Things We Do That Train Our Dog to Misbehave

Neglect: Many dogs are acquired, then forgotten in the back yard for six or seven months, and the owner is dismayed when the dog doesn’t behave well when finally allowed to have contact with people. Owners don’t see anything strange about their expectations, yet such neglect is comparable to leaving a child in a room by itself without any outside control or socialization until it is seven or eight years old. Certainly we would not expect such a child to be well-mannered or especially pleasant to be around; yet people routinely expect dogs that emerge from the same kind of isolation to be not only tolerable, but also responsive to the owners’ desires. You should never banish your dog to its pen for extended periods of time as punishment. It is unlikely to make the connection between its transgression and your punishment, and even less likely to recognize your wishes from the confines of its pen.

Laughter: Dogs don’t understand when their owners laugh at them. For your dog, laughter implies approval. If your dog is behaving in a manner that you don’t wish to encourage, don’t laugh at it, no matter how comical its expression or antics might appear at the time.

Hitting your dog: Like shouting, physical force is another display of human emotion that doesn’t accomplish much with a dog. Improperly applied, physical force turns your interaction with your dog into a contest of wills of which the outcome is uncertain. In addition, a dog’s instinctive method of establishing dominance over other dogs is through physical contests of strength. A dog’s instinctive reaction to physical abuse is to fight back, and your dog, if it is a medium or large breed, could easily crush your hand in its jaws.

Plan ahead, and make arrangements for professional obedience training now. You can have private lessons in your home. All dogs need obedience training, and the lessons will be an enjoyable experience for both you and your pet.