[yorkietalkjilly]

I have long loved The Loved Dog as Tamar Geller thinks like me about dog training and I always recommend her book to anyone wanting a better relationship with their dog and who wants to read and learn how to create a well-behaved, happy dog. We see many very well-trained dogs but not all of them seem that happy about performing their commands and even look a bit intimidated or "under the gun" while performing their commands. I want a dog eager and more than pleased and happy to perform his commands, usually with a wagging tail.

Just obedience train your dog using regular positive reinforcement training. Teach him to come, sit, lie down, wait, stop in place and wait for you to come pick him up, watch me(focus on your eyes only - not anything else going on inside or outside), leave it, drop it(anything he's got in his mouth), take it, go to your bed/spot, relax, etc. A regular obedience training schedule of 3 -5 minutes 2 or 3 times a day, together with life-enriching activities and games/puzzles you play with him will begin to reshape his behavior and begin to form a strong bond between you two. During the one-on-one training, he will begin to actual develop a predisposition to automatically do what you request of him.

Proper training is always fun for the dog and you, is positive, upbeat and encourages the dog want to obey you every single time as he will learn that the result of doing that means only good things for him and a very happy you. It settles dogs down and makes them stop misbehaving as they have learned skills that allow them to control their impulses and desire for instant gratification as they learn that delayed gratification from you after doing what you requested is even more rewarding.

If he's very wild, as I told you before, the Nothing In Life Is Free program can help teach him about impulse control, working for his wants and needs and respect and the dogs really love the program as they love working for whatever they get.

Once the dog has learned how to focus on you with the "Watch Me" command and relax on your command, you can begin to socialize him in many frequent, very short, daily trips to places dogs congregate. Take some freshly boiled, warm chicken with you to keep his nose engaged as you teach him how to focus on you rather than other dogs when you first begin socialization and keep him at a good distance until he's able to remain calm. After a week or two of being able to remain calm at a distance, you can gradually allow him to get closer to other dogs - as long as he stays relatively calm. If not, walk him in very fast circles with a big piece of chicken in your hand.

If he cannot settle down, remove him to a distance where he can focus on the chicken in your fist or your eyes using the "Watch me" or "Focus" command each time you bait him with the chicken for his attention so that later, in an emergency, you can say "Watch me" or "Focus" even when there isn't any warm chicken and he will know what to do, look at your eyes or your outstretched fist rather than go crazy over a nearby dog. When he does gain control of his behavior and does watch you or focus, after a time, give him his chicken treat and a gentle praise - gentle so as not to excite him.

Getting control of an excitable dog's brain before you try to socialize him is important to keep him from practicing frenzied behavior and that becoming a pattern he learns every time he's out around other dogs.