Dogs - Behavior, Training And Looking After Them

Introduction

Dogs are known as "man's best friend" for good reason. They are highly intelligent, loyal, and affectionate animals that can provide a wide range of benefits to their owners. One of the most obvious benefits of owning a dog is the companionship they provide. They are great at lifting spirits, reducing stress, and providing a sense of security.

Dogs can also be highly trained to perform a variety of tasks, such as assisting people with disabilities, search and rescue, and even therapy work. They are highly trainable and can be taught a wide range of tricks, commands, and even specialized tasks.

Taking care of a dog requires a lot of time and effort, but it can be a highly rewarding experience. It's important to provide them with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and regular veterinary checkups. They also need regular grooming to maintain their coat and overall health. Training and socialization is also very important in order to ensure that they grow up to be well-behaved and well-adjusted adults.

Overall, owning a dog can be a truly enriching experience. They bring love, joy, and companionship to their owners and can provide a wide range of benefits. With proper care and training, they can be happy and healthy members of the family for many years to come.

Your Dog's Behavior Depends On You

You may not be aware but the behavior of our pet dogs is very much dependent on our own behaviors and manners!

We tend to praise ourselves when people say our dog is well-behaved and well-mannered.  But when he/she behaves badly or in an unruly manner, we try to disassociate with that.  These are on opposite sides of the same coin.  That’s right, we create the bad behaviors that we see in our four-legged friends.

We may like to make excuses and say that we are not responsible for our dogs bad behavior.  It is how we deal with and train our dogs that creates the kind of behaviors that we see in our pets, notwithstanding their type of breed.  They are not dissimilar to our other precious assets in this respect – our children.

Dogs Are Pack Animals

Dogs are pack animals.  Here is another reality; dogs are not humans, they are animals, and so need to be treated as that.  I mean that in the nicest possible way.  Not cruelly or meanly, but gently and with love and care, but recognizing there are animals, that need to be guided.

Dogs don't sit around thinking about how can I be good or bad today, or how can I annoy or please my human master.  They react to their environment and follow the actions and reactions of their pack leader, which invariably is us – the human.

A Pack Leader to a dog is what a Parent is to a child!

If, their pack leader is calm, in control of their emotions and their environment then, the dog will be calm and relaxed about life.  If, on the other hand, their pack leader is disorientated, in a mess, fearful, worried, lost, feel threatened, angry and such, then, their dog will also be in the same state of mind.

If you observe carefully, you will note that a significant proportion of unacceptable behavioral problems originate from dogs that are anxious, fearful, insecure and confused.  Dogs tend to have very inadequate exercise, leading to pent up energy with little or no natural form of release.  So, the brain of your bored dog is going to create uncontrolled or undirected avenues of release. If you like to read about training your dog, click here.

Your Self-Discipline

Prior to becoming a dog-owner, it is necessarily important that you are a responsible person who has a well-developed and decent sense of self-discipline and self-control.  And, you need to love what you do, and who you are.  These are hallmarks of a good leader, and also necessary traits of a pack leader.

Think about it!  Ask yourself the question... Am I leading myself to the high road to happiness, fulfillment, recognition and success or; am I leading myself down the low road to dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and disappointment?   Important to know, where you are going is where your dog is going, too! You cannot expect your dog to be calm, attentive, happy and joyful if you are miserable, sad, depressed and fearful.  Right?

The honest answer you get will let you know if you are ready and capable of being a trustworthy pack leader.

For your own sake and that of an innocent dog, do not consider a pet dog as your panacea, as the answer to your problems.  If you do, you will only be creating more problems than you started out with. A dog, more so than any other pet, will mirror its human's emotional behavior, temperament and lifestyle.

Is My Action Deliberate And Intentional Or Otherwise?

It should be noted here that; the vast majority of dog owners experiencing behavioral problems in their dogs have not consciously done anything wrong.  They have not deliberately created the problems, and in most cases, they are just unaware of what is happening.   We tend to hear “I'm really good to him, I love him and care for him and yet he behaves with me like this”.

More often than not, many of the dog problems are in dogs that are doted on and spoiled by their kind, loving and over-indulging owners.  So, do not be fooled by what it is that actually constitutes bad treatment of dogs, leading to anxiety, fear, stress and such and resulting in really difficult behavioral problems.  Do not jump to the conclusion that the dog has been abused or mistreated.  While this may be the case in some cases, it is not in all cases.

Sure, abuse, neglect, cruelty and such will obviously lead to dysfunctional behavior, but, likewise, pampering, spoiling, treating a dog like a human child, can also lead to the same outcomes.

Surely not, I hear you say, but, please know that this is fact.  Why? Because, dogs are dogs, they are not humans and there's a big difference. They need to be respected and treated the way they need to be, not the way a human needs to be.  You see it all the time, humans loading all their fears, anxieties and stress onto their dogs.  They do it though, in the most loving and kind ways, however, the dog does not understand this. They just know that they are very worried and scared, their pack leader is stressed and worried so they better be too!  The results... so called bad behavior, which, really is just a dog acting out in ways that worried, anxious dogs do.

What Is My Dog In My Life?

Dog's are not problem-solvers and therapists, they are dogs!  Their role in your life is not to fix or solve your problems, but, to add a new dimension of love, friendship and joy to it.  This new dimension of love may or most probably will, ease and lighten some of your problems but, it should not be the reason in the first place that you chose to have a dog join your life.

It is up to us as the human to meet the dog's needs, on a consistent daily basis and in responsible ways, not the other way round.  Words to a dog are void and mostly meaningless.  Actions speak much louder to dogs than any word ever can.  So, act to cater to your dog’s needs, recognizing that it is an animal.

Your way of being, your body language, your attitude and demeanor to life, and your ensuing actions all dictate the kind of pack leader you are, on any given day, in any given moment.  If, you are aware and in tune, you'll know instantly from your dog what your level of emotional fitness is, in any given moment... stay alert and be aware!  Be prepared to make adjustments if needed, to achieve the outcomes you desire.  Losing control such as yelling, scolding and hitting your dog will never give you the outcome you want.  Nor will actions like chaining, locking your dog up in a cage, banning him/her from the house, using devices designed to cause pain and such, ever give you a positive result.

Dogs are 'now' creatures, they react to the 'now'.  Although this is not to say they do not have good and bad memories.  However, their reactions are in the now.  They look to their human masters – the pack leaders - to react.  They do not understand the human state of having good and bad days.  They are not able to process this human inconsistency and so they behave to how their pack leader acts and reacts now.

Think about it!  Are you providing an emotionally and physically secure and reliable environment that meets your dog's needs?  Or are you living in a chaotic, inconsistent and unreliable environment?

Consistency

It is important to remember that a dog can only learn through consistency of actions and consistency of expectations.  If, the goalposts are forever changing, half way through play, then, what can you expect?  If, it's OK one day to bark at the delivery man because you can't be bothered to correct the behavior but, the next day you chastise the dog for doing so then, who's being unfair?

You see, there are no bad or good dogs... they are what you make of them!

It's also very difficult for a dog to have multiple pack leaders, they need one who sets the pace and expectations, one who they can always rely on and whose lead they will follow and trust.  Their pack leader sets the behavior of how they will interact with all other members of the pack (family).

I can relate to this positive effect ... to allow your dog to come inside the home. Dogs I see that are banned from entering the home often exhibit difficult and undesirable behavior - digging, anxious barking, aggression, stress and such.  To them, being isolated from the pack (family) is the equivalent of a death sentence. Yes, it's that strong and in nature that's exactly what happens to the weak, sick, injured and old members of the pack.  Allowing them in the home doesn't have to mean giving them the run of the house to do what they want, it means including them inside with you, allocating space in your life for them to join in and be included in the pack.

Another suggestion that might be helpful is to provide them food at a consistent time.  Their right to eat and be properly nourished and satisfied is a basic, instinctual need of every living creature (including humans), and is not to be used as a punishment tool.  Here is some information about dog food secrets. Try to maintain a reliable routine around feeding.  They need to know that breakfast and dinner will be served and they will be free to enjoy it, without threat.

A hungry dog is a problem dog.  You don't have to be on the dot at 6am or 6pm, every morning or night but, you do need to ensure you feed them, no matter how tired or late you might be.  Many problems in dogs result from food anxieties. Keep to a routine they can rely on and you will find, this will result in a calmer, more satisfied and contented dog.

Training Your Dog

This involves positive reinforcement techniques such as treats, praise, and play, and can be used to teach basic obedience commands, as well as more complex behaviors. Effective dog training requires patience, consistency, and a good understanding of canine behavior and body language. It is important to use humane training methods and to avoid physical punishment or fear-based training. Regular training sessions can improve the bond between a dog and their owner and help ensure that a dog is a well-behaved and happy member of the family.

There are many different approaches to dog training, including traditional obedience training, agility training, scent work, and behavior modification. The best approach will depend on the individual dog and their personality, breed, and specific training needs. It's important to find a training method that is compatible with your dog's personality, and to set realistic and achievable training goals. Consistent, positive reinforcement and clear communication are key elements of successful dog training. Click here if you want to see a dog on a treadmill.

In addition to formal training, everyday life offers many opportunities for informal training and reinforcement of desired behaviors. For example, simply providing plenty of positive reinforcement for good behavior, such as sitting politely for attention or coming when called, can be just as important as training sessions.

It's also important to remember that all dogs are unique, and what works for one dog may not work for another. Flexibility and creativity can be key in finding the right training approach for your dog. Whether working with a professional dog trainer or training on your own, patience, consistency, and a positive attitude will help you achieve your training goals and help your dog become the best they can be. Here is some more information about training your dog.

Conclusion

By now, you should know that your dog’s behavioral problems all start and end with you.  You are the one in control.  You have the power to change and the dog is just reacting to you in the now.

I hope you will make a true self-assessment of the need to own a dog and be honest and diligent about your responsibilities.  I can tell you as a dog owner how much I enjoy him in my life.  He is a valued member of my family, and he knows his place in this pack!

I wish you all the success in making an informed decision about getting a dog.  There is so much happiness and joy that you get in seeing the wag of your dog’s tail and the way he greets you when you come back home from a hard day’s work or whatever else you were doing.