Minding your Dog's Manners
Bedside Manners
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
Go to Bed
Every dog should have its own bed. If you decide to have it sleep in the house, don't put the bed in the children's bedroom or your own bedroom. And don't let the dog sleep on your bed (as you'll note in later sections, trouble is the usual result).
Select a spot for the bed which will be out of the line of family traffic, allowing some privacy for pooch. Then let the dog know the bed is its own property. Use the command 'Bed'. Point to the bed, then take your dog to the bed and make it get in.
Have it lie down, and then tell it to 'Stay' there. After a minute or so, let it come out. Praise and repeat until the dog learns to go to bed on command.
Stay off the Furniture
Teach your dog to stay off the furniture and out of the garbage bins. Be consistent and firmly scold the dog every time you catch it doing wrong.
Don't Steal
Some dogs are honest and some are not. Teach yours that the first rule of dog etiquette is not to steal from the table. You can do this by scolding whenever it shows any interest in food on the table.
Jumping on People
This is annoying to owners and resented by guests. There are several ways to correct this bad habit. Use one or all methods until you get the desired result. You can gently knee the dog in the chest as it rears up, or scold with a severe 'No!' The dog must learn to come and quietly greet you or your guests in the proper manner.
Chewing Things
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
Dogs chew because they are primarily animals that use their teeth for defence, for tearing their food, and for gnawing bones. They also chew things out of sheer boredom. The answer to the latter is to give the dog more attention and something to chew on.
Dogs are usually most destructive when the owner is away. Leaving a dog locked in the house is asking for trouble and you should have a fenced back yard for your dog to stay in whilst you are out. A fenced run is the ideal way to keep your dog out of trouble when not being supervised and the dog will quickly learn that this is its area.
Dog Traffic
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
Letting your Dog inside and Outside
Some dogs seem to know how to tell you, others need to be taught this skill. Put your dog inside while you step outside the door. It will want to join you. Open the door slightly. Command 'speak' in an excited voice, or even making a barking noise; anything to get the dog excited. Repeat again and again and all of a sudden, your dog will let out a bark. Instantly open the door and praise the dog. Practice doing this from inside as well as out, so that the dog learns to bark for passage either way.
Jump Up
You should teach your dog to jump on to its grooming table, into the car, and even on to the Veterinarians table if the dog is big enough to do so. You'll look silly lifting a big dog into a car, or on to the grooming table, and you might also injure your back.
Start with a small box. Lead your dog to it, and say 'Up' or 'Jump up' at the same time gesturing with your right hand, and tugging upward lightly on the leash. Or, with a dog at heel, just walk up to the box so that it has to jump up on it. Each time give the 'Jump up' command.
When you are certain the dog understands the command, use a higher box. Then practice having it jump even higher - up on to the work bench (which may also serve as a grooming bench), a car, or even into a truck.
Howling
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
This is one of the most annoying of all dog bad habits. It usually occurs with dogs which have been spoiled. Shy dogs are also bad offenders. Spoiled dogs are those which have been allowed to sleep on the beds, in chairs, on master's lap, etc. and are seldom made to obey the rules.
The first step is to make up your own mind to change these bad habits. The most suitable room to use for your first lesson is the laundry. Shut the dog in and then wait.
Scold the dog when it howls to get out. Say 'No' in a very stern voice. Make the dog stay for a half-hour, then when quiet, give praise and let it out for an hour. Repeat the plan all through the day. Make the dog sleep in the laundry that night and scold if it howls. Whatever you do, don't give in and let the dog out while it is howling or your efforts will be wasted. After a few days of patient effort the dog will realise it must stay in and be quiet.
Next step is to lock the dog in the laundry and then leave the house. But stay close enough to listen. If the dog howls, rush back in and scold. Dogs are smart, and so you'll have to be extremely careful not to tip off your presence to the dog when you stay close enough to listen. If the dog can sense your nearness, it won't howl; so you'll think you have it cured when you really haven't.
If next door neighbours have been complaining about your dog's howling, then enlist their aid and go to their homes during this training period. If the dog howls, then you must run back home, scold sternly, and then leave again. You may have to do this many times but your neighbours will appreciate the fact that you are trying to improve your dog's manners for their sakes and undoubtedly will be glad to help you.
Biting
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
The first sign that a dog is likely to bite is when it shows teeth in protest as you take food or a bone from its mouth, put your hand in its bed, or pull a burr from the coat. The very first time this happens, slap upward severely under the chin, while saying 'No'. Use a very harsh tone of voice and really mean business.
Repeat what caused the protest and the punishment until the dog realises it must not try to bite or show resentment. When the dog makes no protest, give praise.
If an older dog is showing aggression to anyone that approaches its food, try giving half the meal and then throwing further morsels into the bowl until the dog welcomes a person approaching.
Dog Restraint / Escaping
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
Restraining your Dog in the Yard
This is easily taught to the new puppy. It is harder to teach a new dog which has been in the habit of leaving the yard and roaming the neighbourhood.
Prevention is far better than cure and all dog owners should make their property dog-proof before buying their first dog. The law requires all dogs to be kept on their own property and all dog problems arise from dog owners not having made suitable arrangements for keeping their pet under control. A roaming dog is not only a menace, but will more than likely be killed or injured on the road.
Your Dog Escapes
If, during training for the previous lesson, the dog decides to run away, it will be necessary for you to catch and punish it, and then take it home. However, never call the dog to you and then punish. This will make it hesitate to come to you the next time you call. Punish only when you have to go after and catch it. After you have brought the dog back into your yard, you can praise it, so that it will know it is a good dog when it's in its own yard.
Barking
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
If dogs are of normal temperament, excessive and uncalled-for barking can be the result of boredom. One answer to this is to bring the dog into the house. Highly nervous or excitable dogs should not be left in the yard longer than is required for relief.
There are a number of things you can and should do to stop unnecessary barking outside. First of all, don't let it become a habit. Show your displeasure with a harsh 'No' or 'Quiet'! and make it quit. Remember to command 'No' or 'Quiet' when making corrections. When quiet say 'Good' Dog in a praising tone.
Digging up the Garden
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
Dogs often dig holes because of sheer boredom. Occasionally they'll dig just for exercise, but it all stems from an age-old habit of digging for rabbits, mice etc. You can keep your dog from digging again in a hole by placing crumpled-up chicken wire, well pegged down in the hole. You can also fill the hole with large stones which it cannot move.
The dog will probably dig another hole. But if you repeat the above corrective procedures it will soon get discouraged. Sometimes dogs dig holes in very hot weather in order to lie in the cool ground. When this is the cause, bring the dog into the house.
The Postie
For a healthy, happy relationship with your dog, there are certain rules which it should be taught to follow.
An important part of dog etiquette is that properly-brought-up pups just don't get the idea that it's permissible to bite the postman/woman or meter reader. Highly nervous dogs, dogs that are kept tied up for long periods, and basically shy dogs who attack out of fear, may attempt to bite these people or other strangers.
You should introduce your dog to postmen/women and meter readers. These people should be encouraged to give the dog bits of food and a chance to smell and investigate them thoroughly. Ask them to call the dog by name and greet it with praise, plus titbits each time they come, until they are accepted as friends. The food bribes can be eliminated except for an occasional treat once a friendship has been established. In some cases it may be a good idea to learn when these calls are made and if possible bring the dog into the house ahead of time. You can thus reassure your dog that all is well.
