Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Stop Begging!


 
Those "puppy dog eyes" get me every time. Gosh darn it, if dogs aren't adorable when they are begging! Who can resist the sweet request of "Pretty Please, aren't I cute?"

So here you are at the table, in front of the TV or on the deck. Your pup is there too. Long strands of drool hang from the sides of her mouth. You look at her, knowing she wants some of what you are eating. You feel guilty and without any consideration, you give her a bite. Ooops! Now you are in trouble! You are falling down the long, spiraling, staircase to forever begging, because it doesn't end. Your dog has an "a HA!" moment and will try again because she was successful the first time.

So...Be Strong.......don't do it!! Don't feed your dog from the table! Don't just toss her the crust of your pizza and by all means don't let her lick the plate clean.

Pay Attention...this is HUGE....Every Moment of your dog's life is Practice in Training. If you want a World Class Beggar, then, by all means, toss that tasty morsel. Did you get that? What ever you are doing with your dog...intentional or Not is training for Life.

Dogs are creatures of habit and Love rituals. That is how they know your schedule and routine. They especially know when you are late feeding them! Because food is a Giant Motivator you have to be careful when and how you deliver it to your dog. Good, bad or indifferent....Daily Practice Makes Permanent.

What to do instead? Say No and make your dog go away from where you are eating. Preferably to lie down using a "Place" command. If that doesn't work you can tether or crate. Take way the access and opportunity to prevent an annoying behavior that could become a serious one.

If you just can't help yourself, at the very least, require your dog to do "Something":be it Sit, Down, Roll Over, make your dog earn whatever you want to give them.

Out of the doghouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070





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