The Best Dog Behavior Modification Strategy
There are many dog behavior modification strategies you can use to help deal with aggressive dog behavior however I find that the most effective method is simple to praise and reward your dog when they show good behavior and ignore when they are bad.
This underestimated dog behavior training strategy is often overlooked as most owners’ first reaction is to interact with their dog whether they are good or bad. Either way your dog will get the attention from you not matter what they do. However if your dogs behavior is bad it is advised that you don’t reward your dog for this bad dog behavior by giving them the attention they crave, as they will associate this with things been ok and that what they have just done is also ok with their owner. They will probably repeat again in the future as they think it pleases you.
All dog behavior modification problems need to be addressed so applying this strategy will eventually help stop the root cause of the issues within your dog. Although it can be difficult at first as you’ll probably feel you’re been cruel to your dog however stick at it and you’ll reap the rewards as your dog gets older. If you still find this very difficult to do then over reward when your dog is good to make up for the cold shoulder you give them when their bad dog behavior comes to light. This should hopefully offset your ill feeling for ignoring your dog when they are bad.
If you really struggle to apply this dog behavior modification tactic then I’d suggest you consult with a dog behaviorist who will be able to assess your dog and give you specific advice based on their analysis of your dogs behavior. I’d especially do this if your dealing with a severe case of aggressive dog behavior as they will introduce your dog to the trigger of what sets off their aggression and analyze your dog in a controlled environment.
This is a really effective dog behavior modification strategy for correcting dog behavior problems as your dog naturally learns by association. So if they are bad and receive the cold shoulder from you they will associate this with their bad behavior and will eventually stop doing what you don’t like them doing because you’ll be given them lots of praise and attention for when they are good.
Also one last thing to note to really stamp out your problems dog behavior modification training must be applied immediately. For example this won’t work if you’ve been at work all day and your dog has chewed up your slippers, unless you catch the bad dog behavior at the time it happens your dog won’t associate your cold shoulder with something they did hours ago. The same goes for if your dog turns aggressive towards another, I wouldn’t say anything to them I’d just change the direction I’m walking in and correct the dog to follow me without acknowledging their downturn in personality.
This dog behavior modification strategy is not a quick fix; it is something you should do from the day you get your dog home. This doesn’t mean you can’t start now I just mean it makes things a lot easier if you lay these rules down from the first day your dog arrives at your home.
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