Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook.pdf - Mr. Walnuts

520 •DOG OWNER’S HOME VETERINARY HANDBOOK
Never call the puppy to come to you for a reprimand for anything unpleasant.
Dogs are smart, and your pup will quickly learn that coming when called
results in something unpleasant.
It is also good to make sure, even after the dog is trained to come, that he
is not always brought inside or leashed when he is called. Then the dog learns
that playtime is over when he is called to come. If he is sometimes called and
simply praised, rewarded, or has a special game with you, then he is allowed to
continue his free play, he never knows which time will result in the end of a
fun play session and which will produce something good.
CORRECTING MISBEHAVIOR
Many behavior problems develop because a dog is bored or lonely. Providing
adequate exercise, especially for dogs between 6 and 12 months of age, will
help decrease behavior problems.
One very effective way to deal with some kinds of misbehavior is to ignore
it. Dogs often engage in annoying activity just to get your attention. They
find, for example, that it is easy to attract attention by jumping up on people
or running away with a new shoe. Any interaction, even scolding the dog,
becomes part of the game. Ignore the dog, as difficult as this may be, even if it
means getting up and going outside. This removes the dog’s incentive to
repeat the behavior.
The best way to correct misbehavior is with the tone of your voice. Puppies
are tuned in to the sounds made by their mother, and instinctively interpret a
sharp sound or loud “no!” or “aht!” as a warning to stop what they are doing.
Correction is effective only when the puppy is caught in the act. If a pup chews
up a valuable item while you are out and is reprimanded when you come
home several hours later, the pup sees no connection between the destructive
act and the reprimand. Obviously, there is no point in scolding the puppy
after the fact.
If you do catch your pup doing something wrong, show your displeasure with
a loud “no!” This gains the pup’s immediate attention while you substitute a
chew toy for your shoe or direct his attention to a more constructive activity.
A common mistake is to show anger (even though it may be justified).
Anger equals loss of control, and usually does not teach the puppy about the
cause of the anger. This creates insecurity in your pup and weakens the bond
between you and your pet.
Correction should never involve physical punishment, such as hitting the
puppy with an open hand or swatting him with a rolled-up newspaper. This
makes a dog shy and distrustful. Fearful dogs avoid people, even their owners,
and may bite when cornered.
Remember that destructive activity is age-appropriate in puppies. That
means unless there is a behavior problem, such as separation anxiety, you can