FeedThe SLM Pet Guide: Owner in Training
Certified dog trainer Cinder Wilkinson-Kenner, owner of Best Friend Pet Care and a director of the Greater Saint Louis Training Club, shares training tips.
Photograph by Whitney Curtis
Start Socializing
“Early socialization is more important than shots. If they get sick, you can treat that. But once they’re adults, then you can’t change that behavior,” she says. Avoid phobias by exposing puppies to as many new people and dogs as possible during the first 16 weeks.
Realize the Fear Factor
“The things you see that are emotionally based, like fear, are really beyond the animal’s control,” Wilkinson-Kenner stresses. Devices like prong collars only ratchet up the fear level, sending dogs into a state where they can’t think or learn.
Say No to the “Alpha Roll”
“Wolves don’t do that, and dogs don’t do that,” she points out. Pinning your dog to the ground, as recommended by a certain celebrity trainer, doesn’t foster a natural, trusting relationship. And while we’re on the subject…
Don’t Believe ALL You See on TV
“If pet owners have to watch TV, I really wish they would watch Victoria Stilwell,” says Wilkinson-Kenner. Alternately, nix the tube and read Gerilyn Bielakiewicz’s The Only Dog Tricks Book You’ll Ever Need.
Consider an Adult Rescue Dog
If you can’t devote time to training and housebreaking a puppy, then a more mature dog from a rescue organization might be the way to go—although, she warns, “People who think of dogs as fashion accessories should definitely not get them.”
