[Quiz] How to Fix Your Dog’s Bad Habits

Wrong answer!

Dr. Niholas Dodman, a well-respected behaviourist, labels dogs with separation anxiety as "dogs who love too much." When separated from their group, they chew frantically in an attempt to calm themselves.

Discipline doesn't solve anything; it makes things worse. The best method of treatment combines the use of antianxiety medication with educating the dog to cope on its own.

Wrong answer!

Dog behaviour (and animal behaviour in general!) can be represented by a single powerful equation. Dogs are highly motivated to repeat actions that result in the acquisition of a desirable or necessary item, and will refrain from repeating those actions that do not have this effect. According to behaviourists, "Reinforced behaviour is repeated behaviour."

When a dog engages in what humans call "problem behaviour," it is actually fulfilling an important role in helping the dog acquire what it wants. When addressing troublesome behaviours in dogs, the first step is always to determine the source of the dog's motivation. Only then can we work to help the dog achieve its goals in a way that doesn't involve negative consequences for the dog or the people around it.

Wrong answer!

The dog learns that following commands is rewarded and that he is no longer the alpha through NILIF. To do this, it employs methods that are wholly peaceful and without any element of confrontation.

In short, the dog is taught that listening to his owner is rewarded and that he must obey a command he knows before he gets anything he wants (such as food, petting, games, access to the outdoors, etc.).

The dog also isn't permitted to go up on any furniture or counters because that can make it feel superior and make it more aggressive. When implemented correctly, studies suggest this approach significantly lowers dominance issues.

Wrong answer!

The vast majority of dog breeds exist because of a specific work necessity, and most of these vocations, such as hunting and herding, necessitate substantial amounts of energy. Dogs of today may not be put to the same physical demands as their ancestors, but they still need regular exercise.

Barking, digging, and chewing could be the way an under-exercised dog releases his pent-up energy. A canine with a full belly makes for a good canine.

Dogs of working, sporting, herding, and other energetic breeds, especially when they are young, need daily sessions of vigorous aerobic exercise (simply walking won't do it).

Wrong answer!

Dogs can't be trained to behave better just by being punished. The best that punishment can accomplish is "inform" the dog what he shouldn't do; it doesn't teach him anything about what he should do instead. Without guidance on "what works," another undesirable pattern of behaviour is almost certain to emerge.

Wrong answer!

More than half of pet store puppies had behavioural issues such dominance aggression and social phobias, according to one study. It has been noted by various behaviourists that puppies purchased from pet stores are more likely to develop separation anxiety than canines purchased from the wild.

Unsocialized puppies from pet stores develop these disorders because of a combination of genetic predisposition plus the stresses of early weaning, traumatising travel, and other deprivations.

In addition, most dog trainers consider puppies purchased from pet stores to be the most difficult to housebreak. This is because, unlike typically-raised dogs, pet store puppies have been forced to spend their entire lives in close proximity to their own urine and faeces, and to eliminate in their "dens."

Wrong answer!

Even though most dog behavioural issues may be safely addressed by the typical dog owner, any signs of aggression, especially toward humans, should be addressed by a professional dog behaviourist. They are qualified to diagnose the root of the problem (dominance aggressiveness, territorial aggression, fear aggression, predatory aggression, etc.) and suggest non-threatening solutions.

Wrong answer!

Always start by asking yourself what the dog wants before you try to solve its behaviour problems. The dog is jumping up because it wants to play with you. We want to show the dog legitimate means of gaining this type of attention on our terms.

By not responding to the dog's attempt to gain our attention through jumping - by turning away from the dog, not looking at the dog, and not speaking to the dog - we deny the dog the reward it is seeking.

Next, we teach the dog that it can achieve its goal by petting and praising it as soon as all four paws touch the ground. Just keep in mind that rewarded actions are repeated ones.

The other, more forceful approaches fail because they violate basic behavioural rules. The dog is not being taught a new, less attention-seeking behaviour, so he continues to receive attention for jumping (attention that we do not interpret as positive).

Wrong answer!

All of the aforementioned are reasons why dogs dig. The dog is experiencing barrier frustration because it is wanting to enter a space from which it is prevented by a barrier, such as the house. Bringing the dog inside is the best option here, since he will stop digging.

Wrong answer!

Dogs find the act of chewing to be inherently rewarding. The dog will not learn what is appropriate for him to chew if he is caught and punished with a shoe. It won't stop the dog from chewing shoes either.

The dog quickly learns that your presence means no shoe chewing! It doesn't matter if you leave the house or not, the dog will continue happily gnaw on your shoes. Furthermore, the dog learns to flee when he obtains a prohibited item in order to evade correction.

So, how do you put an end to your chewing habit? You should never leave a puppy unattended, even if it's in a dog-proofed location. They need their own supply of chew toys and lots of praise when they use them.

With this improvement, the toys become considerably more desirable. Instead of penalizing your dog when he chews on something he shouldn't, try "trading" him for a better chew toy and praising him when he uses it instead.