Is Your Dog Trying to be Your Boss?

In one of my training guides I say that it’s not always a good idea to allow your dog on the bed or couch. I say this because some dogs can get a little too comfy and see the bed or couch as their territory; you may have seen (or even owned) a dog that growls or snaps when you or another tries to sit on the couch with the dog. In this situation the dog’s reaction is a sign that it is ‘guarding’ an important resource, that is, the comfy bed or couch!

If your dog is quite obedient and tends to listen to you, then I think it’s okay to relax that rule. This is especially true if your dog has never snapped or growled at you.

If you allow your dog on the bed or couch, then it is important that your dog gets off the bed or couch upon your command. In this way you maintain your status as pack leader.

If your dog ‘guards’ the bed or couch, I would discourage you from allowing the dog on the furniture.

If you were to ask a dog why it growls when you approach the couch, it may say: “This is mine and I think I have a right to this over you.“ A dog is more likely to have this attitude if you don’t train it often and exercise leadership.

I have written this blog in respose to a question from one of my fans. If you need any clarification on my training techniques, then feel free to post a comment here or on my facebook page. If you agree with my comments, I’d love to hear from you. If you disagree, then please let me know too. I am open to suggestions and debate. Having said that, if you want to take a personal shot at me (as one fan recently did), just keep this in mind: “An insult says more about the person giving the insult, rather than the person for whom the insult was intended.”

Don’t Pat Your Dog!

The other day at the puppy class I run, I came across an angry little boy named Carter. Despite being only 12 weeks old, this little fellow snapped and growled at the other pups.

The class had not even started, yet tension amongst the owners was high. This was understandable – they were nervous because this little pup was menacing their own beloved pups. I must admit, I was taken aback. It was the first time I’d ever come across this behaviour in such a young dog.

What could I do to reassure the class? What could I do to help Carter? As I observed Carter being patted by his owner, I realised that Carter was being rewarded for this behaviour. I immediately said to Carter’s owner “Don’t pat your dog!” The owner, to her credit, immediately stopped because she understood my message: Carter was taking her pats to mean that his behaviour was appropriate.

If you were to ask Carter why he was growling at the other puppies, he’d say “I snap and growl because that’s my way of dealing with a new and scary situation. I am afraid and so my threatening behaviour keeps the other dogs away. I keep myself safe. Besides, my owner is showing me that this is okay because she is patting me.”

I explained to the class that communication with your dog should be clear and simple; that pats are a sign of approval and therefore should not be used to soothe a dog that is behaving badly.  Although humans understand the subtle contrast between being soothed and rewarded, dogs don’t quite get the difference.

I then showed Carter’s owner how to effectively and humanely correct her dog when he growled at the other puppies.

Within minutes Carter was calm and by the end of the class he was (tentatively) mingling with his classmates. It was a small, but gratifying, win.

Have you accidentally rewarded your dog for bad behaviour?