Bark Busters Tucson Offers Tips for Managing Your Canine “Space Invader”
Training Your Dog Now Can Help Control Unwanted Behaviors Around Holiday Guests
TUSCON, AZ—October 2103 In anticipation of the busy holiday season, some dog owners may be a dreading the prospect of coping with their dog’s embarrassing behaviors around visitors to the home. Gerard Raneri, Bark Busters Dog Behavioral Therapist and Master Dog Trainer, offers practical guidelines for Tucson dog owners to help manage their dog’s behavior at the holidays and any time of year.
“Many dog owners don’t like to admit that their beloved pal is actually a ‘space invader,’” Raneri said. “A space invader is a dog that disregards his human’s personal space. He’s the pooch who routinely jumps up on people; hops uninvited onto a lap, couch or bed; swipes food from the coffee table; and exhibits other behaviors that show his lack of respect for others.”
Personal space is the “comfort zone” of how much physical distance you prefer to maintain from others. “In your dog’s mind,” Raneri said, “when you don’t control your personal space, he doesn’t regard you as his leader.” That’s when he begins to take every advantage of getting what he wants—a comfy spot for a nap, your undivided atte ntion, your bowl of potato chips.
“Allowing your dog to infringe on your personal space sends him a tacit message that you aren’t worthy of his respect,” Raneri said. If your dog doesn’t respect you, he gets to rule the house and everyone in it.
Dogs understand personal space very well, both with other dogs and with people. A dog continuously evaluates how he can use personal space to get what he wants.
“When you don’t establish and consistently enforce structure, rules and boundaries with your dog,” Raneri said, “he deduces that your space is up for grabs and so claims it for himself. That’s when numerous other bad behaviors begin.”
You can regain control and leadership of your dog by employing a few simple techniques and performing them patiently and consistently.
Leashes Aren’t Just for Walks
A 6-foot leash is a great training tool. Keeping a leash on your dog inside the house can help you manage a wide array of unwanted behaviors (but take care to leash him only when you are with him, so he doesn’t accidentally harm himself).
“Using a leash inside the house also helps your dog calm down when you’re preparing to head out for a walk,” Raneri said, since he will no longer associate the leash solely with an outdoor adventure.
Here are a few ways that using a leash can help you regain your personal space:
If your dog hangs out (i.e., begs) under your dinner table, use the leash to lead him where you want him to be, such as onto his bed or rug.
Is your dog a compulsive licker? When you don’t want him covering your face with kisses, use the leash to redirect him away from you so he begins to understand the boundary you want him to respect.
A leash can help you maintain control of your dog at the front door, preventing him from bolting out the door or jumping up on the visitor.
Use a Leash to Manage Your Canine Space Invader
If your dog routinely hops onto the couch or bed with you, a leash is the perfect tool to help you redirect him from this habit and learn to wait for your invitation to join you. Here’s how:
First, do not allow your dog to get up on any furniture at all for a few weeks. Use a leash to show and guide him off the furniture and onto the floor, then praise him when he is where you want him to be. Take care to not over-praise, as some dogs take any praise as a signal for release.
The goal is to break the dog’s habit completely of being on the furniture. Everyone in your household must be consistent in applying this rule. Yes, we know, it’s hard! But it’s essential to achieving the goal.
When your dog has stopped the unwanted behavior, you can begin to allow him up with you again, but only upon your invitation! Your dog needs to earn the privilege of being allowed to sit next to you on the furniture. He needs to understand that he may no longer invade your personal space—that he must wait before he is allowed to act.
Decide on the specific command or signal you and your family will use to invite him up (e.g., two pats on the cushion; saying “Up!”) and then use it when you want him to perform that behavior. If he breaks the new rule, you must act immediately to redirect the behavior—use the leash (you still have the leash on him, right?) to guide him off the furniture, then invite him up again after a few minutes.
“Remember, as with any dog training exercise, unwavering consistency in essential,” Raneri said. “The more you compromise in training, the less effective the training will be. Being inconsistent sends a mixed message to your dog. If you ever sway from the rules, your dog begins to see you as a weak leader—and then your space invader will return!”
Gerard Raneri, a Bark Busters Dog Behavioral Therapist and Master Dog Trainer, reminds Tucson dog owners to contact him for off-leash control and any other information about their dog training needs. Bark Busters is the world’s largest dog training company. Bark Busters trainers have trained more than 750,000 dogs worldwide and are renowned authorities in dog behavior with all-natural, dog-friendly methods. Bark Busters training is the only service of its kind that offers guaranteed lifetime support. 520-440-8848 ◆ tucsoneast@barkbusters.com◆www.dogtrainingtucsonaz.com
Company Name: Bark Busters Home Dog Training Tucson
Contact Person: Gerard Raneri
Email:Send Email
Phone: 520-440-8848
Address:3849 E Broadway Blvd Siut 105
City: Tucson
State: AZ
Country: United States
Website: http://www.dogtrainingtucsonaz.com/
Source: www.abnewswire.com
