Today, even those dogs that are extremely difficult to train are included in this category: bull terriers, staffordshire terriers, chow chows, sharpei and even afghans. Meanwhile, service dogs are dogs capable of guarding, endurance, strong, well-trained, retaining acquired skills for their entire dog life and transmitting the ability to train their descendants. Apparently, the authors of books that place hunting dogs in the service, in fact, do not even have a general idea of ​​cynology. Therefore, we begin with listing specific breeds. So...
Service dogs - breeds:
- shepherd dogs (all);
- Dobermans;
- molosses (boxers, rottweilers, mastiffs, bullmastiffs, Bordeaux and German Great Dane) ;
- some terriers (e.g. Airedale) and schnauzers (Giant Schnauzer).
Today, the attitude of others is extremely wary of most of them (the Caucasian Shepherd dogs, Rottweilers, mastiffs, etc.). And that is understandable. The desire to hide behind a strong dog, to feel its power and guaranteed safety, sometimes overshadows 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 question of any serious approach to the selection and further mandatory training at this moment. It's a pity. Many people know that parents pass on their qualities (not only exterior, but also workers) by inheritance, but few bother to inquire about the ancestors of the puppy they are buying. 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 the opposite: fashion dictates demand to the world. Therefore, quite often the unprincipled owners of the “servants” (and not only) knit their pets, guided by only one goal: to earn ...
Service dogs may only be mated with good exterior grades (for a dog a grade of "excellent" is acceptable and not lower, and for a bitch a minimum of "very good", but better "excellent") and the presence of working diplomas that indicate the type training and degree. When buying a puppy, require parental certificates. Breeders are required to provide them. Otherwise, refuse to purchase - it is in your interests.
Bringing the puppy to the house, keep in mind: the matter is not limited to proper feeding, regular walks and timely vaccinations. Remember: training of service dogs is required. First of all, it is necessary for you: an adult uncontrollable dog is really dangerous.
Often inexperienced dog breeders ask: when to start training? Someone recommends starting with three months, someone with six, and some even argue that it is best to start classes after a year. Such recommendations make me smile. It seems for some reason a sixteen-year-old teenager, who was first given a primer in his hands ...
Training should begin from the moment the crumbs appear in the house, with stroking the hairy lump, with gentle pronouncing of its nickname. The puppy gets used to your smell, voice and intonation. A contact is being 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 team "To me!". Call the puppy, holding a bowl with tasty food in your hands and saying: "Come to me!". And be sure to sit down. So the puppy will fit faster. Once approached, pet, praising: "Good!" and give him the food. Never punish a dog after the command "Come to me!". This is a taboo !!! This team must be loved. The dog should "fly" to you with pleasure and joy, knowing that it will be praised, stroked, given something delicious. Having punished the dog after this command only once, you can start the countdown: the dog will stop coming up at all.
Unfortunately, in one article it is impossible to cover all aspects of training. Moreover, service dogs work in different directions and it is extremely important what you want to achieve from a pet. In addition, in many cases, you need a good example and an experienced assistant. And articles (and even books) are not enough here. Beginners need an experienced and knowledgeable instructor. But do not rush to give your dog into unfamiliar hands. Go to classes, see how other dogs work, what approach your instructor has to work and to each dog in particular. After all, here, as with the child, an individual approach is required: the dog needs to be felt. The way she feels you. And she feels, do not even doubt it!
Do not settle for boarding houses: the dog may be trained. But she did not live with an instructor, but with you. Therefore, work on your own, but under the supervision of an instructor who coordinates your actions. Everything is like at school: a lesson, homework, checking the completed assignment, again a lesson with an instructor. Usually, a course of obedience takes about two months (but this is very conditional). After completing the course and receiving a certificate, do not fold your hands: acquired skills can be forgotten, so use the knowledge gained regularly when walking, playing. Let the puppy grow up, get stronger, form. And then you can think about "higher education" - OKD, ZKS. It’s really better to start these courses after 10 months (and sometimes even later), since the load on the psyche is great and the immature puppy may well become hysterical.
And a few more words about the punishment. Of course, it is used in training. Usually this is a leash jerk, low voice (dissatisfied intonation). But it is applicable only at the time of an improperly performed (or undesirable) action. Neither before nor after. Only at this very moment. The same applies to life situations. When you come home and see a tattered wallpaper or a puddle, or torn shoes, do not punish the dog - it is useless. The dog will understand that you scold him, but he will not understand the main thing: why he is scolded. For the action is already completed and forgotten. Only the owner is to blame for the dog cheating: he didn’t hide the wires, didn’t hide his shoes, and left for a long time ... But the dogs are sad too, they also have tears flowing, they know how to love as much as even a person doesn’t ... Do not offend the most devoted creature, look for reasons in your actions. After all, it’s not the dogs that are responsible for us, but we for them ...