Housebound Dogs Read Online Free PDF

with you, he’ll know just what to do.
Broad Jump
    Some dogs just love to jump and will take every opportunity to jump up on or over things. If this describes your dog, tap this enthusiasm to train her in broad jumping. Setting up broad-jump practice for your dog is a great way to give her a stimulating and challenging task to learn.
    Quick Tip
    Whatever you use as a jump marker, it should not be more than 3 or 4 inches high. You want your dog to concentrate on jumping across, not clearing a hurdle.
    1. Choose an open area without any obstacles (trees, fences, posts, or buildings) for the jump site.
    2. Use two markers — towels, plastic strips, boards — laid parallel to each other to mark the beginning and end of the jump. Make it an easy distance initially (a distance you can jump easily, too). You first must acquaint her with the concept of broad jumping on command. You’ll do this by jumping with her a few times. Once she is accustomed to the command, you can work on making the distances more challenging.
    3. With the dog on a leash beside you, choose a starting point 6 to 8 feet from the jump marker. Say “Jump,” and then run toward the marker with the dog at your side. When you reach the marker give the “jump” command again and jump across it yourself. On the first try, your dog may run over rather than jump over the marker. That’s okay, because she won’t know what to expect. Now that she has the idea, go back to the starting line. Keep her on the leash and run and jump over the marker several more times.
    4. Reward her with a treat whenever she jumps the marker, even if she doesn’t completely clear it. Match the size of the treat to the size of her attempt to jump. If she barely tries, give her just a smidgen. If she does better the next time, give her a larger piece of treat. Most dogs make the connection between treats and performance pretty quickly. Don’t scold her if she doesn’t do well. Remember, this is supposed to be fun.
    5. Once your dog understands that she is to jump over the marker, position her at the starting line, take off her leash, and give her the “stand and stay” command. Go to the far side of the markers and give the “jump” command. Your dog should run, jump the marker, and come upto you. If she does, reward her with a treat and a pat on the head. Don’t praise her too enthusiastically; you want her satisfaction to come from the thrill of accomplishment of the jump itself.
    6. Once your dog has mastered the initial jump, you can begin to increase the distance, little by little. Watch your dog closely on each jump. You do not want to make the distance more than she can handle. There’s no challenge in that for her, only frustration, and she can get injured. Instead, for variety, you can set up a series of jumps of different distances. Make the course fun and stimulating but not exhausting or overwhelming.

Make Your Dog Your Little Helper
    Most dog breeds were bred for specific qualities suitable for work, such as herding, tracking, hunting, and retrieving. Today’s dogs don’t have much opportunity to use their special instincts. But you can capitalize on these inbred traits and tendencies by teaching your dog to help around the house. Choose tasks that are suited to his nature and you’ll most likely find him an eager student and enthusiastic helper. Here’s a sample of household chores that dogs can do.
Carrying Objects
    Your dog can serve as that extra set of hands you’ve needed. Teach him to carry a laundry basket or small bundles or parcels. Train him to bring in the newspaper or chunks of wood for the fireplace. He can drag bags of leaves or lawn clippings to the curb or the compost pile. All this just for some praise, a few treats, and the satisfaction of working!
    1. Start with something small, interesting, and easy for your dog to carry. One of his favorite toys is an ideal starting