Zak George's Guide to a Well-Behaved Dog Read online

  Copyright © 2019 by Zak George and Dina Roth Port

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York. www.crownpublishing.com

  www.tenspeed.com

  Ten Speed Press and the Ten Speed Press colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: George, Zak, author.

  Title: Zak George’s guide to a well-behaved dog : proven solutions to the most common training problems for all ages, breeds, and mixes / by Zak George with Dina Roth Port.

  Other titles: Guide to a well-behaved dog

  Description: First edition. | New York : Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2019008706)

  Subjects: LCSH: Dogs—Training.

  Classification: LCC SF431 .G434 2019 | DDC 636.7/0835—dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019008706

  Trade Paperback ISBN 9780399582417

  Ebook ISBN 9780399582424

  Front cover photograph by Daymon Gardner

  v5.4

  a

  CONTENTS

  Acknowledgments

  Introduction

  PART I: THE BASICS

  CHAPTER 1: Ten Essentials for a Well-Behaved Dog

  CHAPTER 2: Why Dogs Behave “Badly”

  CHAPTER 3: The Critical Skills

  PART II: THE ISSUES

  CHAPTER 4: Barking

  CHAPTER 5: Chewing

  CHAPTER 6: Jumping Up

  CHAPTER 7: Play Biting

  CHAPTER 8: Potty Problems

  CHAPTER 9: Leash Pulling

  CHAPTER 10: Begging and Other Pushy Behaviors

  CHAPTER 11: Stealing

  CHAPTER 12: Digging

  CHAPTER 13: Eating Poop

  CHAPTER 14: Humping

  CHAPTER 15: Fears and Phobias

  CHAPTER 16: Separation Anxiety

  CHAPTER 17: Hyperactivity

  CHAPTER 18: Aggression

  CHAPTER 19: Not Listening Around Distractions

  CHAPTER 20: Not Listening in New Environments

  CHAPTER 21: Not Listening Off Leash

  CHAPTER 22: Not Listening Without Treats

  Conclusion

  Endnotes

  About the Authors

  Index

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  My coauthor, Dina, and I would like to first thank our agent, Al Zuckerman. You have believed in us since day one, and you always work tirelessly on our behalf. We are blessed to have you in our corner. Thank you to Samantha Wekstein for all of your hard work and support.

  We would also like to thank our editor, Lisa Westmoreland. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and we are grateful that our book is in such skilled hands. Many thanks to designer Leona Legarte, marketing and publicity team Daniel Wikey and Lauren Kretzchmar, production manager Dan Myers, and the rest of the team at Ten Speed Press as well. And thank you to Lisa Pansini for your creative guidance and help.

  From Zak

  There are countless people to thank for the success the Dog Training Revolution has enjoyed over the years. However, one person in particular has really been indispensable—and that’s my wife, Brianna, the most wonderful person I know.

  Bree first began working with me when the Dog Training Revolution had fewer than fifty thousand subscribers on YouTube. Today we’re at two million subscribers, and she has been an integral part of this explosive growth. Her passion for science and progress infuses the Dog Training Revolution with the forward-thinking principles needed to realize the goal that we and our audience share: To live in a world where people know how to intelligently raise their dogs without using outdated methods.

  Bree researches the latest in scientific knowledge about dog behavior, helps produce our YouTube series, and dedicates countless hours each week to making sure that the Dog Training Revolution continues to be the gold standard in dog training. She is also the most patient, loving woman I have ever known. Thank you, Bree, for everything you do for me personally and professionally. I love you more than anything!

  Our dogs Venus, Supernova, Alpha Centauri, and Indiana have certainly helped me learn a lot about dog behavior and dog training over the years. But, as is the case with all dogs, it was their unconditional love and my bond with them that has made me a much better person.

  I can never thank my dad enough for the amazing support he’s offered over the years. Also, thanks to my mom for the solid foundation she laid for me early in my life as well as for teaching me the importance of persistence and determination.

  And to my coauthor Dina: Your unrelenting focus, commitment, and thoroughness to both our first book and this one has made the Dog Training Revolution more well rounded and complete. Together, you and I have written the bestselling dog training book in the United States; now, here’s to launching our second book together! Thank you so much for all that you do to make our books be the best they can be.

  From Dina

  I would like to thank my parents for their support and for bringing Shadow, Champ, and Barkley into my life. I learned to love and appreciate animals from a very young age thanks to you.

  Also, thanks to my many friends who have come to me throughout the years looking for advice on raising their dogs. Everything I’ve learned about dog training is from Zak! You all make me realize just how needed his books truly are.

  I could never thank my husband, Larry, enough. You are my biggest champion and a true partner in every sense of the word. Thank you for all that you do for our family. I love you.

  To my children, Samantha and Zachary: Thank you for being so supportive and for always telling me how proud you are of my work. You both make me proud every single day. I love you more than you’ll ever know.

  To Zak: I am so grateful to work with you and to help spread your word. You are teaching millions of people how to train their dogs in the most effective and loving way possible. I’m always happy to help you in any way I can. Thank you for being such a pleasure to work with. It has been a true honor—and a lot of fun.

  And to my little loves, Baxter and Brody: You guys snuggled next to me the entire time I worked on this book. Thank you for providing the best work environment ever and for showing me just how much dogs can enrich our lives. Also, thanks for providing plenty of inspiration for this book (especially the barking chapter!). I know you’re not perfect—no dog or human is—but you’re perfect to me.

  INTRODUCTION

  Anyone who has ever had a dog knows how much these creatures can change your life for the better. You have a best friend, a constant companion, someone who’s always there for you. What’s better than that?

  However, almost inevitably, there comes a time that your dog will drive you crazy. Maybe yours likes to stand guard by the front window and bark incessantly at every person, animal, or falling leaf he sees outside your home. Maybe he loves scratching your furniture, getting into the garbage, or digging up your yard. Or possibly you thought your fence was secure, but your dog somehow found a way out.

  Of course, there are also housetraining issues, even with older dogs. You think you have made it through housetraining, and your dog is accident free. Then you step in a puddle right by the front door. Also, some dogs experience anxiety an
d never leave your side, especially during a thunderstorm! Others have aggression issues that can range from food guarding and leash reactivity to snapping and biting.

  What’s tragic is that so many of these issues are part of the reason our shelters are overflowing with unwanted dogs. Millions of people get rid of their pets, often because they just can’t deal with certain disruptive behaviors. For instance, a study in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science found that 65 percent of people who relinquished their dogs reported some behavioral issue as a reason.1

  Sadly, hundreds of thousands of such shelter dogs are euthanized each year.2 Others spend their lives in cages. However, there’s a much better option: with a little bit of effort, you can understand why your dog acts a certain way and train him to behave the way you’d like him to. Clearly, if you’re reading this book, you’re taking the time to learn how to do just that. Good for you!

  If you’ve brought home a puppy, the good news is that you’re starting with a clean slate. You are teaching your dog how you want him to behave from the start. Sure, that’s easier said than done. Training a puppy is a lot of work and takes a ton of time and patience. Just as you wouldn’t leave a toddler unattended, you really need to do the same with a puppy. Not only can he destroy your house, but also he can get really hurt.

  Even those of you who adopted an older dog from a shelter might deal with behavioral issues. First, you most likely have no idea whether your dog knows right from wrong. And your new pet’s concept of “right” might actually not be right for you. For instance, maybe you don’t want your dog on your furniture, but his previous family was totally okay with that. Or maybe you’d prefer your dog to bark only once when someone rings the doorbell, but he was allowed to bark as much as he liked in the past. Those are just things you’ll have to reteach him. Keep in mind the whole idea that “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks” is a total myth. You most certainly can.

  I’ve seen firsthand how overwhelming it can be trying to train a dog how to behave. I’ve been training dogs for about sixteen years. Also, tens of millions of people use my videos on my YouTube channel, Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution, to teach their dogs. Through my work as a dog trainer and educator, I have dealt with nearly every issue a person with a dog can encounter.

  I’ve worked with so many families who bring home adorable puppies and love them more than anything. However, within time, those same people are at their wits’ end because those cute puppies now weigh fifty pounds, and they’re totally unmanageable on walks and jump uncontrollably on guests. I’ve met people who adopt dogs who seem mellow but turn out to be so high-energy once they get home that they chew everything in sight and dig up the yard because they’re bored and not getting enough exercise.

  I also understand the level of frustration that can go along with teaching a dog to adapt to our modern culture and rules. Like you, I’ve had to deal with and work through setbacks in training my own dogs as well—not just those of my clients. I’ve experienced what it’s like to be kept up all night by a whining puppy. Trust me, I’ve been there. It’s no fun! I’ve also had multiple dogs living in my home who didn’t get along at first. It was tricky trying to navigate those new relationships.

  My first dog, Venus, was exceptional in almost every way but took an abnormal amount of time to potty train. Alpha Centauri, one of my other dogs, was very well behaved almost instantly but was a late bloomer when it came to the more advanced behaviors such as leash walking and listening at far distances. Then when Bree, my wife, and I first moved in together I had to work with her dog, Indiana, on…well…everything! Indiana is a bundle of energy and was lacking a lot of basic skills. However, she’s become the best-behaved dog ever, and I was fortunate to be able to work with her. She truly made me a better teacher!

  My first book, Zak George’s Dog Training Revolution: The Complete Guide to Raising the Perfect Pet with Love, was released in 2016. That book is an all-encompassing guide to choosing, raising, and caring for your dog in every way. This one is a straight-up training guide to help you through some of the most challenging parts of teaching your dog.

  This book covers issues such as excessive barking, chewing, jumping, play biting, leash pulling, hyperactivity, aggression, and more. Each chapter addresses a new topic so that you can quickly find what you need in the book when issues arise. You’ll learn why dogs behave in ways we don’t exactly prefer, what you can do to prevent such undesirable behaviors, and how to encourage good behaviors instead!

  It has been so humbling and exciting to commit my life to something I absolutely love: working with dogs and sharing what I’ve learned with other people. For instance, I’ve learned that most people new to dogs and training them underestimate just how smart and capable dogs are. I’ve also realized that nothing sets you up for success better than always making sure that your relationship with your dog is prioritized in all phases of training. I spent years performing with my dogs in stunt dog shows around America. I learned quickly that if I expected my dogs to go out there and perform some of the most elaborate tricks and stunts imaginable, then I needed to have a very strong bond and connection with them. I’ve also found that even when you’re just teaching your dog the basic skills, the same is true.

  That doesn’t mean all types of training are effective or even humane. Sadly, dog training is one of those fields that is the Wild West in many ways. With no regulations, there are countless approaches that people use out there. In this era where people often demand fast, even instant results, we’ve seen the continued use of electric shock collars—which, by the way, have been banned in England, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, and many other countries.3 We’ve also seen the use of choke and prong collars.

  All three of these devices are specifically engineered to be highly unpleasant, even painful, to dogs. And even though they may appear to “work” short term, they do nothing to promote a bond between you and your dog. Plus, a dog is bound to revert to his old behaviors once the collar comes off. That’s not teaching—it’s just a very shallow way to communicate with a highly intelligent animal. These tools have absolutely no place in the dog training world.

  I’ve also heard trainers use the word dominance as a blanket term to explain every unwanted dog behavior under the sun. They use this to justify harsh, physical methods that defeat a dog but do nothing to teach or happily motivate a dog. There is a mountain of science that shows such methods—ranging from yelling at your dog, rolling him onto his back, and staring him down to using painful collars or hurting him physically in any other way—are ineffective and do more harm than good.4 You deserve better advice than this! I’ll show you what to do without intimidation, force, or other outdated methods.

  Lastly, I’ve discovered that every dog learns differently. Authentic teaching comes about through commitment, patience, and understanding that your dog is as much an individual as any human. No two dogs are the same. Keep this front of mind. Also, remember that, as with almost everything, gimmicks and quick fixes are not likely to give you the results you want. However, hard work and commitment will. Of course, you first need to know what to do. And that’s precisely what this book—along with my free videos on YouTube—will show you. Whatever your issue is with your dog, we’ll fix it or at least greatly improve it together. Let’s get started!

  CHAPTER 1

  TEN ESSENTIALS FOR A WELL-BEHAVED DOG

  Having worked with so many dogs over the years, I can tell you that every single one of them is a unique individual. And when it comes to training, each one requires a tailored approach. The dog you had growing up or at any time in the past is different from the one you have now.

  In fact, if I could change one thing about how people view teaching dogs, it would be this very thing. Too often, we have the tendency to think about dogs as though they are computers simply needing to be programmed. Many people believe that you can train every dog the same way.
That’s simply not true. Others think there’s one set of training principles for German Shepherds, one for Labradors, one for Cocker Spaniels, and so on. This, too, is incorrect, but even some of my own colleagues fall victim to these broad stereotypes.

  I won’t focus on teaching you quick fixes or on getting you results with shallow or gimmicky dog training advice. Instead, I will offer you sound advice that can help you train your dog to her full potential.

  Throughout this book, I will help you through the most common issues people face with their dogs. And I will address each topic individually, step by step. However, it’s critical to know that there are fundamentals everyone needs to consider when training dogs—no matter what you’re teaching.

  As you try to work through issues ranging from leash pulling, barking, and jumping up to hyperactivity, anxiety, and aggressive behaviors, make sure you first address the points I cover in this chapter. The following ten basic concepts are nonnegotiable for every dog if you hope to have great results.

  1. MAKE YOUR RELATIONSHIP TOP PRIORITY

  Think about why you got a dog to begin with. It was probably because you wanted a loyal, loving companion who could totally enrich your life, right? Almost nobody gets a dog because they want an unemotional animal who acts like a robot. And that’s a great thing!

  If you were creating a building that you cared about, you would make sure that the foundation of that structure was solid, that every brick was in place, and that there were no weak points so that everything built on top of it would be solid, too. Well, the relationship you have with your dog is also critical. When it comes to training, it’s the foundation that everything else is built on. Never compromise it. In fact, make your bond the centerpiece of all training moving forward. If you don’t, then it’s unrealistic to expect meaningful results.