PARENTS HELPING KIDS TO GET THEIR DOGS TO BEHAVE
By Louise Thompson
Accredited Animal Behaviour Consultant (ABC of SA ©®™)
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Often the parents of children will get a dog – not because they particularly like dogs, but because the feel the children should have one. It then, is often the children who are left with the responsibility of caring and training the pet and trying to sort out the behavioural problems.
PARENTS!!! - Please help us reduce the amount of unwanted dogs who end up at shelters OR WORSE! Don’t let your dog become another statistic. The following will provide you with some ideas to help young kids deal with some of the basic problems.
CHILDREN - IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ALWAYS IN TROUBLE? Does this look familiar? Does your dog get into trouble? Are your parents frustrated with your best friend? Do you know what to do? It's important to know that your dog is not trying to cause problems. He is just doing what comes naturally to a dog. YOU have to help him learn new ways to entertain himself.
To understand your dog’s point of view and to help your dog behave, try these three suggestions. Pretend to be a dog by getting down on your knees and looking around your house. What do you see? Are there things on the floor that would be interesting and fun if you were a dog? How about shoes, pencils, paper clips, clothing, slippers, etc.? What you should do. Pick up all objects from the floor and put them where they belong, or put them in a closet and shut the door.
Look around your house. Do you see a door that is open? What is on the other side of that door? Is it a cupboard or wardrobe or play room with lots of cool things on the floor? Or is it a bedroom with sweet-smelling socks that are easy to reach?
What you should do. Close all doors that could lead to trouble. The best thing to do is close all doors except for the room you are in. If your dog is having behaviour problems, he should be supervised at all times.
Trash the rubbish. Where does your family keep the dustbin/rubbish bin? Check the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and yard.
What you should do. All rubbish needs to be put away. Indoor rubbish bins should be put under sinks and in closets or cupboards. If a rubbish bin cannot be put away, it must have a lid. It's natural for your dog to want things that smell good, taste good, look good, and feel good. It doesn't matter whom it belongs to.
Who’s the Boss? Dogs need structure in their lives. They need rules. They want to know who the leader is. If it is not clear who the leader is, your dog will appoint himself. A dog that thinks your house is his house, needs supervision, even if he is older. It is only natural that a dog who doesn't know the rules, will make up his own. Let your dog know what is allowed, in a clear and gentle manner. Getting up on the table is not where dogs should be, no matter how funny it is. Jumping on the couch is only cute if your mom and dad allow your dog to do that. Some people do, some people don’t.
Rules must be clear to your dog. If you can't make up your mind, for example you let your dog on your bed sometimes, but not other times, he will be confused. Make rules and stick to them. Everyone in the family needs to know the rules and help your dog to remember them. This is called 'being consistent'. Being consistent means everyone doing something the same way, over and over again. If you catch your dog doing something wrong, don’t scold him or be cross, rather quietly move him away from the activity by gently leading him by the collar, or putting a leash on him, or calling his name. Then direct him to a different activity.
PARENTS!!! - Please help us reduce the amount of unwanted dogs who end up at shelters OR WORSE! Don’t let your dog become another statistic. The following will provide you with some ideas to help young kids deal with some of the basic problems.
CHILDREN - IS YOUR BEST FRIEND ALWAYS IN TROUBLE? Does this look familiar? Does your dog get into trouble? Are your parents frustrated with your best friend? Do you know what to do? It's important to know that your dog is not trying to cause problems. He is just doing what comes naturally to a dog. YOU have to help him learn new ways to entertain himself.
To understand your dog’s point of view and to help your dog behave, try these three suggestions. Pretend to be a dog by getting down on your knees and looking around your house. What do you see? Are there things on the floor that would be interesting and fun if you were a dog? How about shoes, pencils, paper clips, clothing, slippers, etc.? What you should do. Pick up all objects from the floor and put them where they belong, or put them in a closet and shut the door.
Look around your house. Do you see a door that is open? What is on the other side of that door? Is it a cupboard or wardrobe or play room with lots of cool things on the floor? Or is it a bedroom with sweet-smelling socks that are easy to reach?
What you should do. Close all doors that could lead to trouble. The best thing to do is close all doors except for the room you are in. If your dog is having behaviour problems, he should be supervised at all times.
Trash the rubbish. Where does your family keep the dustbin/rubbish bin? Check the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and yard.
What you should do. All rubbish needs to be put away. Indoor rubbish bins should be put under sinks and in closets or cupboards. If a rubbish bin cannot be put away, it must have a lid. It's natural for your dog to want things that smell good, taste good, look good, and feel good. It doesn't matter whom it belongs to.
- Getting your dog some tempting items that are especially for dogs is a good thing to do. If he has his own things, he can be directed to them when he needs something to do.
- Toys that are smooth, furry, fuzzy or funny can be interesting. You can throw them or hide them. You can let your dog chew on them or you can put them in the water. What else can you think of?
- Large bones that are real, made of plastic, and are unbreakable can smell and feel good to your dog.
- Use 'Interactive' toys when your dog is bored or when you are not home. They allow your dog to play and have fun. Interactive toys like Food Cubes. Fill them with treats and watch the fun begin!
- Rugga Toys or a Kong. You can throw it and it will bounce funny. But you can also fill it with food and have fun watching your dog try to get it out. You dog will have fun, too!
- Toys that give your dog something to do are well worth the money that they cost.
Who’s the Boss? Dogs need structure in their lives. They need rules. They want to know who the leader is. If it is not clear who the leader is, your dog will appoint himself. A dog that thinks your house is his house, needs supervision, even if he is older. It is only natural that a dog who doesn't know the rules, will make up his own. Let your dog know what is allowed, in a clear and gentle manner. Getting up on the table is not where dogs should be, no matter how funny it is. Jumping on the couch is only cute if your mom and dad allow your dog to do that. Some people do, some people don’t.
Rules must be clear to your dog. If you can't make up your mind, for example you let your dog on your bed sometimes, but not other times, he will be confused. Make rules and stick to them. Everyone in the family needs to know the rules and help your dog to remember them. This is called 'being consistent'. Being consistent means everyone doing something the same way, over and over again. If you catch your dog doing something wrong, don’t scold him or be cross, rather quietly move him away from the activity by gently leading him by the collar, or putting a leash on him, or calling his name. Then direct him to a different activity.
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