How you maybe killing your dog with kindness

November 21 2018

One of the most common behavioural issues we see are actually developed by the owner. When we give our dogs too much-unearned affection they stop seeing us as an authority figure. Think about the push over in any relationship, they are not respected. There has to be a balance of direction and affection for your dog to grow up and become a civilised member of society in the human world. We domesticate and them bring them into our homes so we must teach them what the rules are.

A day in a dog's life would be wake up, travel, hunt, eat. repeat. They work to earn to live another day in the wild so they become physiologically unstable when handed everything for nothing.

Affection at the wrong times is really the culprit, if a dog jumps on you DO NOT pat him, you are reinforcing the behaviour. It’s like giving a child a treat after he knocks you down to the ground. You can’t get mad when you were the one who taught them this behaviour. Unfortunately, this can happen from having a cute puppy which everyone wants to give praise to. You can simply educate everyone you let interact with your puppy or dog the correct way to approach your dog or puppy and to only give affection when they are calm.

You think your dog sitting in your lap is cute but in reality, they are dominating you, then you're patting them! See how things can get out of balance and confusing for them?

Simple tasks like asking them to sit before receiving any praise is a workaround. I am not saying do not love them but make them work for it! You will have a much better relationship with them trust me they thrive off direction. If you really love your dog which I have no doubts you do then fulfil all their needs for you both to have the best relationship possible.