Modifying Dog Behavior

Dog Behavior and Training >> Modifying Dog Behavior

By providing consistent, fair and loving leadership to your dog, you will find that you will both be happier and enjoy your relationship in ways that work for everyone. Read the following information to find out how!

1. Positive Attention: Any time your dog does anything you like and want him to continue doing, (i.e., chewing on the appropriate toy, doing something cute, when your dog complies with what you ask him to do - sit, down, wait, etc.) give positive attention. Also, the moment the dog stops an unwanted behavior, give praise (i.e., leaves the cat alone, stops chewing on inappropriate item, removes feet from the table top, etc.).

2. Interrupt and Redirect: When your dog is engaged in something you don’t want him to be (chewing the wrong item, feet on the table, walking toward something inappropriate) make a short, sharp sound with your voice (i.e., Agh! or Hey! with a hand clap added if needed). This will startle your dog and you should get that deer in the headlights look. At that moment praise your dog. Sometimes this is all you need to do to get your dog to leave something alone, but your dog may return to the source of interest which means you will interrupt your dog again, praise when he stops engaging, and redirect him to do something else (i.e., give him the appropriate chew toy, have him walk toward you, have him sit, etc.). It is important for your dog to have another option; otherwise, he’ll find what you want him to leave alone to continue to be of interest.

3. Ignore: Ignore any behavior(s) you want to disappear forever (i.e., jumping on you without an invitation, demanding attention by barking at you, demanding you interact with him by pawing, leaning, bumping, placing a toy in your lap, putting his head in your lap to be petted, jumping on the furniture, jumping up toward your face, etc.). It is VERY important that you initiate all interactions with your dog. This is what a dog in charge does with other dogs. In other words, your dog is to be ignored by you until you initiate contact. This is exactly how dogs interact with one another and it is very effective in teaching your dog to respect your personal space and ultimately listen to you much more attentively.

4. Negative Attention: Giving attention to your dog in a negative way when he is doing something you don’t like (i.e., yelling at him to get off of you, repeating his name several times to get him to stop doing something, chasing him when he grabs something he’s not supposed to have so that you will interact with him, etc.) tends to be what many of us do when interacting with our dogs. However, it is a behavior that should be ELIMINATED. After all, negative attention is still attention, and your dog will take what he can get! If you replace negative attention with interrupt/redirect OR ignore, and then add in positive attention at every opportunity your dog will soon start to behave in a way that works best for both of you.

A very effective training motto for life: Say it once, give your dog two seconds to comply, and if he doesn't, immediately (and always) take action. (i.e., lure him into a sit or down [rather than repeating the command several times], walk toward him to move him away from something if he ignores your interruptive sound, ask him to sit or come to you, replace the inappropriate item with an appropriate item).

Copyright 2008 - Sacramento SPCA - Val Masters, CPDT, CDBC