Setting Boundaries Won’t Fence You In
When it comes to our beloved pets, many folks don’t love to set too many boundaries.
Even the most stern of pet owners will typically admit that they like to occasionally pamper their pets, and naturally, a little spoiling is okay. However when not enough boundaries are set, many issues can arise. Firstly, the proven fact that a dog who is given "full run of the house" is sometimes a dog who causes aggravation and isn’t enjoyed as much as those that respect their limits. Whilst no-one is advocating that your dog should have to live a militant lifestyle or not be permitted to have fun, it’s not irrational to have certain expectancies for your pet. As an example, the begging at the table that customarily appears so lovable and leads to you giving your dog human food is bound to lose its charm when guests are attending. Not to mention the jumping you will overlook when your dog is pleased to see you arrive home from work, not quite as amusing when Aunt Sarah is coming in the doorway carrying a cake and wearing vacation clothes.
If your dog could use some work on jumping, begging, barking, taking, play biting, bolting out the doorway or any other behaviors, a little obedience coaching can go a ways toward sharpening up his manners. By teaching your pet some straightforward commands,eg "heel" ( walk at my side ), "sit," "down," "stay" and "come," you can then use the commands in daily life to coach new, good manners when you need them. The down / stay command is useful for working on things like begging, stealing and play biting, whilst the sit / stay is extremely beneficial in working on not jumping, bolting out the doorway or licking visitors. Naturally, there’s also the additional benefit of having your pet respect you more sometimes, so when you are saying "no," he’ll feel more like he needs to listen. If you teach your dog on your own or with aid from a pro, it’s so far easier to enjoy your pet when you have established boundaries for your dog companion. Who knows, by setting those boundaries you just might discover a new found freedom.
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This stuff is so important for dogs you have to remain alpha to them.
I had to get the help of a professional to train my dog. Its so much easier, but I do reccommend being involved in the process though..
I’m a big fan of dog obedience. In fact I think that there are a lot of dog owners out there who need to to be thought how to handle their dogs.. Perhaps this could be the topic for a new story - Should pet owners be made go on a course before adopting a pet?
I feel that obedience training is an essential part of overall dog care. An unruly dog that has no boundaries, is often an unhappy dog!!
I have 2 jack russels, both 4 years old and it took me over 1 year to train the boy not to bite his leash when going for a walk! If I took the necessary steps in the beggining I would have saved alot on money on personal trainers and dog classes. Silly me!