Cy*Burr // spring 2004

Dogs need to learn basic obedience in addition to housetraining. Veterinary technician Karen York says that people are living in closer proximity than they used to and like to have their pets with them.

“It’s like children, nobody wants to be around an obnoxious pet,” York said.

An American Kennel Club obedience judge for nearly 20 years, Ted Walshesky teaches classes at the Golden Triangle Obedience Training Club outside of Pittsburgh. He says if people treat a puppy like a dog, they tend to get overbearing and overcorrect. If they think of the puppy as if it were a child, the tendency is to be less harsh. Instead of having a puppy respond out of fear, convey love to develop the best bond. The dog will show affection if training is not associated with threats.

“Whether it is housebreaking or a dog with a biting problem, turn it into a game,” Walshesky said. “People are more likely to work a little harder to solve the problem if it becomes fun. If a dog is barking or biting, teach the dog to do it on command—bite a toy, bark when you ask. Then you can control when the dog does the behavior. It’s an easy way to take away bad habits.”

Walshesky also recommends crate training. He acknowledges that crate training does not appeal to everyone, but explains that it is not meant to be a punishment and can be very helpful in housebreaking puppies. His 4-month-old Labrador retriever, Gunner, has room to stand, turn around and lie down in the crate.

“A dog needs a place of his own, just like people when they want to get away—and that’s what a crate is,” Walshesky said. “I leave the door open. When Gunner wants to spend time alone, he walks in and that’s his little home. It’s not a playpen—it’s made to be a safe house.”

Lori Wilkoff trains dogs at Petsmart. During the first class of each new session she asks owners to tell her three characteristics of their breed. Often the owners are unable to offer one. She tells them to go home after class and research the breed.

“If you don’t know the characteristics of the breed, you don’t know what to expect from the dog,” Wilkoff said.

She owns two Newfoundlands and a rough-coated collie that take turns coming to work with her. Wilkoff brought her 9-week-old collie home from the shelter not knowing that Gipsy would be her greatest challenge.

“She hated to be touched, and she was afraid of everything,” Wilkoff said. “All Gipsy knew how to do was growl.”

Wilkoff worked to desensitize Gipsy and build her confidence. They moved on to search and rescue training and obedience work. Gipsy has learned agility, rally obedience and dancing and is working toward her AKC Companion Dog title.

“We have been training for three and a half years,” Wilkoff said. “For two years she didn’t want to be petted, and now she fights for my affection. As a dog trainer, she has made me very proud. It just goes to prove any dog can become a great dog with dedication and hard work.”

Jeff Showman has won obedience trials with his dogs since 1991 and started judging in 1998. He suggests setting parameters and training to that level of expectation.

“There are 10,000 ways to train dogs,” Showman said. “Some of them are more or less humane. Some of them are downright dumb. If you see dogs being treated in a way you object to, go somewhere else.”

Marino gained a lot from her visit to a dog training class and is eager to share her new insights with her fiancé.

“When I get down to Georgia we can go to dog shows and training clubs and start to search for breeders—do this in steps,” Marino said. “And when we get a puppy, we can go to classes together. Adam would have a great time learning to do obedience and agility with his own dog.”

Kim Marino (kmarino@kent.edu)

Kim Marino is a freelance writer from Warren, Ohio. Her daughter, Andrea, graduates from the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in May 2004. The family dog, Sprocket, played Jingles the Wonder Dog in Kent Trumbull’s production of “Mrs. Claus Has a Gun!” Adam Smith and Andrea Marino are beginning the search for their first basset hound (and potential star).