subject: 7 Hints For Training Your Dog [print this page] Man's best friendMan's best friend. It's a nickname that's been around for ages, but sometimes your dog doesn't feel like your best bud - especially when he's been going to the bathroom on the rug, barking at all hours of the night, and digging up the backyard so much that it looks like a WWI battlefield. But don't despair - here are a few useful tips for dealing with 'man's best friend' when he's misbehaving.
1) Don't use violence. As tempting as it may be in the moment, don't strike your dog in anger. It can make him more aggressive, or cause him to do bad things out of his anxiety about being hit. Not to mention it's mean! A light smack might be appropriate for a dog that just won't behave, but not in anger. If your blood is boiling, walk away or you might hurt your pet.
2) Discipline immediately. This may seem like a contradiction after tip #1, but anger is the key ingredient that's missing here. Dogs have bad memories and worse logic, so disciplining him 30 minutes after he digs a hole is usually a waste. He usually won't connect the punishment and what he did that caused it.
3) Use tone of voice to convey your displeasure. Dogs have extraordinary social intelligence (meaning they understand social cues from humans better than almost all other animals). Anger and disapproval in your voice will get the message across clearly.
4) Use isolation in a small room or away from the family as another form of punishment. When love and attention gets withdrawn after bad behavior, dogs will get the message and eventually stop doing the behavior.
5) Be consistent. Dogs are like children - they will push you to see just how much you'll let them get away with. If you only discipline your dog occasionally, they'll understand that they can behave any way they want to with only a small chance of being disciplined.
6) Be the 'top dog.' You dog instinctively looks for a 'leader of the pack' - and that should be you! Don't let Fido run your life; that's not what the 'top dog' does! Instead, teach your dog his place in the pack by using commanding tones and body language towards him. No wishy-washy commands or whiny voices! He will be happier because he knows what the boundaries are, which also means he will not try to get away with as much bad behavior.
7) Start early. If you don't discipline a puppy in the first few months, you're only making your job harder down the road when he's spoiled and convinced he's the king of the house.
