Puppies are so cute and it is very hard for us to remember they are dogs…they are DOGS not babies. Nor are they little live teddy bears to stare adoringly at and cuddle all day. This is naturally what humans do because we are hard wired to do this for our own babies. Almost everything that we commonly do with puppies is based on our human behaviour with human babies….and this is a disastrous start for your dog to become a relaxed well behaved member of your family.
Learn how to correct your own behaviour so that your dog understands what you want them do. Here is a list of common things you may be doing wrong. When you stop doing these things your puppy will become a better behaved dog.
We stare into the eyes of our human babies lovingly and hold them close. When you do this to a puppy they do not feel loved they wonder what you want and not understanding they respond often in ways you don’t want them too…jumping up, weeing or chewing to release tension.
When we reach down to pick up a human baby and cradle them babies feel loved and safe. The puppy as it grows out of tiny puppy stage will question why you are approaching them to pick them up, to them this makes them more important than you. Then when you pick them up and make them higher than you, height domination kicks in and the puppy thinks they really are better than you. Dogs are not able to be responsible for you in our human world, its one they simply do not understand. The way you act needs to show them that you are the leader so they can relax.
We chase human toddlers round the garden as a fun game, when you chase your dog round the garden they think they are your equal in the family…as the puppy grows up you will never be able to catch them.
When human children are little they need protecting and we make sure they are always in view or in the same room as the parents. When dogs follow you around the house they are doing the same to you, making sure you are okay…its not because they love you!
Children love to explore new places so you take them to lots of exciting spots to engage with them and stimulate them. Dogs love, and feel safe in, your home environment. Your house and garden is their happy place. They need to 100% trust you before they will relax and accept the weird human notion of walking around for no good reason. If they don’t their stress levels go through the roof…
We spend alot of time trying to get our children to eat all their food. Dogs will never starve themselves. They will never be fussy eaters if you have shown them you are to be trusted to feed them.
We use chocolate to bribe our children to do things we want them too sometimes however they will just do it because they love you. Whatever you ask your dog to do it will always ask “Whats in it for me?” We reward desirable behaviour. We don’t treat or stroke them for no reason otherwise the dog starts to think its more important than you. If you are bowing down to stroke your dogs tummy if proves to the dog that you are not a responsible leader.
When children are scared we will put on a comforting voice, look reassuringly at them and usually give them a cuddle. When a puppy is scared and you do this the puppy automatically thinks you are scared too and will only get worse. The best way to calm a stressed puppy down is DO NOT STROKE IT, DO NOT CUDDLE IT and do NOT STARE lovingly into its eyes. Sit at the same level silently, drop your shoulders and breathe deeply as if you are about to go to asleep all the while looking outward…then your puppy will look at you and think there is nothing to worry about.
Set aside all your pre-conceptions of what makes a dog happy and write a list of rules for your dog that will make you both happy in your home for the rest of the dogs life. Any idea how you are going to make that happen?…by the way it does not involve ordering the dog around; the dog should do it naturally and willingly to be a happy stress free dog…call me for a free consult Jan Fennell Dog Listening can help you.
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