Change Negative Habits
Like we as people, we all have our quirks and seemingly bad habits. Equally, our pets may have developed seemingly bad habits, that may be a bit difficult to break. As they always say, “where there's a will there's a way” each of these bad habits can be turned into new, creative habits through the use of these tips.
Save the Shoes: Have you ever heard of the terrible twos, well almost every canine, large small and unique goes through a phase of needing to chew. They're rambunctious explorers on a search for something...delicious? Either way, I hardly think a pair of leather work shoes falls under the category of “delicious and nutritious” therefore, when your pet starts to chew on something that you would rather they didn't, be sure to grab something constructive that they can chew, and (this is where those training lessons come in handy) state the basic command, “Release” or “Drop it” If they are hesitant at first, gently remove the object that they are chewing on, from their mouth, while saying one of the two words above.
Once the let go of that lovely sued shoe, give them a firm “No” and then replace the sued shoe with the chewy. Make sure that they take the chewy from your hand, and then pet them on the head and say, “Good girl and or boy.” This will help them tell the difference between what they can versus cannot chew. After about a week or so, dependent on the pet, your shoes will be saved and all will be well again.
Barking: We all know our pets love to bark, it's their form of speaking. Their language of love, much like French or Spanish. None the less, there are times when our companions should versus should not bark. As useful as a tool a guard dog is for the home, excessive barking can lead to complaints from the local community, and require the occasional investment of ear plugs. Though with all bad habits, you can turn it around to form a good one.
Be sure to focus on one word commands, and make sure when giving the command you tone is always the same. Keeping each of these skills in mind, it's advised that you keep a handful or two of dog treats (for a bit of incentive) to keep your pet interested in adhering to your requests. It's best to create certain controlled scenarios (if you are able) to ensure that your pet learns when he or she can versus cannot bark. This can be done, through the following steps:
If your pet, for example, barks every time the doorbell rings, it's best to conduct a one on one session with you and your pet to ensure that this action stops.
Ring the doorbell, and as your pets begin to bark, approach them calmly and firmly say, “Quiet.” This basic command will take a few tries to get right, as your dogs may have a relatively loud bark.
Once they become quiet (this will take some patience and repetition on your part) give them a treat and say, “Good girl, or Good boy.” This helps them learn, rather quickly, that they are to stay quiet when the doorbell rings, but more importantly, when the command, “Quiet” is said. As they become all the more successful, slowly stop rewarding them with treats, as their reaction develops into a habit.
A small note, if you have more than one dog, it is advised that you train each dog independently, being that the secondary friend (especially if they are a bit more stubborn than your secondary counterpart) can be a distraction from you and your training, which will in turn, prevent your furry companion from learning its basic command.