No Problem: Behavior Solutions that Work with Your Dog, Not Against Them

When it comes to solving common canine problems, common sense can be easily abandoned and frustration will reign. We keep trying the same things that should work, and then wonder which end of the leash has a problem.
 
This brings to mind a comment made by a man walking his dog on a choke chain. Sadly, the dog was strangling himself as he doggedly pulled on the leash. The man remarked, “I’ve been using this thing for three years. You’d think he’d learn!” Obviously the human end of the leash hadn't learned anything in this situation.
 
Commonsense solutions to common problems involve baby steps. We’ll break the training down into small steps and train each step solidly before moving on to the next. Oftentimes, this means starting from the end. For instance, if we’re trying to change the behavior of a dog with who jumps on people, we won’t start by inviting guests to our home and then expect to teach the dog to sit quietly when the doorbell rings. Instead, we’ll teach the dog to sit quietly for greetings with people already in the house and work backwards from there.
 
In this post, we’ll take a fresh look at some common problems and look at key tips for commonsense solutions.
 
Key Tips for Excessive Barking

• Determine the cause of the barking
• Put “Speak” and “Shush” on cue
• Do not yell at or punish the dog for barking
• Teach your dog what to do instead of barking

 
Key Tips for Polite Door Greetings

• Do not punish the dog for jumping up
• Teach your dog what to do instead of jumping
• Teach your dog impulse control
• Teach your dog a sit-stay
• Teach your dog that good things happen to those who wait

 
Key Tips for Training Leash Walking Skills

• Teach your dog to pay attention when asked
• Don’t pull on your dog’s leash
• Allow your dog to sniff and explore
• Teach your dog to come along when asked

 
Key Tips for Training Recall (Come when Called)

• Capture the behavior
• Make recall totally worth your dog's effort
• ALWAYS make recall a positive experience for your dog
• Resist the urge to chase your dog

 
Key Tips for Preventing and Changing Destructive Behavior

• Determine the cause of the behavior
• Train an alternative behavior
• Employ good management and common sense  

 
Key Tips for Preventing Digging

• Determine the cause of the behavior
• Employ good management
• Provide an appropriate place for digging

 
Now that I’ve given you the key tips for dealing with some common unwanted behaviors, you might be asking how to employ them? You can book a session with me for personal coaching or you can purchase my book entitled, No Problem: Behavior Solutions that Work with Your Dog, Not Against Them. It offers a fresh approach to dog training that respects your dog’s instincts and emotional needs.
 
Book a session: https://calendly.com/dog-training-coaching/60min?month=2024-11
Get the book: https://tinyurl.com/39rsy8wd
 
 
 

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