Are you finding it difficult to control your dog’s behaviour?
Is your dog driving you crazy? If so, don’t worry, you aren’t alone. We’ve all been through it. However it’s important to realize that dogs are not bad by birth. Their behaviour is influenced by the surroundings as well as their interactions with their owners. Most dogs display behaviours like gnawing on furniture, jumping on people, constantly scratching, excessive barking, etc that we don’t like them to do.
In order to make our dogs well behaved and disciplined, we need to teach them what habits are acceptable and what are not. Here are seven effective solutions that will help you in handling your dog successfully.
1. Identify the cause for your dog’s bad behaviour
Is it due to fear of other dogs, not comfortable with people, excitement or lack of attention from the owner? Watch your dog carefully. Check his body posture and what triggers the changes in that body posture.
For example, a scared dog will curl up himself into a corner or behind things and other barriers where they don’t get noticed. On the other hand, a dominant dog will look aggressive with his ears erect, tail up and a forward looking posture.
2. How to stop your dog digging or gnawing on furniture
Dogs are often blamed for digging or gnawing on furniture, shoes and books. Whenever you notice your dog displaying such behaviours, give them a harsh look and say “no” immediately. Divert his attention with a toy. Generally, dogs dig or gnaw on things simply for pleasure or out of boredom. Scolding him for his bad behaviour doesn’t work. Instead, spend quality time with your dog so that he won’t feel bored and get resorting to dig or gnaw for entertainment.
When you are away from home, apply a material like “Dog be Gone” on items that you don’t want your dog to chew on. Supply them toys that are sturdy and in diverse collection of textures. This will keep them engaged as well as keep them away from your household items while you are not at home.
3. How to stop your dog barking all the time
It is natural for dogs to bark, it is a way of expressing themselves and their needs. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons including when they want to play with you, try to get your attention, out of boredom and excitement. Normal barking is acceptable, but excessive barking disturbs you as well as your neighbours.
To identify the underlying cause, make a chart of when your dog barks, why and how long it tookfor the dog to stop barking. Once the cause is known, you win half the battle. Avoid shouting as this will only trigger him to bark more. If the dog is barking to draw your attention, use one word command “enough” to stop him barking. If he doesn’t obey then use the same command while correcting him like pulling his collar, using a spray bottle, or anything that makes your dog obey. If he obeys, reward him.
If the dog barks out of loneliness, make sure that you and your family will spend time playing with the dog.
As far as possible, don’t stay away from home for long time.
If the dog barks when the doorbell rings or someone knocks the door, flooding the dog with the barking stimulus will get him used to the noise.
If the dog barks to gain your attention, ignore him. Don’t give in to the dog’s demands.
4. How to control your dog from jumping on visitors
Jumping behaviour of dogs is their natural instinct and is a sign of domination. You might think that jumping on people is their way of showing excitement or happiness at the people and you encourage this behaviour. Well, that encouragement is actually reinforcement to the dominant behaviour. It’s like saying, “you are free to do anything.”
So when you arrive home, ignore the jumping entirely. A complete ignorance will teach the dog that something is wrong. Dogs are too sensitive to human’s reactions and this trick can have dramatic results.
However, if your dog jumps on other people like your friend or family, inform them before hand not to pay attention to the dog when they enter the house. If your dog is approaching your friend, block his way by standing between them.
5. How to control your dog when it doesn’t turn up when called
Show affection to your dog when she comes to you, whether called or not. That teaches him that coming to you is rewarding. If she doesn’t turn up, don’t chase her. Instead, call him again. Still, if he refuses to come, tell him to sit and go get him. Running away from him may motivate him to come after you.
6. Begging
Avoid offering your dog food from the table. If you stop giving him table scraps, he will stop begging. Put him out of sight while you eat. Or train him to go to a particular place while you eat.
7. Stay calm
Be cool when your dog displays bad behaviours. Don’t lose patience and break away from the constant corrections. Every dog can be disciplined but it takes little time.
Brianne Walter is a freelance journalist who has been writing about mobile technology, customer relationship management and women’s health for more than a decade. These days she is busy to contributes on getamplify
