We all function a good deal better when there are rules and guidelines to keep us in check. Either through laws, taboos or even social conventions we instinctively realise how we ought to behave. Dogs are very similar. Just as the yard they dash around in has a boundary fence, they need have similar mental boundaries so that they behave in an acceptable and appropriate manner. In this article we will discuss the importance of defining boundaries in obedience training dogs and how we achieve doing it.
I will startwith a relevant analogy. If someone were to put a few fleas into a jar or container, they would, one at a time, jump out. When you put a top on the jar, the fleas would jump and constantly be hitting the ‘ceiling’ but in time will become to associate jumping that high with a a bash on the head. It would then be possible to take away the lid and the fleas will not jump out of the jar. The fleas would have imposed a boundary on themselves by repetition and, even whenthe physical boundary had been removed, would still be conditioned by the mental limit.
In much the same way, you must establish behaviour boundaries for your puppy or dog when it first comes to live with you. The crucial rule about establishing behaviour boundaries is is that you should be unvaveringly consistent. It would be useless, for example if you allowed your dog getting onto your couch after a bath when it is all clean and fluffy and then getting upset when it hops on when it has just been rolling in the mud. The dog does not differentiate between OK if clean and not OK if dirty. The sofa is allowed unless there is a behaviour barrier that has been consistently reinforced to condition the dog that it is bad behaviour. In addition, if if it’s Ok for your dog to climb on the sofa in your home, do not be shocked if it bounds onto other peoples’ sofas when in their houses.
Exactly the same applies with what may be allowed for a puppy but not for the adult dog. A wolfhound puppy asleep on your sofa next to you while you are watching television may be warm and comforting for both of you. However, when dog is fully grown and you have been moved the floor whilst your hound sits on the sofa watching television, things will not be quite so enjoyable.
When first getting a dog you must decide upon and establish the acceptable behaviour boundaries. Then you should reinforce these behaviour boundaries without fail in a totally consistent manner so your dog can understand them. Soon, your dog, just like the fleas in the jar, will be happier without constantly creating a headache for both of you!
When training a new puppy or dog, it is important to start in the correct way as mistakes made early on could be hard to rectify later. At Poochdogs.com there are inexpensive and best-selling training books and courses which cover all topics about obedience training dogs including separation anxiety in dogs
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