Every day I listen patiently as owners describe their dogs. It usually starts with a glowing eulogy followed by a 'but' after which come the perceived problems.
'He is very obedient at home but once out in the park he completely ignores me', is a typical complaint.
After spending an hour consulting the owner I work with the dog who then gives me the REAL story.
Often a dog I'm assured does not go on the furniture will jump all over the sofa.
'He's not allowed to do that," they tell me. The dog says differently.
Asking the owner to walk the dog to heel around the garden is an education. The family pet that is 'very obedient at home' often drags the owner across the lawn without a backward glance while the owner yells 'heel' over and over again.
Dogs are creatures of habit and their habits reveal exactly how they live far more reliably than any description given by their owners. If you want to improve your dog's behaviour you must replace bad habits with good ones.
My senior dog Murphy is almost 12 years old and totally deaf. On our morning walk he is off-lead until we reach a stretch of the footpath that is adjacent to a busy road.
At the stile before this stretch I put Murphy on his lead, as I would not be able to warn him were he to stray into the road. Today I was distracted by a mob of crows and failed to attach the lead at the usual place.
Murphy pushed his way through the rest of my pack and nudged me with his nose until I remembered to slip the leash over his head. It's become an established habit and he was just reminding me to do it.
Good habits can be as easily established as bad ones. All it takes is a sensible plan AND consistency.
If you want help changing your dog's bad habits text me on 07590-560012
Or join one of my classes online.
It's really isn't that difficult.
