Welcome to North Herts Dog Training Club
This fact sheet is designed to give you the best possible start to living with and training your dog.
Dogs are pack animals. They live so well with us in our family units because they equate this to the ‘pack’. The most successful packs in the wild are those where there are clear rules, boundaries and constraints; every dog knows its place and what it can and can’t do. Their survival depends upon clear rules and consistency – and knowing who the top dogs are. This in itself offers the dog a sense of security.
So to give your dog the best possible start within your ‘pack’, you need to clearly establish rules and boundaries. Without these, your dog begins to display unwanted behaviours such as play biting, jumping up uninvited, stealing and behaving like a ‘wild child’! Often we try to fix the actual problem but the underlying causes remain the same and the behaviour never really disappears.
Here is a list of suggested rules to help you avoid or resolve problems – these apply equally to big and small dogs. These rules also generally apply to rescue dogs but do check with the rescue centre or the dog trainers. Without rules and boundaries, your success in training your dog will be limited and you will not experience the true joy of a well-adjusted, well-mannered dog, of which you can be justifiably proud.
Tips for establishing the “pack” hierarchy
If you experience problems in successfully instigating your rules or do not understand why any of the above are suggested please ask your trainer who will be happy to help.
During the classes we will show you different techniques for training your dog - but the following are basic rules that apply across all different types of training and across all the different classes.
Please make sure that your dog is less likely to mess in the hall by ensuring that they relive themselves before the class.
Do not bring your bitch when she is in season.
Do not bring your dog when they have any contagious disease – such as kennel cough, mange, or upset stomach and if your dog has had a recent operation or injury please tell your trainer.
Please make sure you are up to date on inoculations – we may need to see evidence when you renew your membership.
Please be “dog aware”. Do not approach or allow your dog to approach other people’s dogs without their permission. If your dog is likely to show aggression to another please pay particular attention to issues such as “eyeballing”.
When waiting for your class to start at the back of the hall please make sure that your dog is quiet.
When leaving or arriving the car park please be considerate to the neighbours. Keep noise (dog and human to a minimum.
Tips for Training