Many dog owners make the mistake of giving commands in long sentences that only another human being would understand. You get certain inflections in the dog’s bark or whine, but only another dog understands “dog talk.” Why should you expect your dog to understand all the words you use? True, your pet will love to hear you talk. Still, it is your tone that reaches and pleases him.

In his lifetime a dog comes to recognize many words, but he can be a well-trained, obedient pet by knowing just a few. He must know: “Come!,” “Out!,” “Stop it!,” “No!,” and “Down!” To them, add “Walk?,” or “Want to go for a walk?,” “Get in your chair!,” “Go to bed!,” or some such command to direct action, usually taught with a gesture or by actually lifting the dog to the indicated spot. Of course, he soon knows “Good dog!” or “Bad boy.” If you think though that he “understands every word,” try bawling him out some time in a honey-sweet tone. That little tail will wag madly; it sounds mighty nice to him!

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Keisha getting ready to run around

When Keisha was out of her crate it was easy to keep things away from her.  All I had to do was put them on the kitchen counter or table.  They were out of reach, and safe.  Notice how I said “when” and “were”?  Well, tonight Keisha proved that she is no longer the little puppy who had came home 24 days ago.  She is now more like a toddler.

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