Training & Kennel Club Good Citizens Awards
Every dog requires training, whether it be a Rott or a Yorkie. Training should start as soon as your bring you new pup home.
Be Consistent
This is the main ingredient to dog training. If you allow one thing one day and then tell the dog off the next for doing the same thing, this will only cause confusion and frustration on both sides.
Timing & Rewards
Another important ingredient, if your timing is wrong with praise and rewards you could be rewarding a behaviour you did not want.
Clicker Training
I find Rotts very responsive to this form of training, you can shape the behaviour you want with the use of food or toy and then once the dog has learnt the exercise the food can be decreased on a random basis but the verbal reward is always continued.
Never under estimate the use of verbal reward, this is something you will always have with you, you can forget titbits or toy, but you will always have your voice. Talk to your Dog!
I do a number of activities with my dogs, Rotts are very versatile and with the right stimulation and rewards will try just about anything. Mine do Obedience, Agility and at one point I did try heel work to music. However time being the main factor to try and fit all this in, so pick something you both enjoy doing together.
I also try and do the Kennel Club Good Citizens Awards, Puppy Foundation, Bronze, Silver & Gold. These are fairly simple exercises which are fun to teach your dog.
Follow the links below to see what you have to do for each level:
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk
Puppy Foundation
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/411
Bronze
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/408
Silver
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/409
Gold
http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/410
From here you can then go on to train for competitive Obedience or try agility.
Here are some web sites and book titles of interest:
very useful site for finding a qualified club and trainer. Always visit first with out your dog, to see if the club/trainer is right for you and your dog.
Agility
Equipment
Books
The Rottweiler, Centuries of Service – Linda Michels & Catherine Thompson – ISBN 0-87605084-4
The Rottweiler – Judy & Larry Elsden - ISBN 0-09 171400 1
The Rottweiler Today – Judy & Larry Elsden – ISBN 0 948955 86 4
In Tune with Your Dog – An owner’s guide to training and improving behaviour – John Rogerson – ISBN 0 09 173473 8
These are but a few of the many books available to help you and your dog achieve your goals.
Have fun and most of all enjoy your dog what ever the breed.