(This article, written by Anne Katona, was first published in the AKC Gazette breed column in May 2004. We are grateful to the author and to the AKC for their permission to publish all the Kerry Blue Terrier Breed Columns on the USKBTC website.)

Breed Column - May 2004

Training Tidbits – Part 2

A Kerry Blue that actually comes when called? One that will sit and stay when told to do so? Is it the dog’s fault or the owner/trainer’s fault when this fails to happen? According to Alon Geva, a professional dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area specializing in dog aggression and behavior modification, a good trainer needs to know that an individual’s personality will influence their style of training. Owners who do not understand this concept of training will put unjustifiable guilt on their dog. As a result, some owners consider their dogs untrainable. Kerry Blues are so smart that one has to remember their brain capacity usually equals that of a two year old child – think of that “NO” stage”- then remember how to formulate the thought as if it was the child’s idea. To be successful in training a Kerry, one needs to understand the influence of the owner personality on canine behavior.

One of the keys to successful dog rearing is for the owner to know a dog’s natural tendency is to be as far up as possible within the social order of the pack, therefore, the owner must establish himself as a pack leader and maintain that position throughout the dog’s life.

There are many different types of owner characteristics and sometimes one owner may display more than one personality type at different times. Two of the main personality types that adversely affect any dog are the domineering owner and the over indulgent owner.

The last column discussed the domineering personality type owner behavior. This column will discuss the over indulgent owner behavior. In contrast to the domineering owner, who can be too rough with the dog, the over indulgent owner is too gentle.

Over indulgent examples:

• Excessive petting: This desensitizes the dog to your affection. Dogs should desire your attention rather than become insensitive to it. Reward with “Good Dog” in a happy voice instead of excessive petting.
  
  
• Sharing the bed with the dog: This gives the dog the wrong impression, that he is your equal. The dog needs to feel that you are afforded certain privileges that he is not, you are the pack leader, right?
  
  
• Ignoring the problem: This teaches the dog that whatever he did is completely acceptable. Don’t be lazy - correct bad behavior immediately and consistently.
  
  
• Responding to the dog’s demands: For example, allowing a dog to go outside every time he barks shows him that you are responding to his commands rather than vice versa.

Last Updated: 08/16/2004, 8:35 pm