11/10/07
The Internet and e-mail are great inventions, but this new system of communication has its weaknesses. As I sit in front of my computer answering e-mails, especially about dog training and dog behavior questions, I’ve come to the conclusion that e-mailing just is not effective. There can be so many variables and so many details that I must know in order to really help someone with their questions about training and behavioral problems. Even with many e-mails going back and forth, I can’t get to the intricate part or be specific. I have to give general information, because I don’t know the cause of the problem so that I can teach you how to get your dog to do what you want.
I have much more success with one-on-one conversations, so I’m starting a new service called Telephone Time with Bob. Until we can figure out how to hook up a two-way camera where I can see you with your dog and you can see me, the next best way is to use the phone.
While its much more effective for training sessions to be done in person, at least you and I can talk about what works and what doesn’t work with your dogs. I can ask you questions and get instant feedback so we can quickly get to the problem and the solution, because each dog and each person have their own relationship and their own individual behaviors.
Here are some of the topics I hope to cover with you, for instance, the puppy stage. How you start a dog off can depend on the kind of dog you want. Also, what kind or breed of dog is right for you and do you want a dog that will be very close to you as a companion or do you want a dog to protect your house or property?
My forte is with the dog you love as your pet and whom you want to teach a few tricks to for fun or to impress your friends. Or maybe your little partner has a few bad habits that are a problem because he or she is not trained the right way to be your little gentleman or lady.
As an entertainment industry dog trainer, I’ve taught dogs to do just about everything, always starting with a foundation of basic obedience commands. My father and I always wanted our dogs to be heroes in the movies, not villains. I don’t teach aggressive behavior. There were times when a dog had to appear to be aggressive, and we created the allusion without teaching a dog to act against its nature. We never wanted anyone to be afraid of a particular breed or create fear in a dog. The work of police dogs and those trained for protection work in the real world have an important place, but these dogs are rarely pets in the average family household.
My goal is to reach the typical dog lovers and owners who need some training guidelines or whose dog has developed some behavioral problems. I look forward to talking with YOU about your specific needs and questions. I’ll do the best I can to help you.
Thanks for coming online. Talk to you soon on the phone!
Tags: Bob Weatherwax, Dog Behavior, Dog Training, Dog Tricks, Lassie, Rudd Weatherwax
