| Training » Teaching Your Dog Manners |
| If your dog is constantly barking, jumps on visitors, growls at other dogs, or chews everything but his or her toys, it has not learned good manners. Like a young child, a dog needs firm, yet gentle direction to learn the behaviors we expect in society. No one likes to listen to a screaming toddler in the grocery store. Likewise, an unattended dog that starts to bark the moment his or her owner leaves the house can test even the most patient of souls. If you wouldn?t let your children climb all over a stranger, bite their playmates, or destroy your household goods, you shouldn?t allow your dog to exhibit similar behaviors. Teaching dog manners is simple, but cannot be accomplished overnight. A consistent schedule of training should be employed over the life of your pet. It is not true that an old dog can?t learn new tricks. Dogs of any age are able to learn new ways of relating to their human companions and their canine counterparts. The older dog has had more time to acquire poor habits, but through repetition and appropriate praise and reward, your dog can become a good citizen. Dogs bark to express many things: a greeting to their families, a warning against strangers, fear, and anxiety. They also love to bark with each other. It is exciting and energizing for them to express themselves by vocalizing. Excessive barking is really a dog out of control. He or she has not learned when barking becomes inappropriate. If your dog barks excessively, there is a solution. It may seem odd at first, but after a few weeks the inappropriate barking will be diminished or completely eliminated. Teach your dog to bark on command. With a treat as a reward, entice your dog to bark then reward him or her with the treat. Do this often until it comes easily to your dog. When he or she understands the command, add a new command ? ?quiet.? Hold your hand over the dog?s muzzle, say ?quiet,? and immediately reward with a treat. After several attempts, your dog will learn what being quiet means and your home will become more peaceful. Jumping on people is a really annoying habit. Most folks don?t appreciate muddy paws on their clean clothes or wet tongues slobbering over their faces, not to mention the danger jumping poses to small children who could be knocked over by an over-exuberant dog. Some people have some rather cruel methods for stopping a dog from jumping including stepping on its back toes or kneeing them in the chest. However, the best way to stop a dog from jumping is to stop the behavior before it starts. Before your guests arrive, put your dog on a leash. Have the visitors come in as usual, keep hold of the leash and, if necessary, step on the middle of it to keep your dog from jumping up. (It would be extremely helpful if your dog knew the ?sit? command.) Your guest should ignore the dog until he is under control, and then come down to the dog?s level to give a pat on the head. Your dog will learn that the desired reward, a pat or hug, will happen without jumping. Aggression toward other dogs is dangerous and needs to be stopped quickly before serious injuries occur. An aggressive dog should not be allowed around other animals without wearing a muzzle and its owner having complete control. If the aggression is severe, it will be difficult (if not impossible) to ever trust the dog around other animals. The risks are just too high. If your dog is overly aggressive, contact a good animal behaviorist for advice. Destructive behavior typically occurs when a dog is suffering from boredom or separation anxiety. Tearing up tissue paper, chewing on furniture, soiling in the house, ?stealing? clothes or other items are all signs of anxiety. The acting out happens as soon as the dog is left alone. The accepted method for resolving this issue is very time consuming but beneficial to both your dog and your possessions. Over a period of several weeks, make planned departures that initially last only a couple of minutes. Upon each return, don?t greet your dog or reward him or her in any way. This will probably be difficult as your dog will act like you?ve been gone for days every time you come in the door! Gradually increase the time spent away. Eventually, your dog will be able to stay alone for longer periods of time without incident. Teaching your dog good manners, at home and in public, will make him or her a more enjoyable companion. Imagine coming home to a quiet house ? no destruction, no neighbor complaints, happy visitors and a wagging tail. |
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