By Josiah Neuman CMT
Neuman K-9 Academy, Inc.

This article is dedicated to the estimated 8-10 million dogs that will be surrendered in 2009. These dogs will end up in shelters, at the pound, or put to sleep (euthanize).

In most cases, these dogs are surrendered due to problematic behavioral issues that can easily be addressed.

The majority of these behaviors can range from chewing up shoes, poor etiquette (jumping up on people), or the dog that is not house broken. At times, Neuman K-9 Academy is the 'end of the road' for these dogs, and the goal is to put these bad habits in check, as quickly as possible! In this article, I will explain exactly how we do that.

There are four things we establish or introduce to build a well behaved canine.

1. Crate Training

2. Socialization

3. Obedience Training

4. Exercise Daily

Crate training is at the top of the list for a reason. It is essential for house breaking a dog, preventing destructive behavior, and means of giving your dog a 'safe place' to relax or sleep. Dogs are cave dwelling creatures, and the crate becomes a familiar and favorable place over time.

Socializing a dog is more than taking it to the same park, and meeting the same people, or to play with the same dogs. Unsocial dogs cannot go out and experience life, and trips to the vet office each year, becomes a bigger and bigger issue. Socializing your dog is getting out and seeing new things, meeting new people, and learning to deal with adversity. We recommend socializing your dog at a pace that is safe, yet challenging, to help them grow mentally.

Obedience training is more than teaching a dog how to sit or lie down. Dogs are capable of doing this without our help. Good training establishes control in these areas; walking on leash without pulling, not jumping up on people, coming on command, or general etiquette. Good obedience ensures quality time spent, whether at home, on a walk, or at the park.

Exercise and/or physical conditioning is critical to your dog's health. It helps channel energy in a positive way, that otherwise would turn into destructive behavior. Well exercised dogs have a healthy appetite, sleep well at night, and generally speaking, are better behaved companions.

These four categories are the blue print for reshaping problematic behavior. I believe proactive measures, or being ahead of the problem, are the best way to shape canine behavior. It allows us to prevent the behavior from happening, and enables us to maintain control of the situation, at all times. And yes, you can train an old dog new tricks!

If you would like more information about the types of training offered by Neuman K-9 Academy click here!