May 17, 2011

I have trained large dogs for a long time and am about to train my first small. Will your methods in the Basic Obedience DVD work for this?

Full Question:
Hi Ed.

I have a question before purchasing your BASIC DOG TRAINING video.

I have trained two Bouviers, a Belgian Tervuren, and a GSD to obtain our CD in obedience. However, I have obtained my first *little* dog who is 8 lbs at 1 year.

Can I still use the methods in your BASIC DOG TRAINING? Because I am so used to having BIG dogs all my life, I can't seem to make the same methods work on my little dog, especially with *corrections*. I'm at a loss in my area of even finding someone experienced with training a small dog to that level. What do you think?

Thanks,
Lori
Cindy
Cindy Cindy's Answer:
Training little dogs can be a challenge – I do believe the DVD will help you. You may want to either get one of the small prong collars – or one of our small dominant dog collars (they are used differently).

I do think that you should begin with marker training and get your foundation down – make it fun first. You also need to be 100% correct in establishing pack structure – this could be your problem. Often times people think “OK my dog knows I am the leader” when in fact the dog doesn’t see you as a “fair” pack leader. I just released a DVD titled Establishing Pack Structure with the Family Dog. My recommendation would to be the package of two (save some money) and then do the pack structure work first and part way through begin the obedience.

If you do this – keep this email and let me know how it goes in a couple of months.

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Expert Dog Trainer Cindy Rhodes
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