Stepping out for grey power - Carvajal Spain

24 SUR IN ENGLISH OCTOBER 2ND TO 8TH 2009
LifeStyle
Petcare
Dog obedience training
ERNY & PETER HARRISON
Over the years several owners
have asked us to train their dogs
and we have declined for a
number of reasons. The principal
one is that many owners expect
overnight magic, one week of
training and, hey presto - trained
dog! The reality is different;
training has to be continuous and
go on all through the dog’s life.
Also, we like the idea of the
owner doing the main part of the
training.
However, in recent months,
readers have asked us to write a
training programme. They have
observed our dogs and made the
comment: “You are lucky to have
such obedient dogs.” We are NOT
- there is no luck; we have worked
at it!
First of all let us establish a
few facts. We are not qualified dog
trainers, nor are we vets. Our
only claim, is that we have owned
a large number of dogs over the
years and have never owned a
badly behaved one.
We will be writing a series of
lessons over the next few months
and taking you, stage by stage,
with revision. The lessons will
be only on obedience training.
We will not touch specialist
areas such as guard dogs, these
require specific training, and
need expert input.
The best time to start training
is at nine or ten weeks of age
when the puppy has just left the
excellent training of its mother.
She has started the training, she
licks his head in praise when he
is good, she growls when he
misbehaves. Praise and scold.
This is a good pattern to follow
but be sure the praises greatly
exceed the scolds. Remember
dogs LOVE to please.
This does not mean that older
dogs cannot be trained; this is far
from the truth. Even very mature
dogs can be trained well, but it
just takes longer. The trick is: “be
Firm, be Fair and be Friendly.”
Having established the three
Fs now let us move to the three
Ts: you must take the Time and
Trouble to Train. You must stick
to the programme. Continuity is
essential and if you cannot make
the time available right now, cut
out the lessons and wait until you
do have the time.
Our method is not the only one.
It would be invidious to suggest
that it is, there are a variety of
right approaches, but ours has
been tried and tested over the
Training needs
commitment over a
long period. There
arenoquickfixes
years.
We believe in five or six lessons
every day, BUT of just five
minutes’ duration. With dogs
their concentration level drops
off quickly. Even with these short
lessons make sure they end with
“fun time”. We suggest that
lessons should not begin until
after the first walk, when the
early morning bounciness has
subsided.
Before you begin, write down
eight to ten command words
which you will use and never
vary from them. You cannot
expect your dog to know that
“Here” is the same as “Come
here” or “Will you come here for
heaven’s sake.” Select one word
and stick to it.
Here are ten words we suggest:
HERE, SIT, STAY, COME (to leave
car perhaps), IN (to return to car),
HEEL (to stop tugging), LIE,
QUIET (no barking), LEAVE.
Keep the list handy and only use
those commands.
Get a good quality lead around
2.5 metres, in leather or web.
Make sure your dog has a snugly
fitting web collar. Have some
canine titbits for reward, bribery
goes a long way with dog
training!
Now armed with a load of
patience and the determination
to succeed you are ready to start
the rewarding exercises.
Legal Advice
Law firm Ilagoson answers
readers’ queries
Responsibility for a
minor’s fines
Ref. O.J.N
My son has committed a minor
offence while driving his moped,
and he has been fined. I am separated
from my wife, and the
kid lives with her. One of my
bank accounts has been impounded
because of the fine. Is this
normal?
Yes, when the offender is a minor,
his parents will answer
jointly with the child. Obviously,
we will have to check the economic
system that governs the
separation in order to know if
your ex-wife has the obligation
to contribute to the payment as
well.
Right to return unwanted
goods
Ref. J.T.I
Last month I bought a videogame
for my nephew, but he already
had the same game, so I went to
the shop in order to return it.
However, the toyshop did not accept
it, despite the fact that I had
the receipt and the wrapping was
undamaged. Are they entitled to
refuse it?
No shop is obliged to return the
money of a product unless it has
some damage. Although most of
them offer their clients the possibility
of returning the products
reimbursing the money, it
is only an extra service, as they
are not legally obliged to do so.
Whose law takes
precedence?
Ref. A.F.S
I work for a Spanish company,
but in a few weeks I will have to
go to the United States to work
for six months. Once there, which
law will be applicable to the contract?
The North American law
or the Spanish one?
Those people working for a
Spanish company, who have
signed a contract of employment
in Spain and work abroad,
will be governed by the Spanish
labour law.
Standing in moral
judgement
Ref. W.B.F
My 18-year-old daughter was insulted
by her gynaecologist for
having had sexual relationships,
and was refused a presription
for the pill. Is there any office in
Spain in charge of defending the
rights of the patients?
Yes, in some autonomous regions
there is the post of the Patients’
Defender (Ombudsman),
and different associations are
devoted to that cause. Nevertheless,
taking into account the seriousness
of the events that you
mention, you could go directly
to Court, as the patient’s right
to respect for her privacy has
been violated.
Ilagoson Lawyer’s Office is a well established and experienced legal practice,
wich is mainly specialized in the following fields:
- Civil Law: divorce and legal separation proceedings, inheritance, Title Deeds,
real state & conveyancing, purchase and rental contracts, judicial claims to
recover debts, etc.
- Tax and Commercial Law, Legal Liability and Traffic Accidents.