Good Dogs! Living with Well Trained Dogs

Female dogs - in general - have a tendency to be more of a one person dog, and that has really been the case with my two girls. They play fetch with the boys, and like to wrestle around some with them, but generally, you'll find them by my side.

This made my oldest son, David, a little sad - he really wanted a dog of his own. Since Chance has come to live with us, it seems David has gotten his wish.

I bought Chance with my grandfather, back in the days long ago when I lived with my grandfolks. Grandpa Bill and Chance (or Champ, as he was called back then) were a pair, and my grandmother and Chance were both devastated when Grandpa died 3 years ago. Grandma and Chance couldn't stay alone, so they both went off to live with my dad. Unfortunately, it wasn't a very happy time for Chance - they had a bunch of other dogs that treated him mean, and some of the people living there didn't treat him too well either.

After my grandmother died, my mother brought Chance down here to Peru to live with me. It took a couple months before Reina and Bisou accepted having this new dog in the house, but things are going pretty well now. And the best part is, Chance and David have taken to each other the way a boy and a dog should. Chance follows him around, plays chase in the yard, and sleeps at the foot of his bed at night. David is so thrilled to have a dog that loves him.

Reina's life could have been much different. Her mother was a stray dog on the mean streets of Lima Peru - not a good place for a pregnant dog. She'd been abused by someone - she was injured, either by a physical attack or a car. Fortunately, fate intervened when a kind woman saw some kids throwing rocks at her, and picked her up and took her to a vet. She nursed her back to health, and after the dog gave birth to 8 puppies, this kind lady found homes for all of them. Reina was one of those puppies, and that's how she found her way into our home.

As is usual for 'street dogs' Reina is smart and cunning - some might say sneaky - and very resourceful. She puts up with no guff from the other dogs and is quick with a growl or a nip to put them in their place. But she loves her people, and when she sits at my feet with her head on my knee and l forgive her everything. She's protective of the boys, and is most attentive to my commands when we go for walks. I think she's definitely my husband's favorite, as you can see from this photo. She's a Good Dog!

Bisou is the most spoiled of our three dogs, for sure - but she's still a well trained dog! Super smart, super loving and full of fun - that's how you describe Bisou. Her name is pronounced 'beeSOO', but we call her all kinds of things, from 'bee-shoe' to 'pea soup'. She doesn't care - she just takes it all in stride and comes running when we call. She's super playful, and loves to fetch. That's because poodles are actually hunting dogs, retrievers in fact, who live to swim through icy waters and retrieve water fowl.

She's also the most well trained of the three, because she's always so eager to please.

Some people might not consider my dogs well trained, because they bark when someone's at the door, but I consider them well trained because they stop barking when I tell them to. Others may think they aren't well trained because they sleep on our beds. Well, we like to think of our pets as part of the family, and I like snuggling with them!

Having a well trained dog is all about what makes you and your dog happy living together in your home. If your family is happy with the way your dog behaves, and you can take your dog for a walk without being a nuisance or causing danger to itself or to others, then I consider it a well trained dog.

In my work with dogs, as a veterinarian's assistant and as a trainer, I've learned that certain techniques work better with different dogs. For example, my dog Reina needs a firm hand or she tries to take over our pack - otherwise known as our family. She wants to be the alpha dog in all situations. That's fine among the four-legged members of our pack, but she MUST submit to authority coming from any two-legged member - and she does. Bisou on the other hand, has to be treated gently. A sharp word to her, and she rolls over on her back and plays dead. The gentlest of corrections is enough to get her to do what you want.

It's up to you to pay attention to your dog's temperament, and learn how to 'talk' to your dog in the way that gets its attention the best. Read here for more information on training your dogs.