Train your dog to be more polite

Gangzi trains Wangyu's dog Lisa at a dog training center. [Photo: screen shot from cntv.cn]

The past Spring Festival holiday is a good opportunity for dog owners to stay with their pets. Though dogs are man's best friend, some are always naughty and out of control. So a new trend comes along as owners take their dog to training center to make them more polite.

"My dog likes dragging me here and there, picking up anything she can eat and throwing herself on anyone she meets. This really bothers me, " said Wang Yu, owner of a female dog Lisa.

Dogs like dragging their owners. It's their nature. But for those strong ones, dragging bothers their owners as they can even pull them down. And if they untie the dog, their pet may bother the neighbors and cause safety problems.

To change his dog's bad behavior, Wang Yu takes Lisa to a training center.

Gangzi, a trainee at the center, introduces a special dog chain to him. The chain ties a noose round dog's neck. Once the dog drags, it will feel tightened at the neck.

Another way is to set up vocal signals to dogs.

"For example, I set up 'ai' as a signal to the dog. Once he heard I say 'ai', it will know it must stop dragging. I don't need to punish it."

After half an hour training, Lisa and another two dogs have learned this skill.

Gangzi also says it is important to set up right signals to dogs. If a dog throws itself to you and you try to calm it down by stroking it. It is a wrong signal. The dog will mistakenly believe that you like it throwing itself on you, so you stroke it. The right way is not to respond. After the dog calms down, then stroke it as a reward.

Many dog owners praise the training as very effective.

"Raising a dog also needs scientific knowledge. It's crucial to find the right way to train them."