 Good communication builds good relationships
Just as between people, good relationships between dogs and
their owners are based on good communication. Dogs communicate between themselves
by means of body signals. It's only natural, then, that they'll use the
same method to communicate with people. Your responsibility as a pet owner is to
learn to interpret such signals. Doing so will enable you to teach your puppy or
dog the appropriate way of telling you what he or she needs or would like, whether
it's food, to be let out, to play or to receive some loving attention from you!
Good behavior should be rewarded
Parents often don't remember to praise their children when they behave well,
yet will never forget to tell them when they do not. We tend to do the same with
our pets. We ignore them when they are quiet and well behaved and pay them attention
only when they behave inappropriately. It's always best to do the reverse and
praise and reward a desired behavior, and ignore the unwanted.
Social skills aren't just for humans!
One of the most important lessons your puppy or dog should learn is that he must
sit before interacting with you or any other human. You can easily teach a puppy
or even a mature dog to sit. Dogs learn at any age, as long as lessons are repeated
often enough and teaching sessions are short and fun.
Step 1
• To begin, take a very special food treat like a small piece of cheese, and hold
it between the two fingers of a hand.
• Place this hand close to the front of your pet's nose.
Step 2
• Raise the hand above his nose and then backwards. Your pet's head will move
to follow the treat.
• Eventually, your dog will sit, because it will be more comfortable.
Step 3
As soon as he does, say "sit" and give your pet his treat. As a dog always
connects what he is doing with what you are doing at the same time, he'll associate
the action of sitting with the word "sit" and a reward at this stage,
the food treat.
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 Unwanted behavior should be ignored
Dogs, just like humans, are social animals and need interaction with
others, so withholding your attention is a very effective passive punishment. For
example, if your dog jumps up on you, cross your arms, turn your head away and remain
absolutely silent until he stops jumping. Don't try to push him away, look at
or talk to him. He'll interpret any of these actions on your part as attention,
or even play. When your pet does finally sit, reward him with your undivided attention
and a treat of some kind.
If, in the past, you allowed your puppy or dog to gain your attention by barking
or jumping up on you, you must realize that if you subsequently decide to ignore
such behavior, your pet will only try longer and harder to regain that attention.
An analogy in human terms would be a person who presses the button of an elevator
whose doors do not open. He or she will press the button repeatedly, before giving
up and walking down the stairs. To success-fully change your dog's behavior,
you must ignore and outlast all his efforts.
Or interrupted
Dogs do react to eye contact. Call your puppy or dog by his name. As soon as he
looks at you, you should give him a special treat. Repeating this simple exercise
at any time will teach your pet that it is worthwhile to pay attention to you. In
fact, calling your pet's name is an effective way of interrupting, and thus
eliminating, unwanted behavior. Making an unusual sound is another way of interrupting.
Once your dog is paying attention to you, you can ask him to come or sit.
 Play takes training, too!
Puppies and dogs need to exercise and play and to have contact and
interaction with both people and other dogs. They should be taught to play with
toys only and should learn that human hands, feet or any other body part are not
toys. If your pet grabs a hand or foot, either intentionally or accidentally, such
behavior should be interrupted either by withholding your attention (ignoring him)
or by making a high-pitched "ouch" sound. As soon as he lets go, offer
a large toy and resume playing.
Diane Frank, DVM
Diplomate ACVB
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