Training Adult Dogs

Maricopa County and Animal Control allow the adoption of adult dogs.  Prices range from $100 to $150 with other fees for vaccination or any additional tests the future dog owner may want.  However, the problem with adult dogs is that they are usually set in their ways.  Each adult dog has come from a different environment and neither Animal Control nor future dog owners are aware of each dog’s past circumstances.  The dog could have come from a loving environment or an abusive and neglectful environment.  Because adoptive adult dogs vary in past, their temper is often unknown and dog bite-related injuries can occur without warning.  It is important as a future dog owner to learn the appropriate methods in training an adult dog.

Dog Training Tips

Socializing your dog with other dogs and people familiarizes the dog with their new environment.  Socializing the dog helps the dog adjust to their new surroundings, not just with their new home but family members and strangers.  Socializing the dog includes: walks around the neighborhood, car rides, going to a dog park, and one-on-one playtime.

Sit-Stay is an important part of dog training.  A dog must learn to know when it is appropriate to stay put or when to move around leave.  A person can use dog treats in order to teach the dog while using a leash.  A dog owner simply stands still, holds the leash with your hands close to the dogs body.  It is important not to engage with your dog, and eventually your dog will sit.

House-training is a very difficult task for an adult dog, and it could be a tedious and wearisome experience.  Again, use treats and only give the dog a treat when it has done the task you want to do.  Creating a schedule will help in the transition; every two to four hours, take your dog outside to use the restroom.  You can also walk the dog longer to keep them contained until they really have to use the restroom.

Disciplining your dog is one of the hardest things to do, since the future dog owner is unaware of the dog’s past.  If the dog does something wrong, do not kick, punch or scream at the dog.  Simply point out the error using little aggression and either put it outside, in a kennel or some sort of time out.

Responsibility

But even with proper training, an adult dog can still exhibit aggression or irritability in their new environment.  A dog bite-related injury or even a fatality can occur even if an adult dog is trained.  Dog owners are legally responsible for the actions of their dogs, even if they were adopted and have an unknown past. An Arizona dog bite attorney can represent you and get compensation you deserve.

Contact an Arizona Dog Bite Attorney

If you are unable to prevent a dog bite related injury and as a result, you or a loved one have been the victim of an attack, our Arizona dog bite injury lawyer can help you recover damages both for physical and emotional harm.  For more information about an Arizona dog bite attorney see www.azdogbitefirm.com.