If your dog misbehaves, you want to punish your dog. This simply means you want to let them know that the behavior is unacceptable. Instead of calling out to or hitting your dog, use more effective punishments, such as ignoring them or withdrawing your attention. Because dogs respond to positive reinforcement, your dog will quickly learn which behavior to avoid.
It is important that every situation is different, and that I try to base this on general situations. And much will depend on what your dog is used to. In short, any restriction of his habits can be regarded as a form of punishment.
If you usually walk for an hour every day, and that doesn’t happen for a week, this will feel like a punishment to your dog. However, your dog doesn’t know why. So use a punishment for bad behavior that the dog can associate with his action.
So it’s better to keep your dog satisfied with little. Then any extras are rewards for your dog.
Never physically punish your dog
You love your pets like family, so you should never hurt your dog. It goes without saying that you should never hit your dog to make him obey, even if you are extremely frustrated. There is never a reason to hit, shake, or intimidate your dog.
If you ever feel that obedience is getting out of hand, it’s time to hire a professional trainer or ask for help from your friends or family. Physically punishing your dog can also make the problem worse. Dogs have difficulty linking the punishment to the action they committed, so they will likely not change their negative behavior, but instead become anxious and less inclined to listen.
Exception
Sometimes you may give a dog a tap; this can speed up the training process. But be sure it doesn’t hurt your dog.
For example, if a puppy bites your hands, it’s best to give him a small tap on the snout. The intended effect is a physical tingling that distracts the dog. If he tries to bite more than 2 times in a row, it’s better to distract him in another way.
Withdraw your attention
If the dog continues to misbehave, turn away or leave the room to withdraw your attention. Dogs are social animals and want to be the center of attention. When they are excluded or ignored, they reconsider their actions. If you notice bad behavior early, you can stop it before it becomes ingrained.
- If, for example, you are teaching your dog a command and they refuse, say: “think again” and turn your back. Your dog must realize that it did something wrong. Turn around and repeat the first command. If they still don’t cooperate, say “think again” and turn your back. Repeat this until they understand the correct behavior.
Avoid giving attention to bad behavior.
Once you know how to respond to a disobedient dog, understand which reactions reinforce bad behavior. Sometimes your dog misbehaves to get your attention. By giving your dog attention, you accidentally reward the behavior. This will make them repeat the behavior more often in the future. Remember that any form of attention is a reward, except for extreme shouting. If you raise your voice, your dog will feel temporary fear, which afterwards leads to respect for its trainer.
- If the doorbell rings, for example, it can overwhelm your dog causing them to bark in surprise. If you ignore the barking, they get no reward and won’t bark the next time they hear the bell. But if they bark and you call for them to be quiet, you have accidentally rewarded the barking with attention. Now they are more likely to bark the next time they hear the bell. With small breeds it is even more dangerous.
Teach them not to bite
Biting is a bad behavior that must be controlled. Teach your dog that biting can hurt people. Do this by giving a high-pitched yelp and removing your hand when your dog nips at you.
Remove your hand and stop playing for a few minutes or leave the room. Withdrawing fun and attention is a punishment in terms your dog will understand. They will quickly associate rough play with an end to the game and will avoid the behavior.
- Adult dogs that bite may do so because they are aggressive, and it will be more difficult to train them to stop without professional help. Consider calling your veterinarian or an obedience trainer for guidance.
Preventing bad behavior
Find out what is causing your dog’s bad behavior
Remember that dogs do not misbehave out of malice. If your dog misbehaves, such as chewing your shoes, destroying furniture while you are out, or growling at strangers, then the dog has a reason for doing it, but you haven’t yet discovered what it is. Spend some time finding out why your dog behaves this way.
- For example, if your dog chews the furniture when you are out, he may do this because he is bored or afraid of being separated from you.
Remove triggers for bad behavior
Once you have discovered what is causing your dog’s bad behavior, try to remove the triggers. You may have noticed that your dog barks when something excites him, such as seeing someone walk by the street or a car driving past. To prevent barking, you can close the curtains.
- You can also make arrangements so your dog is less likely to be startled, which can cause a lot of bad behavior. For example, if your dog is easily triggered by something like the mail carrier, you should make sure your dog is in the backyard before the mail carrier arrives each day.
Reward good behavior
Use positive reinforcement when your dog plays nicely, responds to commands, or successfully urinates in the right place. Offer them treats or reward with praise such as “good dog!” in a cheerful voice. Reward the behavior immediately after the action so your dog forms a positive association. If you reward them too early or too late, your dog will not understand why they are receiving the reward.
- You might want to keep some treats on you to reward good behavior when you see it.
Keep your dog active.
Dogs that are bored or inactive tend to bark more than well-exercised dogs. If your dog spends most of its day indoors, they may simply jump up or bark when they finally go outside or when you come home. Try to walk or run your dog for at least an hour every day. Staying active can help prevent your dog from misbehaving.
- Make sure the dog has enough chew toys . This can keep them active and occupied when they have to stay indoors. It can also prevent bad behavior, such as gnawing or chewing on things they shouldn’t.
Establish routines
Your dog may behave badly if he feels stressed or uncertain about his surroundings. You can help them feel safer and more relaxed by establishing simple routines. For example, if your dog urinates inappropriately, start by training him in a crate and regularly taking him to the same spot to pee. If you do this at set times , they learn to associate urinating with the right place.
- You should also feed your dog at regular times and play with him.In this way your dog learns to expect attention and care.They will be less likely to act out or try to get your attention if they know that playtime is coming.
Know when you can get help
If you cannot determine the cause of your dog’s problematic behavior or if your dog’s behavior does not improve, seek advice from a professional behavior therapist or animal psychologist. You can ask your veterinarian to recommend someone who is trained, registered and approved. You can also ask your veterinarian to check the dog for any medical condition that may be causing the problematic behavior.
- Physical causes are especially important in older dogs. For example, your dog may have an incontinence problem due to a medical issue. Your veterinarian can diagnose this and recommend further medical or behavioral treatments.