How to Stop My Dog From Pawing at Me
Teaching your dog to stop pawing at you requires positive reinforcement and behavior shaping. Modify your own typical responses to your dog's pawing behavior to assist it in understanding acceptable interaction. Train in a quiet environment where your dog tends to exhibit the unwanted behavior. Take your time and make the training sessions short and enjoyable.
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Instructions
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Introduce the Clicker
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Give your dog a command that is known, and to which it immediately responds. "Sit" is a good choice if the dog knows to sit on a verbal command or hand signal. Click once, and reward immediately with a small treat when the dog sits.
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Repeat this exercise until you notice that the dog is making a connection between sitting, hearing the click and being given the reward. Move to different areas of the room, house or fenced yard as you repeat this exercise. Teach your dog to respond no matter where you are.
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Take a break. Repeat this same exercise later in the day, in an area of the house where the unwanted pawing behavior tends to occur. Give the command "sit." Click and reward as soon as the dog responds appropriately.
Training the Desired Behavior
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Train at the time and in the location where your dog typically paws at you. Have the clicker and treats ready for use.
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Click and reward as soon as your dog stops pawing for any amount of time. Refrain from giving a verbal or physical response to any pawing.
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Repeat this exercise using short, positive sessions until your dog has an understanding that keeping paws on the ground results in the the click and reward. Ignore all unwanted behaviors. Click only when the dog's paws are not touching you.
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Schedule several two- to three-minute sessions daily, training when and wherever the undesired behavior is likely to take place.
Incorporating the Sit Command
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Give the "sit" command -- to replace the pawing or undesired behavior -- when your dog approaches .
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Click and reward as soon as the dog sits, instead of pawing at you.
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Say "yes" each time you click. "Yes" can be used to enforce desired behavior should you not have a clicker.
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Repeat this exercise whenever the pawing behavior is likely to occur, following the click or "yes" with a treat.
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Tips & Warnings
Dogs like attention. When a dog does something you don't care for, responding with negative behavior still gives it attention; this makes the dog want to continue exhibiting the undesired behavior. Keep unwanted behaviors at bay by providing your dog with positive experiences, along with adequate physical and mental exercise.
Select soft training-treats with your dog's gastrointestinal system in mind.
References
- Photo Credit pet dog feet paw image by Paul Retherford from Fotolia.com
