You love your dog, but her bad behavior is more than a little troubling. Not only does it cause your stress to go through the roof, but it might even threaten her safety and the safety of others. What can you do to say goodbye to the unwanted habits and hello to her good dog era? We’re here to share the building blocks of great dog behavior. Discover the changes you can make to see better results, from structured play to our Dallas dog training classes.
Make Use of Your Dog’s Playtime
Playing provides a great opportunity for your dog to burn some energy and bond with members of your household. It also provides an opportunity to set some boundaries and encourage better behavior. Playing is a high-reward activity for most dogs. In other words, they feel good about it, they want to do it, and they’ll pay attention when it is withheld. That means you can and should engage when your dog is exhibiting desirable behaviors and disengage when she is exhibiting undesirable behaviors.
For example, let go of a tug rope or ball and turn away from your dog if she’s jumping on you. Only resume playing when she has stopped jumping on you. With repetition, she will learn that she gets what she wants (active play time) only when she isn’t doing something inappropriate (jumping).
Don’t Forget to Work Your Dog’s Mental Muscles
You’ve probably heard that some “bad” behaviors are the result of boredom and excess energy. Chewing inappropriate items is a prime example of sensory seeking and boredom curing gone wrong. Why is your dog still acting this way even when you play hard and take long walks?
Physical energy isn’t the only thing you need to burn. Direct your dog’s attention in a positive way, make use of her instincts, and burn mental energy with things like treat puzzles, lick mats, and scent hunting. This is a great way to add some novelty and stimulation to your dog’s life and will likely tire her out more effectively than exercise alone.
Assess Your Dog’s Aggravation Scale
Some unwanted behavior is meant to be communicative. For example, your dog may growl or snap if you try to take certain toys away or approach her food. This is called resource guarding, and signals that for some reason, your dog doesn’t always feel safe and secure.
Pay close attention to what’s going on when your dog acts out. You may discover specific triggers or even warning signs of health problems. The more you understand what’s aggravating your dog, the more equipped you are to address the problem head on.
Incorporate Professional Training
Dog training is more complex than it might seem, especially when you’re working with a scared or stubborn dog. You may find that it’s helpful to learn from a professional or outsource your dog training entirely.
At All Dogs Unleashed, we’ve helped hundreds of families reach their training and behavioral goals. We offer Dallas dog training classes, at home training, and board-and-train programs to meet your unique scheduling needs. Learn more about ADU training today.