3 Steps to Stopping Naughty Behaviour – Dog Manners Trainer

What should you do when your dog does things you don’t like?

When our dog is doing something “naughty”, like jumping up on our guests or barking at another dog, we tend to automatically yell out ‘NO!’ We’ve all done it. But does it really work? Has it actually stopped the behaviour? Or prevented it from happening again? It hasn’t, has it? I run dog manners classes in Sydney and I’ve worked as a dog manners trainer for a long time, I’ve even competed in obedience. This is my advice on how to stop unwanted behaviours.

“No” doesn’t work.

This might come as a shock to you, but a word ‘no’ means nothing to your dog, unless you train your dog to understand that it means stopping doing something. Which is something most people don’t do, they simply start using it expecting the dog to know what it means. But dogs don’t speak English.

So if saying “no” isn’t the solution, how do you stop unwanted behavior?

It’s all about management

The best way to stop bad behaviours is making sure your dog doesn’t have the opportunity to “practice” the behavior.  For example, if your dog likes to bark in the window at other dogs and people passing your house, he shouldn’t have access to do so! Whatever that behaviour is, the goal is to stop your dog from doing it until you can teach him what he should do instead.

This may entail using puppy gates, crates, window blocks, and/or leashes.

Remove reinforcement.

Dogs repeat behaviours that are reinforced. This means, that your dog will do things that benefit him. Dogs can practice some behaviors simply because they are fun but some behaviors might be an expression of frustration or fear.

Try to find out the reason for the behaviour.

Before you can stop an unwanted behaviour, you have to figure out what is reinforcing it. Then you need to either remove that reinforcement or meet the dog’s need in another, more appropriate, way.

Teach your dog what you want him to do instead.

The biggest issue with saying no is that you’re not telling your dog what to do instead. Teaching your dog a behaviour you would like him to focus on instead of a naughty one, is a major factor in successfully solving problem behaviours.

When you focus on something your dog can do instead of the unwanted behaviour, you have set yourself a goal. And from there you can plan a training schedule to achieve that goal!

Eazy Dog Training – Your Dog Manners Trainer In Inner West Sydney

Are you looking for adult dog classes, puppy school, recall training, dog agility, obedience and manners classes in Sydney?

Eazy Dog Training Sydney runs dog training classes and offers private home dog training in Inner West Sydney.

Imagine no more jumping on you or your guests or getting dragged down the road whenever your dog sees something interesting. No more embarrassing barking episodes when around other dogs, no more lunging, pulling or reactiveness towards other dogs. And no more running away from you at the dog park…With my home dog training in Sydney your dog can be your best friend instead of a nuisance.

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