Service Dogs

Today even those dogs that are extremely difficult to train are included in this category: bull terriers, Staffordshire terriers, chow-chow, shar pei, and even afghans. Meanwhile, service dogs are dogs capable of guard duty, hardy, strong, well trained, retaining acquired skills for their entire dog life and transferring the ability to train their descendants. Apparently, the authors of books that put hunting dogs into office dogs, in fact, do not even have a general idea of cynology. Therefore, we will begin with a list of specific breeds. So...

Service dogs - breeds:

• Shepherd dogs (all);
• Dobermanns;
• Molossi (boxers, rottweilers, mastiffs, bullmastiffs, Bordeaux and German danes) ;
• Some terriers (for example, airedale terrier) and schnauzer (risen schnauzer).

To most of them (to the Caucasian sheep-dogs, rottweilers, mastiffs, etc.) today the attitude of the surrounding people is extremely cautious. And this is understandable. The desire to hide behind a strong dog, to feel its power and guaranteed security, eclipses sometimes the mind and caution: a person buys a cute puppy in the hope that he will grow up and become his bodyguard. There is no serious approach to selection and further mandatory training at this moment. It's a pity. Many know that parents pass their qualities (not only exteriors, but also workers) by inheritance, but few are bothered to inquire about the ancestors of the puppy being purchased. Dogs with too much aggression or hysteria should not be allowed to breed at all. But this remains in theory, but in practice it turns out on the contrary: fashion dictates the world demand. Therefore, quite often unprincipled owners of "service men" (and not only) knit their pets, guided only by one goal: to earn ...

Official dogs may be allowed to knit only with good exterior assessments (for a dog, the score is "excellent" and not lower, but for a bitch at least "very good", but better still "excellent") and the availability of work diplomas in which the species are indicated Training and degree. When buying a puppy, ask for parents' certificates. Breeders are obliged to provide them. Otherwise, refuse to buy - this is in your interest.

Bringing the puppy into the house, take into account: the right feeding, regular walks and timely vaccinations will not stop there. Remember: training of service dogs is mandatory. First of all, you need this: an adult uncontrolled dog is really dangerous.

Often inexperienced breeders ask: when to start training? Someone recommends starting at three months, someone at six, and some even claiming that it is best to begin classes after a year. Such recommendations make me smile. It seems for some reason that a sixteen-year-old teenager, who was first given an alphabet ...

Training must begin with the appearance of crumbs in the house, with the stroking of a furry bundle, with the gentle pronunciation of his nicknames. The puppy gets used to your smell, voice and intonation. A contact is established. This is the initial stage, the starting point. As soon as the baby adapts (usually three days, no more), you can begin to work out the most important command "To me!". Summon a puppy, holding a bowl with a delicious food and saying: "To me!". And be sure to sit down. So the puppy will come up faster. As soon as approached, stroke, praising: "Good!" And give him food. Never punish a dog after the command "To me!". This is a taboo !!! This command should be your favorite. The dog should "fly" to you with pleasure and joy, knowing that it is praised, patted, will give something tasty. After punishing the dog after this command only once, you can start the countdown: the dog will stop coming at all.

Unfortunately, in one article it is impossible to cover all aspects of training. Especially since service dogs work in different directions and it is extremely important that you want to achieve from the pet you. In addition, in many cases, you need a clear example and an experienced assistant. And articles (and even books) are not enough here. For beginners need an experienced and knowledgeable instructor. But do not rush to give your dog to unfamiliar hands. Be like classes, look at how other dogs work, what approach the instructor you choose to work and to each dog in particular. After all, here, as well as to the child, the approach is required individual: the dog needs to be felt. So, how she feels you. And she feels, do not even doubt!

Do not settle for boarding houses: a dog, possibly, is drilled. But she does not live with the instructor, but with you. Therefore, work yourself, but under the supervision of an instructor who coordinates your actions. Everything is like at school: class, homework, verification of the completed task, again a lesson with the instructor. Usually for a course of obedience it takes two months (but this is very arbitrary). After completing the course and getting a certificate, do not put your hands down: the acquired skills can be forgotten, so use this knowledge regularly for walks, games. Let the puppy grow up, get stronger, and form. And then you can think about "higher education" - OKD, ZKS. These courses really start better after 10 months (and sometimes later), because the load on the psyche is great here and the fragile puppy may well become hysterical.

And a few words about the punishment. Of course, it is used in training. Usually it is a jerk of a leash, a low voice (displeased intonation). But it is applicable only at the moment of improperly performed (or undesirable) action. Neither before nor after. Only at this very moment. The same applies to life situations. Arriving home and seeing the wallpaper peeled or puddled, or torn shoes, do not punish the dog - it's useless. The dog will understand that you are scolding him, but he will not understand the main thing: why he is being scolded. For the action is already accomplished and forgotten. The owner is guilty of the fact that the dog is shod, only the owner is guilty: he did not hide the wires, he did not hide his shoes, he left for a long time ... But the dogs are sad too, they also have tears, they know how to love as much as a man does ... Do not offend the most faithful being, look for reasons in your actions. After all, not dogs are responsible for us, but we are for them ...