Does your dog have some bad behavior that they need help to get rid of?As much as we love them, they’re not always fine, so it’s extremely important that they get well educated.
Dogs can act out for a variety of reasons including incoherent training and stressful situations. It’s not uncommon for pet parents to unconsciously reinforce bad behavior! Here are a few that you can change:
It is vital that your pet is taught not to eat something off the table. Chicken bones, chocolate, and other things are potentially dangerous to your animals. “I’m usually pretty good at keeping human food out of reach from my Yorkies, but sometimes I have guests dropping food on the floor or forgetting to push in their chair and there’s Mimi & Lexi-paws on the table like they’re ready for a feast,” says Mariella Agobjian, the pet parent. Learn to ‘leave it’ to your pet, ‘drop it’ and ‘off.’ Build value in these commands by rewarding them during training sessions, so in a state of panic, your pet will choose to leave, drop, or get off the table because they know you’re going to reward them handsomely.
BEGGING
Do not give in to the guilt when your furry friend looks at you with sad eyes in hopes that you will spare an extra piece of food! You might think it is not a big deal to let your pet have a treat from the table every once in a while, but if you don’t set the standard that begging is not allowed from the beginning and stick with it, you’ll be dealing with a begging dog for years to come. It’s also important to keep your pet on a balanced diet for their health and longevity. Consult your veterinarian to find out which diet is right for your dog.
JUMPING
Imagine guests walking through your front door, only to have your 130 pound Great Dane jump up and knock them over. Or picture your super athletic Jack Russell making a mad dash for the treats you have in your hand. Jumping can be a sign of love and excitement or the result of inconsistent training. As with all training, it is best to start when the dog is a puppy. Teach the dog to sit, stand, or lie while trying to run. Or ignore the dog until he settles down and has all four paws on the concrete. This good behavior is automatically celebrated and rewarded. Recall that good discipline and constructive reinforcement can result in a well-behaved dog.
