If you’re serious about including a dog as part of your family, experts say you should be prepared to take on the time-tested responsibility that ensures success. Dog ownership (exactly who “owns” whom is often debatable) can be either a joy or a nightmare—a rewarding way of life or a costly liability. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) estimates average first-year dog expenses to be at least $1,250 and another $500 each year thereafter. Those figures, however, tend to “low-ball” the reality in both cash and effort, specifically if the owner wants to optimize the essentials of good dog behavior. For the benefit of everyone, from owners to the general public—and especially the dogs themselves—some serious obedience training adds to that cost (prices vary), but it pays dividends in the end.
If you’re looking for ways to keep your dog from running onto other people’s property (or worse, into automobile traffic), jumping up on (or worse, biting) strangers and children, incessant barking, and other annoying, dangerous, or seemingly out-of-control behavior, help is readily available. And it’s easier to train a dog early, before bad habits have already set in.
Some human common sense also plays a role. Never pet a dog without asking permission of the owner, and never approach a dog with the palm of the hand turned downward, which appears threatening to the dog. Instead, let the dog sniff and assess the palm of your upturned hand. From the owners’ perspective, the rudiments of obedience training lie in three basic commands—heel (to walk gingerly on the left “heel” of the handler), come (to return to the handler), and leave it (commanding the dog to turn its attention away from anything undesirable).
AVERAGE FIRST-YEAR DOG EXPENSES $1,250
AVERAGE YEARLY EXPENSES THEREAFTER $500
Dogs in Parks
The Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks welcomes all pet owners and their dogs, but they must abide by all its rules and regulations, especially for off-leash dog parks and dog beaches. According to the county’s pamphlet on the subject, all dogs must be vaccinated, puppies under three months of age are not permitted, and all entry of such parks is at the owners’ own risk, because “not all dogs get along.”
Other requirements fall under The Big Three: “Scoop Your Poop,” which should be self-explanatory; “All Dogs Must Remain on a Leash” (except in designated enclosed dog parks and secured beaches); and “Do Not Leave Your Dog Unattended in Your Vehicle.” That second rule has three key objectives: “Protect from Unwanted Puppies,” “Prevent Injuries,” and “Make Good Neighbors.”
Failure to abide by the rules and regulations will not be tolerated. According to the “Dogs In Parks” guidelines, “the county will take appropriate actions, including fines and park suspensions if necessary, against individuals who do not heed the laws.” Therefore, dog owners should consider taking steps to avoid any “appropriate actions” taken against them.
Conformation Is Not (Necessarily) Obedience
The 144th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at New York’s Madison Square Garden, held this year on February 10–11, unofficially ushers in the dog-show season that ramps up accordingly across the country. Westminster is known best for its conformation competition, in which canines (and their owners and handlers) compete for Best in Breed and Best in Show by “conforming” to American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards.
Not to detract from this popular showcase, but to many canine lovers, the real test of a “good dog” is whether it conforms not simply to breed standards but also ones that “feature dogs that are well-behaved at home, in public places, and in the presence of other dogs,” the objective set by AKC obedience-trial guidelines. It is also essential “that the obedience dog demonstrates willingness and enjoyment while it is working with the handler.” The 2020 AKC National Obedience Championship is set for June 27–28 in Wilmington, Ohio, where sound training is the main attraction. Dogs, not unlike humans, learn behavior traits by repetition and by physical- and mildly-toned verbal gestures. One secret to teaching desirable traits is uniformity of commands and in rewarding the dog, in the same manner each time, for getting it right. A strict training regimen for dogs is just as demanding for their owners, if not more so. Simply put, it’s a lot to remember, and it’s hard work, too.
Canine Good Citizens
Before taking the plunge into more stringent obedience training, dog owners might wish to consider the Canine Good Citizen (CGC) program. Established by the AKC in 1989, it’s designed to “promote responsible dog ownership and to encourage the training of well-mannered dogs.” In Maryland, classes are available from the state’s SPCA through “rolling enrollment,” allowing selection of dates that are best for you (classes are held every Saturday at 12:30 p.m.).
The Maryland SPCA stresses that space for the “All Star Canine” classes is limited, so interested parties must contact the society directly to schedule dates. Cost for three sessions (two practice sessions plus a CGC test) is $75, and the fee for six sessions (five practice sessions plus a CGC test) is $125, with a $30 discount for SPCA adoptees. The SPCA also stresses that “completion of the course does not guarantee your dog will pass the test.”
Among “important details” listed for the course are to bring dog treats and use a buckle collar attached to a four- to six-foot leash, also known as a “lead.” Instructors have the discretion to refuse any dog that “is ill or presents a potential danger to people or other dogs, or whose owner is abusive in class.” For more information, go to www.mdspca.org.
When You’re Serious About Obedience
Obedience training is available from at least 20 different outlets in this immediate area listed online. For this story, we spoke with Laurie Neomany, the area’s grand dame of dog obedience. One of the most well-known of the instructors listed, her track record includes having trained more than 10,000 dogs.
That pursuit started in 1978, when she became frustrated with “a disobedient lab (Labrador retriever) mix” and decided to get help, soon getting the idea to set off on her own as an instructor herself. “An obedient dog,” she says, “is extremely important, especially in a place like Annapolis, which has such a high dog population.”
For Neomany, the most effective tool is her voice. While she stresses “making it hard for the dog,” she also makes it crystal clear that the onus is mostly on the handler to master her commands.
Outfitting for obedience classes involves a “choke collar” for the dog, which is a misnomer, because it actually only gently pinches the dog to keep it placed properly when executing a command. Also important are a belt pouch or pocket for keeping treats to award the dog for acceptable behavior and a water bottle for judiciously squirting the dog when it gets out of line. For Laurie, treats are used only sparingly.
The group forms a circle, facing uniformly in a clockwise direction, with all the dogs on the handlers’ left heel in a “sit-stay” position.
“Forward!” signals the handler to command the dog, beginning with its name, to “heel.” Each pair of handler and dog move around the circle.
“Halt!” tells the handler to stop (on the right foot), and all dogs stop in a “sit-stay” position, facing the rear of the pair in front of them. The exercise repeats.
“About turn!” instructs the group to turn around in unison and switch the direction of the circle. The exercise repeats.
“Center!” alerts the handler to turn the dog toward the center of the ring and halt at the instructor’s command.
“Figure eights!” indicates that the group forms groups of threes, with two handler/dog teams facing each other about eight feet apart in sit-stay position. At the command of “Forward!” the third handler/dog pair loops around the two other pairs in a figure-eight pattern. “About turn!” signals the pair to change direction. Each team of two takes a turn at the exercise.
“Stand for examination!” means that the instructor approaches each dog and handler (which are in finished, heel position), and says, “Stand your dog.” The handler then passes a hand across the front of the dog’s face and commands “(dog’s name), stand.” The instructor approaches the dog from the front, touches the dog, circles around the rear of the dog, and returns to the original position, repeating this process with all dogs.
Next come “sit stays” and “down stays.” Dogs are placed a few feet apart in a straight line, facing the same direction, with handler and dog in a “finish” position, each dog at the left heel of the handler. “Leave your dog!” tells the handler to command the dog to stay, showing the palm of the hand to the dog, and to walk approximately 30 feet away, turn around, and face the dog. The instructor may roll balls and toys on the ground for additional distractions. Handlers then return to their dogs and prepare for the “down stay,” under the same rules. Each “stay” lasts three minutes.
The final exercise is “call your dog and finish,” also done in groups, to provide distraction for the dogs. Each handler and dog team form a line facing forward, with dog in the “heel” position. The handlers then tell the dogs to “stay,” step off around 15 paces, and turn to face their dogs. At the instructor’s command to “call your dog,” each handler says the dog’s name, followed by “come.” The dog is expected to proceed forward and sit facing the handler. At the command of “Finish!” the handler tells the dog to “heel,” at which time the dog is expected to turn about and sit at the handlers left heel. Exercises finished!
