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Computers
and Dogs
Do computers and dogs have anything in common?
Well, the dog doesn’t need to be plugged
in and doesn’t need to be dusted or refilled
with paper. The computer doesn’t need to
be fed, taken on walks or brushed. But
they are both a lot of fun to play with and sometimes
either can have glitches. Most importantly however,
is the fact that both require programming. Just like that
brand new computer you brought home and couldn’t do anything with until
you installed the programming, or when it was
installed you couldn’t make the darn thing
work (this is when I want to throw the thing
out the window). Same with the dog, if the programming
isn’t right it can be very frustrating.
A statistic to show how frustrated people are
with their dogs is that 70 % of all puppies
taken home do not stay in their original homes.
Most are surrendered “because
of behavioral problems”.
In the United States 4 to 6 million companion
animal shelters euthanize animals annually.
These are frightening numbers, which would
indicate that
undesirable behaviour is the most deadly disease.
Sometimes the dog is not a good match for the
people, but mostly I believe that there is a
programming (education) problem. To start training
the dog at six months of age is to have lost
6 months of opportunity to program (train). Although, there are many things one can
do to reprogram your dog, it is easier at a younger
age. Separation anxiety, house soiling, chewing,
barking, biting, jumping, etc. can all be prevented.
The secret is to get the proper instruction
to match you and your dog. It’s just like
buying software; it must match the hardware.
Where
would you find that proper instruction (programming)?
-
See a professional. Do you want your neighbour
to fix your computer (dog) or a computer technician
(professional trainer / instructor)? A trainer
is someone who is skilled in training a dog.
An instructor is someone who is skilled in
training people.
- Observe
a Class
- Some
questions to ask are; “What will my dog
be able to do when we finish the course”?
“Can I see what you can do with your
dog”?
- Inquire
about a support program after graduation
- Compare
course content
Don’t worry your dog will not turn into
a computer or robot, we’ve tried that and
it didn’t work. They are the same silly
old dogs that we are now enjoying a whole lot
more.
Good
luck with your programming.
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