Tips for behavioral balance

Tips for behavioral balance

Start off with basic obedience. A well trained dog tends to have less behavioral issues. Here are a few tips to get you started.

1. Train often-continue to reinforce basic training such as sit, stay, and come. At the end of each “training session”, give a command to communicate that you are finished. During the training session it is important that you are focused on, and listening to, one another. Keep in mind your pet’s attention span while doing this. The more you train at an early age, the less work you will have to do in the later years.
2. Train without distractions-when there are other activities going on, pets tend to lose focus. Early training sessions should include just you and your pet, then add in distractions as your pet improves in its obedience.
3. Don’t reward the negative-examples are petting your pet when it is jumping of you. Only pet when it is being good. Don’t play tug of war-your dog can get confused about what is “play” and what is truly destructive behavior.
4. Your pets name means either “come here” or “stop what you are doing”. When you call your pet it has to listen-so enforce the command. Children are infamous for this, they call their pet’s name so frequently, it doesn’t mean much later. When you call for your pet, follow through by making it come to you.

Secondly, understand behavior issues. These include aggression, destruction, and inappropriate soiling. Sometimes it is hard to determine behavior issues. Talking to your veterinarian can be helpful. There are also animal behaviorists to come in for the tough cases. Animal Behavioral Associates has a web site providing useful information and newsletters that can be helpful. Changing the environment, spaying/neutering, and medication are some of the variety of options available to assist with behavioral issues. The first course of action is to make sure there are no medical problems causing behavior issues. See your veterinarian first for a wellness exam. If your pet is sick, it might be misbehaving because of this.