effective rewards.

Jane Killion