Trainer Tip - solving unwanted behaviour problems: Problem behaviours and unreliable obedience is very common in pet dogs. Repeat behaviour does not occur without a pay off (reinforcer). To be able to solve these problems in our dogs, we must first find out what these reinforcers are and then take steps towards altering the outcome to support a more suitable behaviour. A dog who barks at the back door may be trying to communicate that he wants to come in.. This becomes a problem when we give an inconstant response to his communication, we tell him to shut up, we bang on the door.. But then we let him in to stop the behaviour. That dog has just learned that if you continue to bark and ignore cues, you eventually get let in. A better response would be to allow the dog to communicate with a bark or tap on the door (otherwise youll never know hes waiting out there), acknowledge the behaviour by giving response. Let the dog in, or tell him he needs to stay outside (I use a simple but firm no!). Make your decision final. Once the dog knows his behaviour isnt going to alter the out come, he will accept it and stop. An unpleasant consequence will help to diminish persistence (if your dog expects to be let in, but gets a time out in the corner of the yard, for example, he will soon stop the behaviour). Once again, consistency is the key.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 10:56:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015