Dog Training

Training a dog is difficult. I learned how difficult this is when I got my first puppy this past fall. Bruno was no ordinary puppy...at four weeks he weighed over 10 lbs! Bruno is a pure-bred German Shepherd and German Shepherds are known for their intelligence and size. Since I had little experience with dogs, I consulted numerous sources for advice with training. What I found was overwhelming conflicting theories. Every training method was debated. When I thought I was doing something helpful, I would later read how harmful it could be. For example, I started taking Bruno to a dog park only to find out later that it causes detrimental pack behavior. There were so many factors to consider that I quickly realized having a dog was nearly comparable to raising a child.
Essentially, the most important factor in raising a puppy is the attitude you approach it with. New research from the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School shows that animal owners who aggressively train their dogs (ie. hitting, scolding, punishing)are likely to experience aggressive dogs. The study researches dominance-based training and concludes that punishment will primarily result in fear on behalf of the animal. I agree, punishment does not effectively deter bad behavior in the long-term for Bruno. He responds much better to snacks and play time.