No! No! Bad Dog!

Mr. Wonderful enters the room and sees Big Dawg chewing on a shoe. Mr. W. shouts - No, no! Bad Dog! and B.D. promptly drops the shoe and runs off. Has the dog learned not to chew on shoes? Well, Mr. W. certainly thinks so because the next day he enters the room, sees the same scene and gets really worked into a tizzy. He says to Mrs. W. - See how guilty he looks? He knows he shouldn't be chewing on my shoes but he does it anyhow. This dog is just being spiteful.

Without some clear understanding of how dogs think and how to properly train to avoid this problem poor Big Dawg may be headed for a new home. Here the answer is often - We'll find him a home on a ranch.

For starters - the reason BD dropped the shoe is that he was startled by the shouting of his owner. The startle proved to be a distraction that caused the dog to lose interest in the shoe and the negative sound to the startling actions of his owner surely didn't come off like a welcome so the dog took off for other parts. But - the dog did not learn not to chew shoes! Chewing the shoe, actually, was a very pleasant and entertaining activity and in the boredom caused by being alone too long Big Dawg repeated the pleasant activity. Too bad that his owner doesn't know how to put his shoes away and properly greet dogs when returning home but - the dog will return to the scene when the mood improves.

So, if hollering at the dog isn't the answer, what is? Teaching the dog what is proper and what is not is a much better way to go. Clients in my classes have a difficult time understanding why I ask them not to use the word No! (But, he understands No so why should I change?) For starters it is impossible to "do" No! Which means that the dog really isn't learning what TO DO - which is what we really want. So far, after many years of training I have never once heard anyone say: Good No! ;-)

As for shoes, remote controls, eye glasses, tissue boxes, etc., separating the dog from these items when you are not around is the ONLY way to prevent destruction. Then, when you have the time and energy put those items out in conspicuous locations and await the interest of the curious canine. As the dog approaches the item (and well before any pleasure can be derived from contact with it) be ready with a very tasty treat. Get the dog’s attention and he turns from the forbidden item say: Leave it! Immediately give that treat and/or a more appropriate item for the dog to chew on or play with.

Now the dog is learning a cue that can be transferred over to walks when he is headed for some unspeakably rotten item that catches his attention, for even lifting his nose as he detects interesting smells from the kitchen, or as he begins to head for the shoe temptingly left in the middle of the living room rug. He obeys the cue, he gets praised and life is a lot more pleasant for everyone.

Dogs are intelligent creatures and need toys, activities and lots of exercise to assure that they can live with us and not use those teeth in natural ways but ways that can be very costly. Not only can it cost us money but it can cost dogs their lives as they digest the most unimaginable items simply because owners do not really understand their dogs and make proper arrangements for them when they are away from the scene.

As puppies teethe their need to chew is unavoidable. Many adult dogs continue the chewing games all their lives and those lucky dogs that have been provided with a broad selection of chew toys (soft, hard, stuffed things, raw bones, etc.) know to only give attention to those toys. Puppies deprived of toys may never be totally reliable unsupervised in a household situation.

So - if you return home one day to a puddle or a pile of what was a favorite treasure before hollering No! No! Bad Dog! give some thought to what you should have done to have prevented the problem. Then, when you figure it out give yourself a treat!

B

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