"NO FREE LUNCH DOG TRAINING"

After our dogs have a little basic obedience training down, like: sit, this is the type of "No Free Lunch Dogs Training" method we use. It teaches submissiveness to your Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy or dog as an everyday experience and lets them know their place in your pack. You are their leader. To achieve this canine etiquette that you are looking for, you must always duplicate the assertive, consistent, training attitude of a canine leader.

We set and enforce rules, boundaries and limitations in a patient, consistent, yet assertive way for all our canine friends. We require our dogs to work for everything they want in their lives. It is a very safe, non-confrontational way for you to establish and maintain complete control of your dog at all times. It is a permanent, 'life of the dog' obedience training lifestyle. When you train your dog to always have to do something for you to get anything they want in life, it will gently remind your dog that abiding by your rules will allow them to have these comforts and joys in their life. Building a healthy state of mind through patience, waiting, work and love is essential for a dog's well being, mental stability, and overall happiness.



Dogs are social beings. They crave structure and leadership. It is up to you to position yourself as the dominant leader for your friend, establishing that your dog falls below you in the family pack ranking. You are the role model and leader they watch, love, wag their tail at, and look to each day for direction, rules and encouragement. All dogs want to know who to follow and what to do with their lives and our job is to challenge their minds, give them understanding of their boundaries, house rules and help them follow the rules, discipline, and share our love with them, so they can be happy. Practicing this positive lifestyle method will gently and effectively communicate to your dog that their position in the hierarchy is very submissive and subordinate to yours. An obedient dog is always a happy dog.

Use positive reinforcement methods to teach your dog a few of the obedience commands and/or tricks. "Sit," "Down," and "Stay" are very useful commands. You want your dog to trust you and consider you their pack leader.

Make sure your dog knows your commands well, is totally submissive, is in a calm state of mind, and understands what you want before you begin making your dog "do something for everything they get".

Once you've given your pooch a command, don't give your little baby what they want until they do what you want. It's as simple as that! If your dog refuses to perform the command, walk away, come back a few minutes later, and start again. If your dog refuses to obey the command, be patient and remember that eventually your dog will have to obey your command to get what they want.

Remember: Make sure your dog knows your commands well, has a totally calm state of mind, is being very submissive, is looking at you and understands what you want before you begin making your canine friend "do something for everything they get".

The best time to start training your dog to obey a command before they get something is before you feed them. (See No Free Lunch Dogs Feeding Strategy on the right). If your dog doesn't do what you ask of them, they don't eat. This is particularly successful with children also. The first time we heard of it, we thought it sounded rather cruel. After realizing how successful we were in using it, we can't imagine raising kids or dogs without this method. Believe me, missing or being late for one meal is not going to hurt a child or a dog at our house, but they sure will be extremely attentive to you when the next feeding time comes around.

Once your dog has mastered even one command: like "SIT", you can give your dog anything (food, a treat, a walk, a pat on the head, scratching their back), but before they get something they like, they must first perform one of your commands they have learned. All people, including the children in the house should practice the same policy - "Never give the dog attention, a treat, a vitamin, or food until your dog is of a calm state of mind, is totally submissive to you and does something for you."

Here are some examples: 

When someone comes to the door: your dog must always be calm, obey the command to sit or go lay down on their dog bed and stay there until after the company leave. After the company leaves, your dog can be rewarded with a pet or scratch on the head.

Before your dog goes outside or comes inside: they must always be showing submissiveness, calmly obey your command to sit at the door and wait till you give the verbal command and/or hand signal that it is time for them to do so. (This is a wonderful technique - No more running out in front of you or trying to get into the door in front of you and/or your company.)

Before putting a leash on your dog's collar or going for a walk: your dog must always relax, calmly obey your command to sit and wait until you give the signal that you are ready to put the leash on.

Before you scratch your dog's back or give petting time: your dog must always be submissive, in a calm state of mind, and obey your command to laydown or sit for you.

Before playing a game of fetch: your sweetheart must once again be calm, obey your command to sit for you each time before you throw the fetching toy. Great patience will be enjoyed by you and your canine friend.

These loving and positive lifestyle "No Free Lunch Dogs" training strategies can be done with a dog of any age. By practicing this type of loving, assertive, discipline with your precious canine friend, you will have that dog who has a solid obedience education, is a joy to live with, responds well to all household routines, has good manners in the presence of people and other dogs, and will fully enjoy the blessings of your company and life, because you took the time to provide the proper training, intellectual stimulation, and a high quality of life for your family friend. Being loving, consistent and letting your dog know that you are the alpha, pack leader is very important. A most effective action is to take your dog on a 30 - 45 minute power walk every morning before you are leaving your house or each evening before dinner or preferably both.

We realize that everytime we give our affection to our beloved canine friends, we are reinforcing the behavior that has just preceded our affection, so naturally our sweet canine thinks that whatever they just did, they are getting a reward for, so we must make sure that we are giving our affection only when our sweethearts are being polite, submissive and obedient dogs.

We wish you the ultimate best in all your puppy and dog training adventures.