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Pet Article
PET BEHAVIOR
Objectionable pet behavior is the No. 1 reason people can have unsatisfactory
relationships with their dogs. More dogs die as a result of behavior problems
than all preventable medical problems combined. Frustrated owners simply give up,
and their untrained dogs often end up in animal shelters with uncertain fates.
Part of the problem lies in miscommunication. It's easier than you think to teach
your dog the wrong thing. Well meaning pet owners do it all the time. We've all seen
owners yell for a dog to come as the dog blissfully ignores the command,
madly chasing squirrels instead. When finally the dog does obey and comes, the frustrated owner
may pop the dog on the nose and yell at it some more. The message? Would you go to
somebody who might hit and yell at you? Consistent training and positive
reinforcement with treats and praise work a lot better to enforce the right
message.
Teaching a dog proper behavior means knowing how to correct him when he does
something inappropriate. There are both good and bad ways to correct a pet. Pet owners
should avoid spanking, kicking, "rubbing his nose in it," or yelling at a dog. Besides rarely
communicating the message the pet owner intends, this type of correction can cause even more
behavior problems.
If you spank a dog for going to the bathroom inside, the message is, 'don't do
it when I'm looking. By rubbing his nose in it, the dog thinks, 'you want me to eat my own
feces?' That can cause coprophagia [eating feces].
Good corrections interrupt the undesirable behavior, then give a positive command,
such as "sit." When the dog doesn't 'sit,' ignore her and walk away. Try again after two or
three minutes of isolation. When she does it right, praise her.
Appropriate interruptions can include water spray, a collar correction, and use
of a head halter. Many pet owners find that water in a spray bottle is an effective
way to distract a barking or jumping dog, so that you can reward the
opposite being quiet. Sometimes pet owners will look to prong collars or choke
collars for help in controlling behavior problems. Remember that these collars
are not a substitute for putting in the time needed for obedience training and
that they can prove to be very dangerous.
Collar corrections, especially choke chains, are overdone and misused by almost
every pet owner. Used properly, a choke chain is meant to make a noisy 'pop,' not to
jerk the dog around by his neck. These collars can easily damage a dog's neck,
or asphyxiate and even kill a dog. If you want to try a correction collar, make sure you
learn how to use it correctly.
Head halters that go around a dog's muzzle and just behind the ears are a great
alternative to the traditional neck collar, or prong collars, since they avoid
putting pressure on the vertebrae of the neck, the thyroid, and trachea. They
work by putting pressure on the muzzle and scruff two areas to which a dog is
naturally responsive. The collar also pulls the dog's entire head around so that
when she pulls, she looks back toward the walker. Dogs may struggle with the
head halter for the first ten minutes, but after that they don't seem to notice
it and are usually much more obedient.
A common history in dogs with behavior problems is that they are not walked
regularly. Pet owners may have difficulty walking a dog that pulls, so walks become
less and less frequent. A dog that is not exercised regularly will find other,
often destructive ways to vent their energy. That's why teaching your dog to
walk calmly on a leash is so important. If a dog pulls on the leash, change
directions suddenly. Whoever determines the direction has leadership. The idea is
to interrupt the bad behavior and praise the good.
Learning to communicate with your dog is complicated. But when it comes to dogs,
a little patience and consistent training will earn you years of enjoyment. Talk
to your veterinarian or enroll in a local training class to master the
communication tools you need to make the most of your relationship with your dog.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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