How To Maintain Your Love Affair ... With Your Dog Part One - Training

How to Maintain Your Love Affair with Your Dog - Training Tips
for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your Canine Companion
© 2004-2005 by Peggie Arvidson-Dailey

When I first laid eyes on my little ball of black fluff at an
adoption fair, I knew there was no turning back. My husband and
I had been looking for just the right dog for months, and all
the research and networking had finally paid off. There was no
doubt in my mind that we had found the most perfect, precious
four-legged family member in the world.

As luck would have it, the adoption fair was right around the
corner from our home, this gave us a great opportunity for a
home visit at the end of the event. I ran home, scrubbed and
cleaned and did everything I could to make sure our home was
‘puppy worthy’. As soon as she arrived with her foster mom, the
puppy made sure to let us know she was in the right place…but
more about that later.

Because both of us had lived with dogs before, I was sure we
knew everything we needed to start off on the right foot and
have a loving and healthy relationship with our dog. I was only
partially right. Through lots of hands-on experience and a great
deal of patience and training, I’ve learned a number of ways to
maintain that original love-at-first sight feeling.

Training and Behavior