Dogs of all ages can come with behavior issues or have them start overnight. When your dog is misbehaving, it can be frustrating and you may not know how to get them to make a shift in their attitude.
Here are 7 tricks we use at Patrick’s Pet Care to adjust a dog’s behavior.
Ignore Bad Behavior
Like we mentioned above, dogs don’t always understand when they are disciplined for doing something. Next time, when they do something bad, ignore them. Don’t react negatively or positively.
Positive Reinforcement
Never underestimate the power of positive reinforcement. Dogs don’t always react well to being disciplined when they do something bad. However, they generally react really well to being rewarded for doing something good. Take potty training: if your dog consistently goes inside the house, make a huge deal out of any time they go outside. This will encourage them to always go outside.
Set Boundaries
Set rules and boundaries and make sure everyone involved with the dog understands them. It will be confusing for your dog if he is allowed to sit on the couch at Aunt Jane’s house, but can’t sit on the couch at home. Land on a set of rules and stay consistent in enforcing them across locations and with all the members of your family.
Exercise
Some dogs require more exercise than others. These dogs are the ones that start to go stir crazy if they are inside all day and will take it out on the furniture, the rugs, and everything they aren’t supposed to be touching. Make sure your dog is getting adequate exercise each day.
Crate Training
When your dog is young, crate training can be a very impactful technique to teach your dog how to hold their bladder overnight and how to sleep on their own. Some people may think it is harsh, but it’s not. Much like a child’s room, your dog will think of their crate as their special place that makes them feel safe. Keep them in the crate when you leave the house to avoid destruction out of boredom.
Boredom Busting Toys
Most people don’t realize that one of the main reasons dogs chew on things they aren’t supposed to or get destructive is because they are bored. Prevent this behavior by getting boredom busting toys, toys that make them work for treats, for them to play with. Kong has several different options that require time and energy, keeping your dog busy, mentally stimulated, and less prone to boredom.
Professional Training
A tried and true method to change a dog’s behavior is to attend training classes. These classes help both you and the dog learn proper commands and get on the same page. At Patrick’s Pet Care, we have a variety of training options for dogs in Washington D.C., to meet all your training needs.
This is not an all-inclusive list of techniques for a misbehaving dog but hopefully gives you a few new ideas if you are dealing with a dog that has a new or existing attitude issue. If you live in Washington D.C. and need additional ideas or want to learn more about our training programs, contact us today!
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