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Astoria
Animal Hospital
Happier & Healthier Pets
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25-63 Steinway St.
Astoria, NY
USA 11103
Tel : 718-274-2867
Fax : 718-274-8668 |
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Visit Us Today
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Good
communication builds good relationships
Just as between people, good
relationships between dogs and their owners are based on good
communication. Dogs communicate between themselves by means of
body signals. It’s only natural, then, that they’ll use the same
method to communicate with people. Your responsibility as a pet
owner is to learn to interpret such signals. Doing so will enable
you to teach your puppy or dog the appropriate way of telling you
what he or she needs or would like, whether it’s food, to be let
out, to play or› to receive some loving attention from you!
Good behavior should be rewarded
Parents often don’t remember to praise
their children when they behave well, yet will never forget to tell
them when they do not. We tend to do the same with our pets. We
ignore them when they are quiet and well behaved and pay them
attention only when they behave inappropriately. It’s always best to
do the reverse and praise™and reward™a desired behavior, and ignore
the unwanted.
Social skills aren't just
for humans!
One of the most important lessons your
puppy or dog should learn is that he must sit before interacting
with you or any other human. You can easily teach a puppy or even a
mature dog to sit. Dogs learn at any age, as long as lessons are
repeated often enough and teaching sessions are short and fun.
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Step 1 |
| To begin, take a
very special food treat like a small piece of cheese,
and hold it between the two fingers of a hand. |
| Place this hand
close to the front of your pet’s nose. |
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| Step 2 |
| Raise the hand above
his nose and then backwards. Your pet’s head will move
to follow the treat. |
| Eventually, your dog
will sit, because it will be more comfortable. |
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| Step 3 |
| As soon as he does,
say “sit” and give your pet his treat. As a dog always
connects what he is doing with what you are doing at the
same time, he’ll associate the action of sitting with
the word “sit” and a reward™at this stage, the food
treat. |
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Unwanted behavior
should be ignored
 Dogs,
just like humans, are social animals and need interaction with
others, so withholding your attention is a very effective
passive punishment. For example, if your dog jumps up on you,
cross your arms, turn your head away and remain absolutely
silent until he stops jumping. Don’t try to push him away, look
at or talk to him. He’ll interpret any of these actions on your
part as attention, or even play. When your pet does finally sit,
reward him with your undivided attention and a treat of some
kind.
If, in the past, you allowed your puppy or dog to gain your
attention by barking or jumping up on you, you must realize that
if you subsequently decide to ignore such behavior, your pet
will only try longer and harder to regain that attention. An
analogy in human terms would be a person who presses the button
of an elevator whose doors do not open. He or she will press the
button repeatedly, before giving up and walking down the stairs.
To success-fully change your dog’s behavior, you must ignore™and
outlast™all his efforts.
Or interrupted
Dogs do react to eye contact. Call your
puppy or dog by his name. As soon as he looks at you, you should
give him a special treat. Repeating this simple exercise at any
time will teach your pet that it is worthwhile to pay attention
to you. In fact, calling your pet’s name is an effective way of
interrupting, and thus eliminating, unwanted behavior. Making an
unusual sound is another way of interrupting. Once your dog is
paying attention to you, you can ask him to come or sit.
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Play takes training, too!
 Puppies
and dogs need to exercise and play and to have contact and
interaction with both people and other dogs. They should be
taught to play with toys only and should learn that human hands,
feet or any other body part are not toys. If your pet grabs a
hand or foot, either intentionally or accidentally, such
behavior should be interrupted either by withholding your
attention (ignoring him) or by making a high-pitched “ouch”
sound. As soon as he lets go, offer a large toy and resume
playing.
Diane Frank, DVM
Diplomate ACVB |
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We understand that
your pet is a very special member of your family. |
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