| It never gets easier, listening to the heart-wrenching | | | | possible. As training progresses, you can slowly add to |
| tales of animal abuse and neglect. Sadly, it seems that | | | | the amount of distractions. |
| the abuse and neglect of animals is on the rise- or | | | | Never yell at your pet. Yelling at an abused animal, can |
| perhaps it's just being brought to our attention, because | | | | throw him into a panic and set back days of training. |
| it is being reported more often; at least one can only | | | | He will most likely associate yelling with being hit or |
| hope that is the reason. | | | | whatever form of abuse and/or neglect, he |
| Our Judicial System is showing these cold-hearted | | | | experienced. |
| criminals that Americans are not going to turn a | | | | For behaviors such as excessive barking, jumping on |
| blind-eye to this kind of horrid and cruel behavior, | | | | people, etc... Give a firm, "no", with an associated hand |
| anymore. Animals are promptly taken away from the | | | | signal: lightly clapping, snapping fingers, etc... |
| abuser. If they are not beyond the point of being | | | | When they learn to mind and follow commands, be |
| helped: the animals are adopted out by caring, loving | | | | sure to show them praise. Rewarding them with love |
| families who are able to meet the special needs that | | | | and attention will make them associate minding with |
| these animals so demand. | | | | positive feedback. |
| Then the impending job of retraining, or perhaps, | | | | You must be ready to have plenty of patience with |
| training for the first time, begins. These special need | | | | your special needs pet. They will need extra TLC in |
| animals need to learn to re-trust humans and not be | | | | everyday living, as well. They're going to need you to |
| intimidated and terrified around them, or other animals. | | | | show them that they are valued, and it may take a |
| Though the road may be long and hard: it will also be | | | | while for them to understand that when they do, do |
| one of the most rewarding journeys you and your pet, | | | | something wrong - that it will not result in severe |
| will ever travel. | | | | punishment. If you do not believe you have the |
| As with all forms of animal training - always use | | | | patience required, then maybe an abused or neglected |
| positive reinforcement. This can be in the form of | | | | animal is not for you at this period in your life. That |
| treats, petting, play and/or positive attention. Never use | | | | doesn't make you a bad person - actually it's the |
| punishment in training any animals - especially animals | | | | opposite - it means you thought more about the animal, |
| who have already learned to fear humans and will | | | | then you did about yourself. There are many calm |
| have a difficult time learning to re-trust. | | | | animals in shelters all across the country, which would |
| Always make sure your pet can see and hear you | | | | love to have a new, loving master and a comfortable |
| clearly. In the beginning stages of training, it's best to | | | | home to rest their body and quiet their mind. |
| have as least amount of distractions around, as | | | | |