For example, designing your garden to Dogs respond to their in built need to
The natural world is nothing if not consistent.
allow your dog to explore or hide is a ensure survival. So removing food,
The need to feed, breed and survive are
perfect way of supplying stimulating enforcing solitude and interfering with
three key elements to a dog's personality
experiences on tap. Knowing what it is that normal canine interaction are ways in
and behaviour. In the domestic environment,
gets your dog going is a good way of which ineffective dog owners will damage
an effective dog owner will be consistent in
informing such decisions. their dog's natural development. Accepting
everything they do to ensure that the dog is
that your dog needs to be able to act like a
not confused, misled or disrupted.
Keeping objects close by to stimulate your dog will enable you to understand his
dog is another effective habit to ensure he behaviour and better attune yourself to his
In training, responses to bad behaviour must
never quite switches off. Planning for when most pressing needs.
be consistent, equal and fair. A dog does not
your dog is alone, to provide something of
understand retrospective punishment; it lives
interest, is a great habit to get into as it
Socialisation in the present and can not link a past act to
removes the dread of solitude and can be
a present stimulus. This is where a lot of
an effective way of combating separation
dog owners make mistakes. Whilst it is
anxiety.
disappointing to find that your dog has
chewed up your jacket, it is worthless and
Paying attention to your dog when he is
indeed counter-productive to punish or
stimulated will enable you to judge which
correct the dog after the fact.
stimulants have the best effect. This is not
to say that you should stick to the same
It is also essential to be consistent in your
routine constantly. Mixing up routines is a
setting and application of ground rules. Dogs
mental stimulant in itself. You can take
remember the results from the last time
feeding time and turn it into a stimulating
something happened. If your dog is not
affair by making your dog work for his food.
allowed to be on the sofa, accept for when it
Understanding your dog's instincts and
Carrying on from understanding your dog
is raining, for example, he will not make the
likely behaviours will empower you to find
as a dog, it is essential that your dog is
association between the rain and getting on
ways of challenging his mind.
allowed to socialise with other dogs and
the sofa. He will simply remember that
people. Dogs are social animals, in the wild
yesterday, he climbed up and there was no
Understand The Dog As A Dog
they would live as a pack and they are still
corrective action. So today, in your dog's
programmed to function as part of a pack
mind, being on the sofa is acceptable.
despite domestication.
It is important to remain consistent with
Effective dog owners recognise this and
levels of correction. Regardless of mood,
use it as a way of stimulating and
circumstances or consequences, an
responding to their dog's prime instincts.
inappropriate act must be met with the same
Dogs do not develop properly if denied the
response each time.
chance to interact with other dogs.
Socialisation is a way for them to learn
Effective dog owners understand the need to
boundaries, understand their environment
provide an environment in which the dog is
and to hone their own communication
not given the opportunity to make mistakes
skills.
and behave badly. Consistency is key to
Ineffective dog owners fail to understand
this. Feeding your dog, just once, from the
that their dog is an animal and as a result Like wise, human-canine socialisation is
table is effectively encouraging your dog to
indulge themselves in anthropomorphism. important. Domesticated dogs, despite their
make a nuisance of himself each time you
This is where they project human needs instincts, recognise humans as a fixture of
sit down to eat. If you don't want your dog to
and characteristics on to their dog and their environment. They need to be able to
seek food whilst you're eating, don't give him
respond to them, rather than responding to mix with humans of different ages, sexes
the idea that his efforts may, some day, bring
their dog's actual, immediate needs and and personalities so that they may
rewards. And certainly do not scold your dog
instincts. understand how their presence relates to
for begging if you have previously endorsed
their surroundings.
this behaviour by giving food. Simply ignore
Treating a dog like a human is an easy
him until he goes away.
habit to slip into, but understanding your
Consistency
dog as a dog is a habit that should
The habit of consistency is a difficult one to
underpin all other elements of dog
stick to, but the rewards are worth it. Equip
ownership. Realising that your dog
your dog with the knowledge and
harbours survival instincts will enable you
understanding that boundaries and limits are
to understand and correct bad behaviour
unbreakable and that his delinquency from
more easily.
these parameters will elicit the same
response from you each and every time.
Recognising that your dog does not
Then it is up to the dog to weigh up the
comprehend human emotions such as guilt
likely consequences of his actions with the
or embarrassment, and functions purely on
potential rewards. If you have been
an instinctive thread will equip you to make
consistent, your dog will certainly choose not
the most of training, play and exercise.
to behave badly. Give him the information to
make the right decision.
Continued on page 30
K9MAGAZINE 29
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