Dogs and humans have one thing in common hands down; we are both guilty of being creatures of habit.  We settle into our routines doing the same things day in and day out.  Routines are behaviors and some behaviors become habits.  As we all know, habits can be hard to break.

Many dog owners wish that they had never let their dog or puppy “start” doing certain things.  What early on may have been cute or funny is now undesirable and seems difficult to correct.  Issues such as dogs on the furniture, begging for “people” food, and barking for attention are just a few examples that quickly come to mind.

Dogs are considerably more adaptable then people give them credit for.  When modifying any behavior, consistency is the key to success.  A replacement behavior needs to be identified and taught to your dog.  You do this by simply replacing the undesired behavior or action with the new desired behavior. 

For example, if you do not want your dog to get on your bed then you need to change the habit.  Tell your dog “No” and remove him every time that he gets on the bed.  Redirect your dog to the new spot that you want him in, such as a dog bed or rug next to the bed.  After you have successfully redirected your pet to the new allocated location, calmly praise. 

Changing your dog’s old habits will involve some behavior modification for you as well.  Being consistent is reinforcing the behavior every single time.  You cannot walk by and pretend you do not see your dog on the bed because you are busy.  This also means you cannot wake up in the middle of the night to find your dog on the bed with you and simply roll over because you are tired. 

Consistency, consistency, consistency!

Basic obedience commands are also helpful and important when doing behavior modification.  If your dog comprehends “No” and “Good Dog” in a training environment then those phrases will mean more when you use them to change habits.  Obedience training also places you in a position of leadership which will help your dog or puppy respect you as a superior.  The more your dog respects you, the more likely he is to diligently follow the new rules. 

If you have more then one behavior that you would like to correct and are feeling a little unsure or overwhelmed, do not give up before you get started.  Pick one unwanted behavior to work on at a time.  Once you have modified the unwanted behavior into a desired behavior you will have tasted success, built up your confidence, and earned respect from your pooch.  Changing additional behaviors should become easier and happen more quickly. 

Consistency, replacement behavior, and some basic obedience training are the elements needed to change Fido’s bad habits into a well behaved family member.  You can do it!

Everyone who has ever had a dog as a pet knows how wonderful and rewarding the relationship between a dog and its owner can be.  Often we feel so close to our dogs that we treat them as though they are humans, or like children, and can do no wrong.  Indulging your dog may be meant with the best of intentions but it will contribute to current problems and lead to future problems down the road of a happy co-existence.

We have all known or met dog owners whose dogs seem to be in charge of them instead of the other way round.  These owners constantly find themselves apologizing for their dogs’ behaviors.  If this is the case, both the dog and the owner need some dog obedience training.

Owners may put repetitive bad behavior habits down to their dog’s breed, past life, or something else, because they often don’t understand dog behavior.  Often, such owners will tell you how they have tried to tell their dogs not to do this or not to do that and they’ll say that their dogs completely ignore them.  These dogs ignore their owners because they do not respect their owners.  Like love and trust, respect is a two way street that must be taught and earned.

Dog obedience training is needed for both the owner’s sake and the dog’s sake.  Owners need to learn and understand the basic aspects involved in dog training through books, videos, at-home training programs or structured training classes.  Owners must implement and follow through with their new found knowledge to become the leader of the family pack.

If a dog’s behavior has dramatically changed from what it once was, a precautionary step is to have it checked out at a veterinary clinic before beginning any training.  This is to ensure that the change in the dog’s behavior is not due to pain or a medical condition.  Once an owner is assured that their dog’s health is in good condition, they can then confidently began obedience training.

Obedience training will strengthen a relationship between a dog and its owner.  The rewards to having an obedient dog are many.  Most importantly, an obedient dog will bring contentment both in and outside of the home.