The Dog Behavior Problem Solver, Revised Second Edition E-Book

Teoti Anderson

• Herausgeber: CompanionHouse Books
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Seitenzahl: 427

Beschreibung

Life with a dog can bring companionship, fun, and joy. Life with a badly behaved dog can bring frustration and heartbreak. Dog behavior problems are often cited as the main reason for owners' abandoning their pets to shelters and surrendering them to rescues, but many of a dog's problems can be resolved by a caring and responsible owner who's willing to devote a little time to positive dog training. In The Dog Behavior Problem Solver, Revised Second Edition,seasoned trainer Teoti Anderson shares her knowledge and experience with dog owners, offering insight into why dogs do what they do while showing owners how to implement cruelty-free, reward-based training with their dogs in clear, easy-to-follow steps. This newly updated edition provides additional information to step-by-step training exercises and problem behavior techniques, new advice referencing recent position statements from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior regarding puppy socialization and positive training, and a new training section on Name Recognition/Response.

Leseprobe

The Dog Behavior Problem Solver, Revised Second Edition

CompanionHouse Books™ is an imprint Fox Chapel Publishing.

Project Team

Editors: Sarah Bloxham, Jeremy Harwood, Amy Deputato

Copy Editors: Madeline DeLuca, Joann Woy

Designer: Mary Ann Kahn

Indexer: Elizabeth Walker

Copyright © 2023 by Teoti Anderson and Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Fox Chapel Publishing, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in an acknowledged review.

Print ISBN 978-1-62187-223-8eISBN 978-1-63741-278-7

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023937833

This book has been published with the intent to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter within. While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the author and publisher expressly disclaim any responsibility for any errors, omissions, or adverse effects arising from the use or application of the information contained herein. The techniques and suggestions are used at the reader’s discretion and are not to be considered a substitute for veterinary care. If you suspect a medical problem, consult your veterinarian.

Fox Chapel Publishing

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Mount Joy, PA 17552

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry [email protected].

CONTENTS

PART I: A Look at Behavior and Training

  1. What Is Problem Behavior, and What Causes It?

  2. Training Philosophy and Methods

PART II: Common Behavior Problems and Solutions

  3. Aggression

  4. Barking

  5. Begging

  6. Carsickness

  7. Chasing/Herding

  8. Chewing

  9. Digging

10. Escaping

11. Food Stealing

12. Humping/Mounting

13. Ignoring Cues/Forgetting Training

14. Leash Pulling

15. Jumping Up

16. Mouthing/Nipping

17. Phobias and Fears

18. Potty Problems

19. Separation Anxiety

20. Shyness

21. Whining

Resources

Glossary

Acknowledgments

Photo Credits

About the Author

Part I

A LOOK AT BEHAVIOR AND TRAINING

Trust between owner and dog is an all-important essential.

You do NOT remember signing up for this. You distinctly remember the original dream. You wanted to add a dog to your family. You wanted a furry friend to love you no matter what. You wanted a sweet, loving companion—smart, friendly, and well-behaved enough to take anywhere. It was supposed to be perfect. It was going to be fun. It probably started out that way. But somewhere along the way, your dream of the perfect pet faded. You’re waking up to the fact your dog has some problems. And now you’re getting worried.

What happened? You know other people who have dogs like yours, and their dogs seem just fine. Your coworkers often laughingly share stories about their dogs’ funny antics. You have relatives who brag about their dogs’ accomplishments. Maybe you’ve had dogs before who were so easy to live with. Why did this dog turn out differently? How did living with an adorable, beautiful dog turn into such a hassle? Is your dog just … broken? More importantly, can you fix him?

You’re not alone, even though it surely feels like it sometimes. Please don’t despair. You already made the decision to help your dog, and that’s a positive step!

Dog Differences

Any time you bring a different species into your home, you’re going to encounter challenges. You see the world very differently from the way your canine friend does. You certainly have different distractions. You have better sight, he has better senses of smell and hearing. The way you perceive the world around you affects your actions in it. For example, you might be distracted by the sight of a friend in the distance, while your dog becomes obsessed with the scent of a steak grilling two blocks away.

You process information differently as well. People primarily communicate verbally, while dogs are much more adept at reading and signaling through body language. Humans are capable of saying one thing while meaning another, while dogs are unfailingly honest creatures. You always know where you stand with a dog. People, not so much. Is there any wonder miscommunication occurs?

You have different priorities. You may be obsessing over a business deadline while your dog lives for you tossing him a tennis ball. Dogs also have different skill sets than we do … skills that involve chewing, pulling, jumping, digging, and other behaviors. We adore dogs for what they are while at the same time getting annoyed at what they do. Sometimes problem behaviors are minor. Sometimes they are quite serious.

Studies have shown that behavioral problems are a top reason why people relinquish their dogs to shelters and other rescue organizations. Common problems cited include aggression toward people and other pets, a tendency to escape, destructiveness indoors and outdoors, hyperactivity, house soiling, and disobedience. This doesn’t mean that all shelter dogs have problems. Far from the case! There are other reasons for relinquishment, such as people moving and unable or unwilling to take a dog with them, divorces, deaths in the family, lack of money to care for a dog adequately, and more. But behavioral problems frequently top the list.

Some people get in over their heads with a dog who has problem behaviors. Sometimes, a dog’s problem is much more than his owner bargained for, while other times people make the mistake of not doing their research before bringing a dog into the home. Whatever the motive, the fact that behavioral reasons are a prime reason for relinquishment should tell you that problem behaviors are fairly common with our canine friends. Don’t be fooled by all those perfect dog stories you compare your dog to … it may be that you just hear the nice Fido stories and not the naughty ones!

Smell is your dog’s most powerful sense.

Dogs and laptops don’t always mix.

Just because your dog has a problem behavior does not make him “defective.” Each and every dog has a unique personality and individual characteristics all of his own. He’s one of a kind. Your dog just happens to have some problem issues you need to address. It also doesn’t mean that you’re crazy for loving him. He may pose challenges, but he’s still the fluffy bundle of joy you brought home. There was a reason why you chose this dog. There was something about his spirit … his eyes … the way he interacted with you … that spoke to your heart. He’s taken up residence there now, even though he does try your patience.

So what do you do about it? Take positive steps to figure out what is contributing to your dog’s behavior and how to address his specific issues.

With time, patience, and training, you can have a well-behaved dog.

Chapter 1

What Is Problem Behavior and What Causes It?

Having a dog with behavior problems is very frustrating. When your dog does something you don’t like, it’s easy to take it personally. Doesn’t he love you? Doesn’t he realize how good he has it? Both are typical human responses. Dogs see things differently. Your dog probably doesn’t see his behavior as a problem at all. Many of the things that annoy people about dogs, such as jumping, digging, growling, and chewing, are very typical examples of canine behavior. This doesn’t mean you have to put up with such behavior, but in order to fix any problems you need to understand that you and your dog may have different definitions of what a problem is. Heck, people don’t always agree on what is a problem and what is not!

For example, you have a strict policy of no dogs on the furniture. Your cousin lets her dogs up on every piece of furniture in her house. You don’t want your dog to jump up on you. Your cousin encourages her dog to jump up on her all the time. Which of you is correct? You both are!

Many canine behaviors are only problems if they bother you. The rules you have in your home can be completely different from those in someone else’s home. That’s completely OK.

A dog on your couch is only a problem if you don’t want him to be there!

When Behavior Becomes a Problem

Behavior becomes a problem when it annoys you, your family members, friends, or the neighbors. It’s a problem if your dog is destructive. If a behavior is unhealthy or dangerous to the dog, other people, or other animals, then it is definitely a problem behavior. Aggression, for example, is a serious problem behavior. It puts people or other animals at risk. It’s also a risk to the dog who is aggressive because it could mean euthanasia if it can’t be resolved.

If you are struggling with problem behaviors, there is one important thing to understand right away. The problem is not likely to go away on its own. You can’t ignore it and hope the dog outgrows it. Please don’t make excuses for your dog, either. It’s one thing to try to understand why your dog behaves the way he does and another thing to find excuses for his behavior. Saying “Oh, he growls over his food because he was a stray” isn’t going to calm down anyone the dog bites.

Postponing treating the problem will just make it worse. The more a dog practices a behavior, the more ingrained it becomes, until it becomes a habit or your dog’s preferred response to a situation. Ingrained behaviors are harder to fix.

A growling puppy can grow up to be an adult dog who bites. A dog who starts to dig will just learn to dig more or bigger holes. Unruly dogs will not magically turn into perfect ladies and gentlemen overnight. Luckily for you, you’re not ignoring a problem, or you wouldn’t be reading this book! You’ve already taken a positive step in the right direction.

Aggression behavior is always a problem, but it can often be helped with positive training.

Digging holes is a habit that can easily turn into a problem if left unchecked.

Why Problems Arise

Choosing to share your life with a dog means you’re bound to encounter a problem sooner or later. Maybe your dog won’t stop barking, pees in the house, drags you down the street, or won’t let you take a bone away from him. Maybe he runs away from home or hides when you try and groom him. Why?

There are many reasons why problem behaviors arise. Some are inherent simply because dogs are a different species to us. Dogs love to follow their noses, even if it means dragging their human along with them in the quest to find the source of the scent. They dig holes. They are born to chew on things. They also have to pee and poo, and they don’t understand why you don’t want them to do either in the house. We bring dogs into our lives and expect them to live by our rules, but we’re not always very good at explaining the rules to them in terms they can understand.

Watch Your Dog’s Body Language: It Hurts!

Have you noticed that when petting your dog, he tenses when you reach a certain spot? Maybe he looks away or starts licking his lips? Or, he’s panting and when you reach a specific spot, he stops panting and closes his mouth tight shut? Once you move on from that spot, he relaxes again.

Do you have an older dog who used to love your younger dog, but recently has started lifting his lip when the younger dog gets near to him? Are you starting to see squabbles when they used to be best pals? These and similar situations call for a veterinarian visit. Your dog may be getting stressed or aggressive because he’s in pain.

With some dogs, it’s easy to tell when they are hurting. Others may be more subtle with their signals. You may have to play detective to find out what’s really going on. Your veterinarian can help you rule out any physical issues that may be causing a problem.

Physical Problems

Having a “problem dog” can be disheartening and frustrating. You brought a dog home to be a pet, not a problem! Where did things go wrong? Why did your dog develop problems in the first place?

Many owners mistakenly put down changes in behavior to simple stubbornness. For example, your dog normally loves walking in the neighborhood, but one day, near the end of your walk, he balks and refuses to budge. This soon turns into a habit. Walks start out great, but after a while your dog just stops and won’t go any farther. Before assuming your dog is just being defiant or stubborn, it’s time for a veterinary examination.

If there is a physical reason for your dog’s behavior, then trying to get him to modify it will not be practical until the physical problem is treated. Fixing that may resolve the behavior altogether. This is why many modern trainers will suggest you take your dog to a veterinarian for a physical exam before starting a training program. Unexpected changes in behavior, especially, are a red flag for physical issues. If your dog suddenly develops a behavior problem, your first move should be to take him to a veterinarian to rule out any physical cause. For example, if your dog has been housetrained for a long time and suddenly starts peeing in the house, he could have a urinary tract infection or other related illness.

An older dog may find it harder to get around if his joints are painful.

An X-ray will be able to confirm the presence of painful bone disorders such as hip dysplasia or arthritis

Medical Problems

That’s by no means all. For instance, your dog could be developing an orthopedic problem, such as hip dysplasia. This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that is both crippling and painful. (It’s also a common genetic disease in many breeds, including Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Shih Tzus, and Golden Retrievers.)

While hip dysplasia usually affects older dogs, it can occur in very young dogs as well. Like other orthopedic and joint diseases, it can cause a dog to limit his activity. So can a pulled muscle or a torn muscle or ligament. If your dog stops wanting to jump in the car or on the bed, or he refuses to climb up and down stairs, there may well be a physical issue at the root of the problem. It’s not defiance at all—it’s pain.

When a dog is in pain, he can be withdrawn or even aggressive. For example, the little dog who snaps when you pick her up may have arthritis. The dog who is normally social and friendly might snap at the veterinarian who examines his ear to treat an ear infection.

Chronic Conditions

Other diseases, such as diabetes, can also impact on behavior. A diabetic dog can get very thirsty and will naturally drink a lot of water as a result. This may cause him to pee more frequently. If he can’t get outside in time, he may pee in the house. Arthritis or other painful joint conditions may lead a dog to pee and poo in the house as well. It’s just too hard and painful for him to get outdoors.

Deafness

Deafness can be a problem, too. As a dog ages, he may lose his hearing, so he can’t hear you when you call him or give him other spoken cues. He’s not being stubborn, he’s simply deaf.

Cowering and holding the ears stiffly with the tail down are common body-language signals that a dog is scared.

Lack of Training

Many problem behaviors are simply due to lack of training. If you’ve never taught your dog, then he doesn’t know what you expect from him. You also have to instruct him in terms he can understand.

Remember, dogs aren’t born automatically understanding your language. Yelling at your dog to “Come HERE!” isn’t going to mean anything to him unless you’ve trained him to come when you say those words. Shouting “Sit, sit, sit, SIT! SIT!” over and over again doesn’t teach your dog how to sit.

Dogs learn body language before they learn verbal language. This is why it’s normally easier to teach a dog hand signals than verbal signals. Dogs just understand them more quickly. This doesn’t mean you should only communicate to your dog using hand signals (although if your dog is deaf, this makes perfect sense). It just means you will need to be more patient with your dog as he learns to catch on to your verbal cues. Just saying a word doesn’t communicate what it means to your dog. You need to teach him what words mean.

Dogs don’t know automatically how you expect them to behave. You have to teach them this, too. For example, it’s normal for a dog to follow his nose. Sometimes that might mean following a nose right up on top of the kitchen counter if there’s food on it. Your dog doesn’t realize the kitchen counter is off limits unless you teach him that it is. A dog will bolt out the door, happy just to get outside. He doesn’t know he should wait at doorways unless you teach him. Puppies are notorious for putting everything in their mouths. They don’t know what’s appropriate to chew on and what’s not until you teach them.

You do not have to use physical punishment to get your dog to learn.

Positive Training

You may have very clear ideas about what your dog should and shouldn’t do, but you need to communicate those expectations to your dog in terms he can understand. You can absolutely do that with positive training.

Every teacher also has to adapt to his student if he wants to communicate effectively. Can you imagine being taught how to drive by an instructor who didn’t understand or speak your language? How would you ask him questions when you were confused? How would you know if you were getting something right or wrong? Would you be nervous about driving in a city rush hour under this teacher’s guidance? It would be very frustrating, and you would learn at a really slow pace, if at all.

You can’t speak dog. But you can learn how to understand your dog better so you can communicate with him more effectively. This will make you a better trainer and give you a better chance of teaching your dog what standards of behavior you expect from him.

This may sound like having a dog involves a lot of training. It does! If you want your dog to be a good family companion, training is important. And for a dog who has problem behaviors, training is critical. Positive training can help resolve them.

Lack of Proper Socialization

During puppyhood, from birth to anywhere about 12 weeks, puppies form their view of the world. The experiences they have during this time will impact on them for a lifetime. But what about safety? Has someone told you that you should wait until your puppy has had all his shots before you take him anywhere? Sadly, this information is outdated and dangerous in terms of behavioral development. If you wait until your puppy has completed his shots, usually around 16 weeks, you’re too late to socialize him properly. His window of socialization learning is already closed. You can socialize your young puppy safely by cleaning his paws after outings and avoiding areas where other dogs have been.

The late Dr. R. K. Anderson, DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Medicine and Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, was a strong proponent of early puppy education. He stated “breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks. Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life—the first 7−8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years.”

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) agrees. In its Canine and Feline Behavior Guidelines, it states, “There is no medical reason to delay puppy and kitten classes or social exposure until the vaccination series is completed as long as exposure to sick animals is prohibited, basic hygiene is practiced, and diets are high quality. The risks attendant with missing social exposure far exceed any disease risk.”

The guidelines indicate that if puppies between 5 to 12 weeks do not get proper exposure, they can develop fear of humans and other species. What if you didn’t get your dog as a puppy, so you have no idea what happened during his critical socialization period? Or what if you didn’t realize how important the critical socialization period was, and you missed this window of opportunity? A lack of proper socialization can cause problem behaviors, especially fear and aggression.

For example, a puppy who doesn’t have positive experiences with children during his socialization period may be fearful of children when he meets them as an adult dog. He may growl or snap at them because he is afraid of them. A puppy who never leaves the house or only goes out to visit the veterinarian’s office may be fearful as an adult of strange environments. A puppy who isn’t properly socialized with other dogs may growl and lunge on leash at them as an adolescent dog. Puppyhood is a vital formative time. If your dog didn’t get the benefit of proper socialization, it could be the prime reason for the problems you’re seeing now.

Understanding your dog will make training so much easier.

Owner Miscommunication

Many folks think they are good communicators. It’s often the case, however, that while your directions would be clear to another person, they’re easily misunderstood by your dog.

For example, Roman the Bull Terrier loves to jump on his owner, Dan. Dan yells at Roman when he does this and pushes him off. Dan thinks he’s being very clear: “Roman, don’t jump on me!” Roman keeps jumping up, though. Why doesn’t he understand what Dan wants?

One possible reason is that Roman likes attention, even if Dan is yelling. Roman also loves it when Dan pushes him. It’s like enthusiastic petting to him. It’s fun! So Roman bounces off Dan, thinking it’s a great game. Dan meant to teach his dog not to jump up. What he actually taught Roman was to jump up more often. Bounce! Bounce! Bounce! What started as a minor behavioral problem is now a major one.

Some people also tend to mix and match words, intending them to have the same meaning. This can be very confusing to a dog. If you say, “Get down!” a couple of times when your dog jumps up on you but “Off!” at other times, this is not consistent communication. Remember, dogs don’t understand verbal language unless you teach them. Have you taught him that both “Get down” and “Off” mean the same thing? What if you then also expect him to lie down when you say “Down?” What’s the difference to your dog between “Down” and “Get Down”? Are you confused yet? So is your dog!

An adult dog will be more likely to enjoy children if positively introduced to them as a puppy.

Puppy Options: The Power of Proper Socialization

Socialization is not just making sure your puppy has a lot of different experiences. It is ensuring that your puppy has a lot of different, positive experiences. If he meets people who scare him, or things happen to him that he perceives as frightening, he could be fearful of similar people and situations as an adult. You can socialize your young puppy safely by cleaning his paws after outings and avoiding areas where other dogs have been.

Also note that socialization doesn’t just stop at 12 weeks. Even though the critical socialization window closes at about that time, if you stop socializing your puppy altogether he may have difficulty retaining the benefits into adulthood. Socialization is a continuing process, especially with some dogs who are prone to being fearful or shy.

It is true that some dogs have lousy childhoods and still end up saints. They are the lucky ones! The great debate over nature versus nurture is never ending; no one really knows why some dogs with rough starts thrive while others falter. Your best bet for the future of your puppy is to make the most of the socialization period while you can to best influence his adulthood.

If you encourage your dog to jump up in play, you may have trouble controlling this behavior in other situations.

Inconsistent Direction

Inconsistent behavior occurs when there is inconsistent direction. For example, you have a dog who doesn’t come to anyone consistently when he is called. It turns out that when you want your dog to come to you, you say, “Come here!” Your spouse uses “Come!” Your oldest son uses “Get over here,” and your daughter uses “C’mere!” To top it off, every time family members want your dog to do this one action, they use a different term for it. This is very confusing for people, let alone a dog. It results in a dog who doesn’t come consistently when he’s called because he’s called differently each time.

If you or your family are using inconsistent cues, your dog’s problem behaviors may be due to confusion. At a minimum, inconsistent communication is going to make problems harder to solve.

Vague Communication

A classic example of vague communication is the common use of the word “No!” If your dog steals your socks, you yell, “No!” You intend “No” to mean “Don’t steal my socks.” But he might interpret your “No” to mean don’t chew the sock or don’t lie down with the sock on the couch. So he still steals your Worse, he brings you a sock and your sharp “No!” could teach him not to bring you a sock. So he will still go on stealing your socks, but now he’ll hide them. “No” can certainly indicate to your dog that you’re displeased, but it’s not very specific. It doesn’t tell him what you want him to do instead.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever say “No” to your dog. If you haven’t trained your dog and he’s doing something wrong—and definitely if he’s doing something that can hurt him or someone else—go ahead and use “No.” Just be aware that it’s not the best way of communicating. For example, if you teach your dog to sit, you could cue “Sit” to prevent him from jumping up on the kitchen counter. If you teach your dog to leave things alone, you could cue “Leave it!” when he’s headed for your socks, and he would understand he’s to leave them alone. “No” is just vague—it isn’t instructional communication.

Unpredictability

Another example of miscommunication is when you reward your dog for performing behaviors sometimes but not others. For example, when Linda plays fetch with her terrier mix, Fritz, he barks until Linda throws the ball. He barks and Linda tosses the ball. Linda is paying him for barking with the reward of chasing the ball. Fritz starts barking for other things—his food, his leash, and Linda’s attention, for example. Linda yells at him for this. Well, she’s already taught Fritz that barking is a good thing. She’s been paying him for it. He doesn’t understand why he gets paid sometimes for barking and not for other behaviors.

It’s simple. Linda accidentally has miscommunicated to her dog that she likes a certain type of behavior. He doesn’t understand it’s only appreciated within a specific context. If you reward behavior sometimes but not others, the unpredictability can only make behavior get worse.

There are a lot of other ways that people can miscommunicate their expectations to their dogs. Until everyone in the family gets on the same page and starts communicating consistently, problem behaviors will not go away.

Unrealistic Expectations

Do you have realistic expectations based on your dog’s species, age, and breed (or breed combination)? If not, this can often lead to problem behaviors. Here are some common examples of unrealistic expectations:

• An 8-week-old puppy can hold his bladder and bowels all night without a potty break.

• A 4-month-old puppy can hold his bladder and bowels during a typical eight-hour workday without a potty break.

• Dogs should be able to tolerate any behavior from children, including when kids climb on them, pull their ears or tail, or hold their heads and stare into their eyes.

• Dogs should know not to chew on certain things, like couches, cabinets, children’s toys, shoes, etc.

• Dogs who have taken a training class on leash should always come when called off leash.

• Dogs should always do what they’re told no matter what’s going on around them.

• Shy dogs will get over their fears just given time.

• A dog should just work for you for praise—that’s all the motivation he should need in order to comply.

Do you get frustrated when your Retriever puts everything in his mouth? Or your Border Collie chases your children? Or when your Boxer has so much energy you think he’s nuclear? These are breed-specific traits. You may or may not want to do the things your dog was bred to do, but that won’t shut off his DNA. If you have a mixed-breed dog, he will share a combination of breed traits.

Make sure your dog knows that stealing socks is not a game.

For some dogs, play can be even more rewarding than treats.

Having unrealistic expectations can make inherent problem behaviors worse because your dog can’t live up to them. Before you start any training plan, make sure you fully understand what your dog should be able to do. If necessary, talk to a professional trainer or your veterinarian to be sure you are setting realistic goals. Take a look at the more realistic picture of these expectations:

An 8-week-old puppy can hold his bladder and bowels all night without a potty break.

A normal puppy this young will need to pee and poo at least once, maybe twice, during the night.

A 4-month-old puppy can hold his bladder and bowels during a typical 8-hour workday without a potty break.

A normal puppy this young will need at least one break mid-day for a potty break. In general, you take a puppy’s age in months and add one to determine the amount of hours he can hold it when confined. So four months plus one is five. That’s the maximum time he can spend in confinement until he needs to potty.

Dogs should be able to tolerate any behavior from children, including when kids climb on them, pull their ears or tail, or hold their heads and stare into their eyes.

While some dogs do tolerate these types of behaviors, and some even enjoy it, not all dogs do. Dogs are not jungle gyms or horses. They should not be ridden or climbed on. It is cruel to pull a dog’s ears or tail. Holding a dog’s head still and staring into his eyes is also an extremely assertive gesture in canine language and could be interpreted as a threat. That’s why children get bitten. We certainly don’t tolerate being manhandled by everyone we meet, so why do some people expect their dogs to put up with it?

Also note that while this is unfair on the dog, it’s also unfair to the child. A child who grows up crawling all over a dog and grabbing at the dog’s body parts ends up thinking it’s OK to do this to all dogs. Young children have difficulty understanding that their dog may behave differently from other people’s dogs. A dog is a dog is a dog to a toddler or small child. Allowing a child to interact with the family dog inappropriately can cause that child to do the same to another dog who is far less tolerant. This can have disastrous consequences.

Dogs should know not to chew on certain things, like couches, cabinets, children’s toys, shoes, etc.

Dogs can learn not to chew on specific items, but you need to teach them. They will not automatically know what is off limits for chomping. Chewing is a natural canine behavior. While you see your leather shoes as stylish, your dog sees them as delicious.

Dogs love praise and attention from their favorite people.

Dogs who have taken a training class on leash should always come when called off leash.

Just as we learn new things, dogs learn by starting with the basics and gradually moving on to more challenging lessons. There is too great a gap between on-leash and off-leash behaviors. Your dog can learn to respond to you off leash, but you need to build up to that level of learning with transitional steps. If you haven’t trained your dog with the intermediate steps, this is an unrealistic expectation.

Dogs should always do what they’re told no matter what’s going on around them.

This is another example of something that needs to be taught. It’s not automatic. Your dog may sit when you cue him, but will he do it when the doorbell rings? If you dropped a plate of hamburgers next to him? If a squirrel runs across his path? Teaching your dog to perform behaviors while experiencing different distractions is called “proofing.” If you haven’t proofed your dog’s behaviors, then it’s unrealistic to expect him to perform around distractions.

Shy dogs will get over their fears just given time.

Fear is a powerful emotion. Dogs need help overcoming their fears. They won’t go away without proper intervention. Instead of time, a dog may need behavior modification and maybe even medication, depending on the severity of the problem.

A dog should work for you just for praise—that’s all the motivation he should need in order to comply.

If you give a dog the choice between food and praise, or a squirrel and praise, which do you think is more likely to grab his attention? Praise is a good reinforcer, but it rarely can compete with other items that a dog naturally finds of higher value. This is humbling, but normal. While your praise may mean a lot to another person, it may not rank as highly with your dog.

Dogs love praise, but a pocketful of treats is better!

Environmental Influences

Dogs can easily be distracted, especially puppies. It’s completely normal for dogs to be distracted by things going on around them. Such distractions, however, can cause problem behaviors. If your dog is so obsessed with squirrels, cats, or cars that he lunges on his leash and won’t listen to you, it could be a problem.

When you go out into the neighborhood, you can sense many things around you. Your dog can sense a lot more. Dogs can smell things you can’t. Did you know, for instance, that dogs can smell 100,000 times better than humans and smell something up to 40 feet underground? They can hear things you can’t as well. Dogs with erect ears hear better than a dog with floppy ears, but, in general, dogs can hear about four times greater than humans. This means that your dog is being bombarded with many more environmental distractions than you are.

In order for dogs to perform reliably, behaviors need to be trained to fluency. This means they need to be trained with a variety of distractions, under different circumstances, in order for dogs to perform them consistently. If that training hasn’t been done, then what’s going on around him will have a greater impact on a dog’s performance.

The environment especially impacts on a frightened dog. A shy or fearful dog constantly monitors his surroundings for danger. It is much more difficult for a dog like this to concentrate on learning since his energy is dedicated to keeping safe. For example, you take a fearful dog to a park festival. Your dog jumps up on you, trying to get some comfort. You tell him to sit. He continues to jump up on you because he is afraid. He’s too scared to sit. The problem behavior is not disobedience or jumping up. It’s simply fear.

The environment is always competing for your attention. With positive training, you can trump the environment’s temptations. You can even learn to use the environment to your advantage. For example, if your dog loves to sniff, you can use giving him the opportunity to sniff as a reward. Instead of the environment causing problems or making problem behaviors more challenging, you can put it to work for you!

Anxiety, Shyness, and Fear

Anxiety, shyness, and fear can cause many problem behaviors. Shyness can prevent a dog from bonding. If a dog isn’t bonded to you, he doesn’t have a vested interest in doing things you ask of him. If he’s so shy you can’t pet or even touch him, you will have problems grooming him, cleaning his ears, doing his nails, or tending to him if he is sick or injured. If he gets loose, he’s not likely to come to you if he has no relationship with you. This is why modern trainers will often have you work on basic foundational behaviors before you even try to tackle advanced problems of fear. Your dog has to have a solid, positive relationship with you—a relationship of trust—before you can help him overcome his anxiety.

A dog who is anxious and fearful may growl, snap, or bite. Most aggression is based in fear. For example, a dog who is frightened of children may growl or snap if a child goes to pet him. A dog who is afraid of other dogs can act aggressively if another dog enters his personal space.

It’s a natural instinct for dogs to investigate all sorts of scents, especially since their sense of smell is so well-developed.

It can be hard for a dog to focus amid many distractions.

Some dogs only experience anxiety in certain settings. For example, a dog who is happy and outgoing at home may be fearful outside the home or around the neighborhood. Or a dog who has never been to the groomer may panic and bite in self-defense when put on the grooming table for the first time. Some anxiety is situational. For example, a dog turns destructive only when left alone. Or a dog will pee in the house only during a thunderstorm. The destructiveness and house soiling are both problems rooted in anxiety.

A neck cone can help to stop obsessive licking behavior.

Illness or injury can also cause anxiety. A dog who has broken out in an itchy rash isn’t comfortable, and he may pace restlessly or bite at his skin. A dog developing arthritis in his forelegs can start licking obsessively at his skin, causing open sores. Similar behavior can occur because of fleas or ticks. For some dogs, a single fleabite sends them into a frenzy of biting and scratching themselves.

Illness or injury can also cause a dog to become aggressive. A dog who is otherwise social and friendly may cower or growl at the veterinarian’s office during examination. He doesn’t feel well, so he’s less tolerant of handling. He’s trying to protect himself.

If your dog has behavior problems rooted in anxiety or fear, you will need to address them on several fronts. These dogs can learn. You just need to understand their challenges so you can have patience while helping them overcome their problem behaviors.

Small Dog Issues: It’s a Big World

Small dogs often don’t act like they realize they are tiny. It’s true that you should treat small dogs very similar to big dogs—they are capable of many things! There are some considerations you need to keep in mind if you have a small dog, however. Sometimes, a small dog’s size alone can contribute to behavior problems.

To a 4- or 7-pound dog, the world is a big place. Imagine what it would feel like if everything loomed over you. A toddler looks like an uncoordinated, drunken giant. When a cookie sheet crashes to the floor, it might as well be a slab of concrete. When someone scoops you up, you rise several stories in the air at great speed. This can be terrifying. This is why small dogs can develop some aggressive behaviors. Growling, snapping, or biting is self-defense against a world that threatens to crush them underfoot.

Other times, little dogs are so pampered and spoiled that it leads to different behavior problems. Their owners do not set clear boundaries. So, on the rare occasion owners try to establish some rules, they find out the hard way that what they’ve created are tiny dictators. This certainly occurs with larger dogs as well, but it just seems easier for people to tolerate obnoxious behavior in a tiny dog rather than his larger cousin.

Not every small dog will turn timid or into a tyrant simply because he barely tips the scale. But for some dogs, when it comes to problem behaviors, size does matter!

Breed-Specific Traits

Dog breeds were created for specific purposes. Certain dogs were developed to retrieve, herd, hunt vermin, help people hunt other animals, guard, be companions, and more. These traits were cultivated on purpose, but they can sometimes cause problems in the average family household.

A Golden Retriever who puts everything in his mouth can be annoying. A Collie who chases the children can be frightening. A Fox Terrier who attempts to “kill” your children’s precious toys can be frustrating. A German Shepherd who won’t let your friends come into the house can be dangerous.

Do you have a mixed-breed dog? If you know his parentage, you can better understand why he behaves in the way he does. If you have no idea what breeds make up your dog, you can sometimes determine the types they are from his behavior. Does your dog love to chase children, often nipping at their heels? There may be some herding in his genetic makeup. Does he stare at birds and lift one foot in point? There could be a sporting breed in the mix.

Hopefully, you researched your dog’s breed or breeds thoroughly before bringing him home, so you knew what to expect. If not, you might have been in for quite a surprise.

Your dog can’t help his DNA. While there are some dogs who are not interested in or adept at living up to their genetic inheritance, most dogs are fairly good at following the breed plan. If you’re not going to pursue the task for which your dog was bred, your dog’s DNA still wants to try. This doesn’t mean you have to put up with problem behaviors, but it’s important to understand that your dog is not trying to be a pain. Instead of getting angry at your dog for being who he is, you can teach him other behaviors you prefer.

A Golden Retriever will mouth almost everything he comes across, including the remote!

Chapter 2

Training Philosophy and Methods

If you’re sick and the doctor says you need a prescription, don’t you want medication that gets results with the fewest possible side effects? Of course you do! There are many ways to train a dog. While many will get you results, there are some that also can have unpleasant side effects. This book focuses on positive, reward-based training techniques. These effective techniques are based in science and not on myth. They do not have the side effects of other, more old-fashioned types of training. They are especially effective in solving problem behaviors.

This comes as a surprise to some people. A prevalent myth is that positive training only works for minor problem behaviors. You can use reward-based training to teach a dog to stop jumping on you, but it’ll never work with a dog who bites. Not true.

Another popular myth is that positive training only works with “easy dogs”—breeds known to be gentle or easy to work with. You can teach a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel using cookies, but that’ll never work with a German Shepherd. Also not true.

With positive training based in science, the laws of learning apply to all dogs. They apply to all organisms with a nervous system, for that matter. Learning is learning, whether you’re dealing with a Maltese, a Chow Chow, or a walrus!

What Is Positive Training?

At its core, positive training rewards behaviors you like. The laws of learning dictate that behavior that is rewarded is repeated. So when your dog does something you like, you give him a reward. The reward is a paycheck for a job well done. Your dog is very likely to do the same again since he got a paycheck for it the last time.

For example, Leo the Labrador is about to stick his head into the kitchen trash can. His owner, Philip, calls him to come. Instead of pursuing the temptations of the trash, Leo trots over to Philip instead. Philip rewards him with some popcorn he’s been munching and makes a big fuss of him, telling him he’s a great dog. Later that day, Leo is once again heading for the trash, but this time he stops, turns away from it and trots over to Philip instead. Philip is out of popcorn, but gives him lots of praise for making a good decision. Soon Philip begins to notice that, although Leo may glance at the trash can as he walks by, he prefers to come and sit by him. Philip has been rewarding Leo’s behavior of coming to him instead of the kitchen trash can, therefore he comes to Philip more frequently. Behavior that is rewarded increases in frequency.

For many dogs, receiving a small food treat will reinforce good behavior.

In order for reward-based training to work, the reward must be just that—a reward. If your dog doesn’t find your paycheck to be very valuable, then you won’t see an increase in the behavior. For example, if your dog hates popcorn and doesn’t really like being petted, then popcorn and petting are not going to be as rewarding to him as they were to Leo the Labrador. Every dog is different. You need to learn what your dog finds rewarding so you can use it as a suitable paycheck.

A clicker, quickly followed with a reward, is a very effective training tool.

Marker training is a type of positive training that uses a marker to indicate to the dog that he has done something correctly. The marker is immediately followed with a reward. The dog learns to associate the marker as meaning he is going to get paid. Clicker training is a popular form of marker training. It is extremely effective because it’s precise. It marks an exact instant in time when your dog does something you like. It’s also transferable. As long as everyone in the family uses it consistently, the dog will understand training from Mom just as much as from Dad.

You can also use a specific verbal marker, such as “Yes.” It is useful when both of your hands are busy or if you don’t happen to have a clicker on you when your dog does something you want to mark.

Reward versus Punishments

Positive, or reward-based training, has been around for some time. Many trainers (including this author) who started out training dogs using punishment-based methods have switched to positive training because of the results. It’s fast, it works, and it’s easier for dogs and people.

Old-fashioned training techniques are fairly confrontational. There’s a whole “us vs. them” attitude behind this approach to training. Dogs are out to rule the world! Every time they try to get your attention, they’re manipulating you to get you to fall in with their plots for global domination! Don’t let them be the boss of you!

As a result, such training methods involve a lot of physical force. If you want your dog to sit, you push his rear end down. If you want him to lie down, you stand on his leash, close to his neck that has a choke chain round it, and then force his front legs flat on the ground. If your dog jumps on you, you are supposed to slam your knee into his chest.

Discipline was even more severe. Can you believe one of the most popular dog-training books of the 1960s recommended practically drowning your dog to break him of the habit of digging holes? If your dog dug a hole, you were supposed to fill the hole with water, push your dog’s head into it and wait as he struggled to breathe. The theory was that this would teach your dog to never dig a hole again. What it more likely did was teach your dog that you were a homicidal maniac.

These old-fashioned techniques are pretty physical. Using your muscles can work well if you are stronger than your dog, but what if you’re not? A petite woman with a bouncy adolescent Golden Retriever is going to have a hard time physically pushing him into different positions. A child certainly can’t do it. Not everyone is able to slam a knee into a large dog’s chest effectively. You might hurt your knee before you hurt your dog! If you want your dog to perform just as well for your family members as for you, old-fashioned methods can be problematic in achieving that goal. With positive training, you don’t need to use physical force to make your dog do what you want.

You want your dog to look to you for direction and positive reinforcement.

You can positively train your dog to stay out of the trash can

This is not to say that punishment doesn’t work. The laws of learning also state that behavior that is punished decreases in frequency. A challenge is that it has to be truly adverse to the dog in order to get results. For example, your dog jumps on you. You knee him in the chest. He keeps jumping up on you anyway. The behavior does not decrease. Therefore, the knee slam was not punishment. You need something more aversive in order to achieve the goal. What will it take to find something unpleasant enough to get the dog to stop? It can be difficult to figure out with some dogs. For some, your knee is going to suffer long before the dog