How to Improve a Dog's Emotional Development
You love your dog and you want him to be happy, but the way to accomplish this may surprise you. Allowing your dog to have free reign and do whatever he pleases with no discipline whatsoever may seem like the path to happiness, but in reality this will emotionally cripple your dog. Dogs are pack animals. They are happiest living in an established hierarchy with rules and expectations, and it's up to you to provide that environment for your best friend.
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Instructions
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Socialize your dog. Introduce him to human society. Take him to a puppy play group, go for long car rides, allow him to meet your friends and neighbors, and provide supervised play time for him with children and other animals.
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Let your dog know that she is safe and secure. Never yell--use a calm, authoritative voice. Never, ever strike your dog with anything, especially your hand--this will cripple your dog emotionally and destroy your relationship with her.
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Establish yourself as alpha (leader of the pack). Never wrestle or play tug-of-war with your dog, as this sets up a situation where your dog may perceive that he is dominating you. Do not allow your dog to bite, even in play, and discourage behaviors such as leash-biting and toy or food guarding.
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Impose rules and restrictions, but be patient. Your dog will want to please you, but you must give her time to absorb and learn. Be consistent--if you discourage a behavior one day and allow it the next, you will confuse your dog, resulting in bad behavior, and you will have only yourself to blame.
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Teach your dog the basic commands: "sit", "stay", "down", "come" and "no." Teach him to walk properly on a leash. Require a "sit" before he eats, goes outside or goes for a walk. Not only does this reinforce your alpha position, it makes for a polite dog who will be welcomed by family and friends.
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Reward her for good behavior. It's not enough to let your dog know when she's wrong; you must let her know when she's right. When she sits at your feet instead of hopping up on the couch, or when she walks like a little lady on her leash, praise her and let her know that you are proud of her.
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Love him, have fun with him and bond with him. Take him out in the back yard for a game of fetch or give him a nice, long belly rub. Your dog lives to please you and loves you unconditionally, and he deserves the same from you.
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Tips & Warnings
As soon as your dog is fully vaccinated, sign up for a basic obedience class. This is a great way to socialize him and bond with him at the same time.
Use food treats to reward your dog for good behavior. Most dogs are extremely food-motivated.
If you are not familiar with the correct way to teach commands, don't "wing it." Purchase a book that will guide you in the correct tone, methods and hand signals.
Although it is important to socialize your dog, never take your puppy to a dog park or on a walk until she is fully vaccinated. Find a puppy play group where certificates of health are required, or invite a friend and his dog over for a play date.
Resources
- Photo Credit office.microsoft.com, freedigitalphotos.net, yvette marie
