When Pigs Fly: Training Success with Impossible Dogs

Do you have an impossible dog? Does your dog come when called, heel properly when you go for a walk, and sit quietly when you ask him to? If your answer is a resounding "No!" then you may think you have an impossible dog, a "Pigs Fly" dog, one you may think can never be trained. But think again! Most kinds of dogs that people have trouble training (typically Hounds, Terriers, some Northern Breeds) actually have many characteristics that make them quite trainable - they are smart, they are good problem solvers, and they have strong drives to get what they want. If this describes your dog, then it's time to start working with your dog's nature, not against it. The key to training success with these dogs is to figure out what they find rewarding and then use those rewards to get the behavior you want. You'll be amazed at what your "bad" dog will do when you know how he thinks and what turns him on!