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You want to discourage your dog from certain behaviors, but you don’t know how to do it.
Yelling at your dog doesn’t feel right.
Squirting water at her will make her hate baths.
Shaking a can of pennies seems barbaric.
You can never accurately predict or understand how your dog will feel a zap, but you know shock collars, even when used “properly” are proven to cause undue stress.
But, realistically, you need to correct unwanted behaviors.
I’m saying unwanted, rather than bad behavior because dogs are never “bad.” Dogs are opportunists. They can have unbridled energy. They can be uneducated. They can be fearful. But they’re never simply “bad.”
Please remember this every time your dog is doing something unwanted, annoying, inconvenient or potentially dangerous. Your dog does not mean to be bad, because she does not know what it is to be bad. She only reacts to her feelings, instincts and environment.
And yet, I don’t blame you if you get angry at your dog. You’re only human. I’ve been there. Training with positivity means taking a deep breath and putting those inevitable angry feelings aside to think clearly and solve problems without the use of force, fear or anger.
Teach Your Dog Impulse Control
Impulse control is a key skill that every dog needs to be taught from day one – or from today, if you haven’t already been working on this. Even if you haven’t heard these words, though, you’ve probably done it in some way.
Impulse control: teaching your dog to be patient, and wait and look at you before giving in to her desires.
Door manners: Every time you open the door to let your dog out, or to go for a walk, train your dog to sit. Never allow her to dash out without sitting and looking at you. She should make eye contact and sit, (butt on the floor) before you say, “Okay!” and release her. Do this every time, and you won’t have to worry about your dog running out into the street if the gate is open, or scaring the mailman as you accept a package.
Dinner manners: After you prepare your dog’s dinner, stand by her eating area and call her. Have her sit and look at you before you set the bowl down. Have her hold the sit (pick up the bowl if she stands prematurely) and only allow her to eat once you say, “eat!”
Everything manners: Your dog should know “leave it.” Set a biscuit on the floor, near her, and do not allow her to go near it. Have her sit or lay. If she tries to get it, pick it up and have her sit again. When she’s successful, give her a tasty piece of meat. She’ll realize that waiting for your cue means she’ll get an even better snack. Practice “leave it” with toys, food, forbidden items, just about everything, and encourage her to “leave it” on walks. At first, she may only be able to “leave it” for just a few moments, gradually work your way up to longer sessions.
A good way to practice “leave it” is the game “It’s Yer Choice” – this Youtube video from trainer Cindy Briggs will show you the timing and technique. As your dog gets better at impulse control, you’ll be able to teach her that cool trick where she balances a treat on her nose – I haven’t gotten that far yet, but I’ll let you know when I do!
Keep Your Expectations Reasonable
Many unwanted behaviors occur when we fail to have reasonable expectations.
As intelligent humans, it is our job to set our dear dogs up for success.
This means keeping her in a safely enclosed area, on a leash or a long line until she has near-perfect recall.
This means not allowing her in the kitchen if she steals food off the counter – even if that means restricting her from that area or using a baby gate, possibly crating her when you’re not home. This also means keeping food, dangerous items, expensive shoes and other forbidden things out of reach at all times.
When you have unreasonable expectations, and your dog (predictably) continues to practice unwanted behaviors, it becomes more and more difficult to correct them. Avoid allowing unwanted behaviors to happen by making them impossible.
Train A Better Behavior
A big mistake many dog owners make is disrupting their dog away from a behavior, but not showing them what to do instead.
For example, your dog might bark and jump up and down every time someone knocks on your door.
If you just tell her to “stop it!” she might think you’re also barking at the door. She might eventually stop barking, but may continue to do so when you’re not home.
Visualize what your dog needs to do when you have a visitor.
A common alternative, wanted behavior is to have your dog go sit on her bed or in her crate when a visitor comes. That way, she’ll be able to assess the visitor from a safe distance while you answer the door.
Another example: your dog jumps on you when you get home.
Do not give her the attention she craves until all four paws are on the floor. Reward her by greeting her when she’s finally sitting calmly.
Tell us in the comments: what unwanted behaviors are you dealing with?
She also uses her pet copywriting business to make sure the best pet products and services get found online through catchy copy and fun, informative blog posts. She also provides product description writing services for ecommerce companies.
As a dog mom to Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her days taking long walks and practicing new tricks, and most nights trying to make the best of a very modest portion of her bed.
You'll also find her baking bread and making homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.
After 6 six years, Honey is practically perfect. But I’ve had to get creative about correcting negative behaviors in foster puppies. Especially habits that are dangerous or destructive.
I found that having a really attractive toy (preferably a noisy one) to give them once I can get their attention (I like a gentle “eh”) helps. I use the “eh” cue because I don’t want the rewarding toy to follow the chewing or other bad habit directly.
Pamela recently posted…No, My Dog DOES NOT Want To “Meet” Your Dog
Isn’t it just great to have a near-perfect dog to be so proud of? <3
Ooh, I'd love to foster someday! But I'm sure I'd fail and keep them all.
I think "eh" is what you'd call an interrupter - you're right, you definitely need to get the bad habit to stop, then you reward the stopping with that fun toy.
Ace is naturally pretty darn perfect but one thing he does do is whine for attention or if he wants anything … water, food, his bed moved to a different side of the room…
So, I haven’t really been able to stop this behavior through ignoring him because, well, I’m bad at ignoring him and he knows it! Sigh. I know I should just get up and leave the room when he whines but I usually end up giving in or I scold him and then he just wags his tail “Ha! Gotcha to look at me!”
It’s always a work in progress I guess!
Lindsay recently posted…Can You Help? Here Are My 6 Puppy Raising Questions So Far
Haha, Ace is a human trainer! When Matilda wants or needs something, she taps my shoulder or stands against me. I don’t mind, I think it’s important for dogs to have at least one slightly annoying way to communicate with us.
Great tips Lindsay – we will incorporate some of them in to our training activity. It’s so important to be consistent – just like when humans exercise or do anything else that requires behavioral change.
MattieDog recently posted…Careful, Your Dog Understands Your Moods!
Thanks for the great tips 🙂
Thanks for the great tips
Great tips! We have been working on door manners at our house.
Carleen recently posted…Supplements for Dogs with Lymphoma
We’re working with reactivity by redirecting and rewarding for good behavior.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!
Wonderful post with lots of great tips! Need to share this post with my humans! 🙂
Great advice for training – I’ll share with my doggy friends.
Pawesome Cats recently posted…Valentines Day Gift Ideas for Cat Lovers
Lots of deep breaths!
I love the tip about having the dog sit and look at you before doing something that would normally coincide with an impulsive behavior. Pets can be like young human children and get side tracked easily. Reminding them of their “instructions” by having them stop and look at you is very helpful.
Robin recently posted…Tough Decisions: The Cat’s Meow Awards
This is all such excellent advice, and advice I’m sure that a lot of people (and dogs) could benefit from. Sharing!
Great tips! Impulse control is something we definitely need to work on! Thanks for sharing!
I have got to work on the door manners along with the “leave it” rule. Bassets don’t enjoy leaving “it.” LOL!
M. K. Clinton recently posted…Why Do My Dog’s Paws Smell Like Corn Chips?
These are really great tips. Yes, you definitely have to have realistic expectations of pets. They do not possess the same kind of reasoning that we do. That’s not to say that pets aren’t intelligent – they are – they teach US a ton. But there are things we can teach them as well. 🙂
Fur Everywhere recently posted…Jewel’s Journey
Very good tips. Lately my dogs are lapsing in staying calm when we get home, we need to reinforce calm behavior & not rushing toward the door.
Love & biscuits,
Digs Luv Us and We Luv Them
I think that’s the toughest thing, because often we’re just as excited to get home to see them!
My mom’s dog has a terrible time with leave it. He almost swallowed my mom’s diamond ring!
Sweet Purrfections recently posted…Caturday Art
The it’s yer choice game and all these tips are excellent. It is hard work with Kilo as he is very opportunistic, greedy and cute. He resource and house guards. Leave it or not stealing food and not attacking anyone who comes to the front door, especially the dreaded post man are all difficult. However, he is slowly making progress. Thanks
Talent Hounds recently posted…Day 1 Mr Beefy
Aw, that sounds tough, he must be such a basket case on the inside!
Thanks for the helpful suggestions!
Beth | Daily Dog Tag recently posted…Holiday Photos with Dogs
I definitely need to work on impulse control with Rooney! Great ideas!
Thanks and good luck training!
Hi Lindsay,
Mr Sparkles our Chihuahua is now ten years old and has developed just one behavior that is annoying (otherwise he is total sweetheart). He now barks excitedly when he greets people he knows and loves/likes until they lavish him with affection. Neighbors, regular people we meet on walks and sometimes even me and my husband when we come home he lets out several high pitched yaps of joy. It only lasts for up to 30 seconds, but we would like to stop this behavior in a positive way as he is getting increasingly noisy in our otherwise very peaceful suburb. Telling him firmly to :stop barking…no barking” has no effect whatsoever. Any ideas???
Thanks for your time!
Michelle & Mr Sparkles