Sending Your Dog the Wrong Message?
November 17, 2008 by Dog Service Network
Filed under Behaviors, Body Language & Communication, Dog Training
“Objectionable pet behavior is the No. 1 reason people have unsatisfactory relationships with their dog,” says Dr. Rolan Tripp, veterinarian and behaviorist who spoke on animal behavior to veterinary students at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. 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 owners do it all the time. We’ve all seen owners yell and yell for a dog to come as the dog blissfully ignores the command, madly chasing squirrels instead. When finally the dog comes, the frustrated owner may pop the dog on the nose and yell 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. Dr. Tripp points out that there are both good and bad ways to correct a pet. Owners should avoid spanking, kicking, “rubbing his nose in it,” or yelling at a dog. Besides rarely communicating the message the 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,’” says Dr. Tripp. “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,” says Dr. Tripp. “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 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. But sometimes 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 be very dangerous
“Objectionable pet behavior is the No. 1 reason people have unsatisfactory relationships with their dog,” says Dr. Rolan Tripp, veterinarian and behaviorist who spoke on animal behavior to veterinary students at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. 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 owners do it all the time. We’ve all seen owners yell and yell for a dog to come as the dog blissfully ignores the command, madly chasing squirrels instead. When finally the dog comes, the frustrated owner may pop the dog on the nose and yell 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. Dr. Tripp points out that there are both good and bad ways to correct a pet. Owners should avoid spanking, kicking, “rubbing his nose in it,” or yelling at a dog. Besides rarely communicating the message the 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,’” says Dr. Tripp. “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,” says Dr. Tripp. “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 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. But sometimes 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 be very dangerous.
Carrie Gustavson, Information Specialist
Reprinted with permission by the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=276
© 2008, Dog Service Network. All rights reserved. Republished articles have been reprinted with permission. For permission to reprint these articles, please contact the author.
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