Research
What's the problem?
Two of my good friends own my two favorite dogs in the world. The dogs bred and had puppies, and my boyfriend bought and gave me one for our three-year anniversary. So now I have a large breed mutt, Layla, that I do not know what to do with.
What is she made of?
Layla's mother is 2/3 husky and 1/3 wolf. Her father is mainly Australian Shepherd and husky, but also has parts of rottweiler and German Shepherd in him.
What does she look like?
Layla is mainly black with tan eyebrows and legs. It looks like she has a white mask on her face, and her tail has a white tip. She is beautiful and has wonderful potential, but I am a little nervous about training her. I have always loved dogs but know very little about training them properly.
Specific questions that I am looking to answer:
1) How do I teach the dog to respond to specific commands like no begging, down, sit, or stay?
2) What is unique about large breed mutts?
3)What special considerations about large breed mutts specifically do I need to know for more effective training?
4) Discipline- how much is enough and how much is too much?
What have I been doing with her?
I teach children gymnastics five days a week, and with nothing else to go on, have applied many of my teaching strategies to the puppy. For example, I know that I have to be consistent. If I tell the dog to not eat one sock, I cannot allow her to eat a different sock (even if I don't mind if she eats the second sock).
Why am I putting this information on the Internet?
There are many people that love dogs, but do not know how to train them properly. No one wants to be around an untrained dog, and dogs need constant love and attention. So in order for a dog to get attention (and be happy), they should be trained properly.
Web related sources about dog training:
http://www.ivillage.com/pets/expert/training Andrea Arton, author of several books on dog training and the director of the Manhattan Dog Training and Behavior Center, answers questions on general training topics in short, informative articles provided as links. There is also a message board, quizzes and chats available.
http://www.doctordog.com/topic.html This Web site is informative, yet biased. While there is useful information provided, each link ties in another product that you should purchase from Dr. Dog. While it is useful, it seems the information given could be slanted towards persuading concerned pet owners to purchase products of Dr. Dog.
http://www.purinaone.comThis Web site provides general information about both dogs and cats. While there is no specific information on training, there is plenty of information given about health problems. It also gives information on what to expect, when you should worry, and when you should relax. It also provides the opportunity to begin "My Pet Journal" where you can provide information about your dog (or cat) and they will customize information accordingly.
http://www.puppychow.com This Web site offers everything there is to know about puppies. It begins with trying to find a dog/puppy and includes everything from dog birth certificates to training tips. There are links t different pages for different training obstacles.
http//:www.planet-pets.com/worldof.htm This Web site is very useful and comprehensive. It offers information about pets from donkeys to dogs. Their information on dogs is extremely thorough. There is information about what makes various breeds of dogs different and how to care for each breed specifically.
Non-Web related sources about dog training:
Topic Area: Beware of Illegal Purchases on the Internet