The Abney Method to Owning a Dog
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Here are just a few of the things you should consider when choosing a dog: • How large will it be when fully grown? • What type of coat/hair will it have? • What is its activity level? • What are its social tolerances? • What are its disease tolerances? • Are there any genetic abnormalities? If so, what are they? • Where will it live? • How much care will it require? • Where will it stay when you want to get away or go on vacation? From the Chapter on Socialization..... Most behavior problems begin when a puppy is separated from the litter and sent to live with its new owner. If the pup was not adequately handled and socialized by the breeder, then the new owner will begin experiencing some difficulty in handling his dog. This can be seen when the dog cowers or moves away from the touch of the new owner or someone unfamiliar to it, or makes an aggressive action of growling or resisting being handled. These actions, if allowed to continue, could develop into a serious behavior problem, without the new owner ever being aware of it. The new owner also has an obligation to play with the puppy..... From the chapter on Basic Training.... Every dog that has been seen in the Westminster Dog Show has started out with basic training, basic obedience, or manners. If you think of obedience training as working with your dog to improve his manners, you will have the concept of what I am trying to pass on to you. From the Chapter on The Controlled Walk... This is your starting point or foundation block on which to build. As you begin training, your dog should be positioned at your left side, and you will use your left hand to make the majority of the corrections, when needed. This may seem awkward at first, but you will become accustomed to having your dog in this position within a few days. The controlled walk is an exercise in which your dog is made to pay attention to you, your body movements, and direction of travel.... From the Chapter on Come: You move closer, but you are not moving much faster. You call him and give a louder command in a much sterner voice, as if that would make a difference. “FIDO, COME!” Fido thinks, “Come? You mean you want me to come over there where you are? Why? It is more fun to run around having you chase me.” You are now trying to catch the dog and yelling, “Fido, you son of a blue-eyed mongrel, you’re dead if I ever get my hands on you again!” Well, that was a waste of time and energy, because you’re not going to kill him, and you will just be happy that you finally have him when you do get him.
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About the Book
The majority of information contained in training books is very similar in its method. The trainers who write the books are giving you the knowledge of their experiences. In doing so, they forget that the majority of folks owning dogs do not intend to exhibit them. The owner only wants to have a dog that will come when called and have some manners that would make it acceptable to their friends, family, and the general public. Inside you will find that I have tried to create a guide for the general dog owner. It is not intended to create a show dog or an award-winning dog, but to give you the groundwork, if that is your desire. This book is intended to help in choosing your dog, understanding your dog, training your dog in basic obedience, and accomplishing some of the general skills that are needed to be a successful dog owner. Dogs are living, loving creatures that make every effort to understand humans and try to please us by fitting into our pack. If you want the bond often seen with some other dog owners, you have to make an effort to understand the dog. Choosing the right breed of dog for your lifestyle is more important as choosing the type of car you are going to drive. Most people will spend weeks studying vehicles before making a decision as to which one will suit their lifestyle, taste, and pocketbook. Choosing a dog should be done in the same manner. Unfortunately, some dogs are chosen as a spontaneous thought, a spur-of-the-moment decision, without any real thought going into it. I am a breeder of Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs, and I have never seen an ugly puppy in any of my litters. Puppies are cute, and this is what causes most people to take a dog from someone wanting to get rid of an unwanted pup or litter. It is also the way those looking for a dog are swayed to purchase a dog that is not really what they desire. For example, have you ever seen a pet shop that displays grown dogs? All of the display cages are placed in a position so the public may see the cute puppies that are available. People giving away puppies will show up in parking lots with a boxful of cute, unwanted puppies. Shoppers passing these puppies will stop and look at the puppies and admire how cute they are. Then the thoughts of what may happen to those puppies cause them to take one home, even though they were not looking for a puppy. I am not saying that people who take free puppies are irresponsible dog owners, but most do not think beyond the puppy stage before they take the puppy. Those who are giving them away are not bad people either. You must consider, though, if these puppies are being given away, this was not a planned litter, and the adult dogs should have been spayed or neutered. It is this type of irresponsible breeding that is overpopulating the world with unwanted dogs. If you do not want puppies, do not allow the chance for a breeding. Owning a dog takes time away from other things that you could be doing. There will be times that are inconvenient for you when you may have to go to the veterinarian’s office. You may have to change some plans because of your dog. You may have to spend a little extra money to board your dog while you are away on vacation, or contact someone to take care of your dog while you are away. Owning a dog is a responsibility that must be considered and accepted before bringing one into your life. Many dog lovers do not own dogs. Why? Their lifestyles do not permit them to own a dog. They have accepted the fact that a dog would be a responsibility that could interfere with their lives, and they have eliminated the possibility of dog ownership. Not everyone needs to own a dog, and in some cases, there are those who should not own a dog. If you have decided that you want to own a dog, this book will help you in making some of the decisions that you may have overlooked in your quest for dog ownership.
About the Author
About Don Abney Born in Louisiana, Don recalls that his first dog was a wild dog that was caught in the swamps of Louisiana by his father on a hunting trip. The dog was named Skippy because of a slight limp he had when he was captured. After watching the dog being handled by his father, Don was taught how to handle the dog and teach it to do certain tricks. This was the very beginning of his dog-training career. As he grew older, the dog training was left behind for other interests and pursuits, but it was never abandoned. After serving in the military, he went on to pursue a career in electronics with the telephone company, and then a career in law enforcement. During these years, he would help others with the problems they were encountering with their dogs, and present instructions to on how to correct whatever problem they had encountered. The decision was made to offer his services to the public and thus began ABCANTRA (Abney’s Canine Training) which continues in operation today. An Internet Web site, http://www.abcantra.com, was designed to offer free information and help for dog owners. Listed below are some of the accomplishments Don has attained: • Master Trainer certification in obedience, tracking (human and game), search and rescue, detector dogs, and behavior modification since 1980. • Court-certified expert in the field of canine training and tracking, through the Criminal District Courts of New Orleans, Louisiana. — December 10, 1998, by Judge Julian Parker. • United Kennel Club (UKC) Junior Showmanship Judge. • United Kennel Club (UKC) all-breed Conformation Judge. • American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen evaluator. • Licensed by the Drug Enforcement Agency, as a researcher in the field of canine training. • Studies in dog psychology, animal behavior, breeding and genetics, canine nutrition, and health care. • Experienced in handling dangerous, vicious, and nuisance animals. • Founding member and trainer of Louisiana Search and Rescue Dogs, Inc. 1989–1996. • Retired reserve lieutenant, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office—Search and Rescue Division. • Author of The Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog, a book on the history, breeding, and care of the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog. • Owner, handler, and trainer of “Ladyhawke,” the first registered Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dog to be certified in search and rescue, and narcotics detection to be commissioned by law enforcement. • Recipient of the “Service Champion Award” for outstanding work in community service, presented by the National Association of Louisiana Catahoulas. • Awarded “Excellence in Training” by Sigma Chemical Corporation. • Author of the Canine Tracking Guide, a book on how to train a dog to follow a track. • Certified breeder of registered Louisiana Catahoula Leopard Dogs since 1985. (N.A.L.C.) • President of the American Catahoula Association – 1998–2004. • President of the Catahoula Owner, Breeder, and Research Association (COBRA), a United Kennel Club single-breed organization. • President of the Great Southern Kennel Club, a multi-breed United Kennel Club organization).