Share your story on your most proudest accomplishement with regards to your training your dog. It could be a trick that your pooch finally got right or maybe a problem that you've been working really hard to get rid off. Also tell us how you did it and maybe what you could have done (or would like to have) done differently.

My biggest single accomplishment was getting Neka to stop pulling me during a walk. From the day she came to live with me she pulled like a steam train. I spent a lot of time reading stuff and I tryed all kinds of things that I read in the internet, but nothing worked.

Then one day it hit me. Go back to the basics ...

20 Years ago I was given a cassette / VHS set call the Hollywood Dog Training System. I dug it out of a box it was stored in and I went thru it and found the section on teaching "Heel". Within 3-4 days she was pulling very little. Within two weeks she was not pulling any more. It was all about going back to square one and doing the training LITTERALLY step by step.

Although this was "the best feeling", I must admit that everytime I get a chance to teach someone about dog care, help someone train a new behiavor or cure a problem, I feel the same sence of accomplishment!!!

When Chip died, I made him a promise that I would look after ALL dogs until we met again. Helping others gives me the feeling that I've paid something forward, and at the same time, I've given something back for all the great times I got to share with Chip.

Thats great! Still working with Junior's pulling issues here Helping other people definitely feel great because you know that you've made not only the owners life easier but the dog's too! So great job Michael!

My turn! I've got to say that I was most proudest when I taught Junior to come to me when he was running off. This used to happen when he lived in his previous owners house, he used to get out and when they called to him he wouldn't listen or would go running off. Since I lived a couple blocks away I would somtimes help look for him. I would call him, be inviting, and give him loads of praise when he got to me. So all I had to do is show up and he would come running to me without my even having to call him sometimes. When I would walk up to his previous owner's house they would say "He came to you?!?!". So ya, got to say that felt pretty darn good

Steven_L wrote:

Thats great! Still working with Junior's pulling issues here

When dealing with Neka pulling, I just put her on the leash and went out to the driveway. I made her sit next to me. When she was calm, I said "Heal" and took ONE small step (about 6 inchs) and stopped. When she stopped, I gave a verbal reward. Then another step, and so one. When she continued to walk, I stopped her and started over. Everytime we go for a walk, I still do the sit, and a few short steps to her thinking about it. I find that it sets the "tone" for each walk.

NOTE: it took two 5 minute sessions to get her to go 10 feet without pulling. But she caught on quickly once she figured out what I wanted.

when my mini schnauzer was a puppy we started teaching him to dance (he stands super well on 2 feet for a long time) ..so he would jump up on his hind legs and walk a circle as his dance, then get a treat.

he got super excited when he was super young and jumped up too hard and slipped on the kitchen floor and let out a little squeel, he hurt himself being so excited. i felt so bad for him. he was then afraid to do it again for over 6 months. he's finally going it again..phew. this time i only let him do it on carpet. it's suuuuper cute when he does it though!

Mine was when Fuffy my dog stopped going to the street whenever we went outside in the front yard to play.

Lol Steven, wanna train star to not pull either? He just won't learn! Well my mom trained him before but soon as I took over I let him pull and he got untrained and she refuses to retrain him lol!

I think the proudest accomplishment was teaching him the lick command. We had star when I was five years old so my mom did all the basic training so when I got older I wanted to teach him something so I decided him to lick on command. =]

Thats great you guys! Something that might seem easy for other people to teach is considered a big accomplishement for others. So good job on your training