CRI听力:Train Your Dog to be 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."

"Lisa" is like most dogs.

It likes to run around and have fun.

But here in China, this can be a problem, especially in this country's urban centers, where encounters between dogs and people can lead to problems.

Dog ownership in China has been going through a revival over the past 20-years, as owning a pet was once-considered a bourgeois luxury.

Given that pet ownership is relatively new in China, not many people know how to properly train a dog.
As such, dog trainers such as Gangzi are finding much more work these days.

Gangzi is training "Lisa" and other dogs through the use of a 'choak-chain.'

It's a simple device which is put around the dog's neck.

If the dog tries to run off, the chain simply tightens around the dog's neck.

While it may initially appear somewhat cruel, dog trainers have found it's one of the most effective ways of making a dog behave.

Another element to dog training is creating vocal commands.

Gangzi says training a dog to understand your voice is key to making it more obedient.

"For example, I use 'ai' as a signal. When I say 'ai', the dog knows to stay. Through using the choak-chain, I can teach the dog the command, and this way, I don't need to continue using the chain."

Dog trainers also note it's important to be consistent when training your dog.

Most dogs like to jump on their owners.

But trainers like Gangzi recommend that you discipline your dog if it does this.

Otherwise, if you give your dog praise, it's unlikely to break the habit, and will do this to people other than its owner, which can lead to problems.

In the end, Wang Yu says taking "Lisa" for training has been a good experience.

"Raising a dog is somewhat scientific. It's very important to find the right way to train them."

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.