I hear “I let my dog act like a dog” every now and then, and it is usually referring to a very energetic, stubborn dog. When someone says this, they believe that some dogs will inherently jump all over people, run off, bark nonstop, chew things up, tear up the yard, and many other rowdy behaviors. It’s part of their personality; it’s what makes them an individual. To make an attempt to curb such behaviors would be crushing to their spirit.
Right?
What if I told you that while these might be common behaviors in a lot of the dogs you know, they aren’t normal behaviors. A lot of the rambunctious things dogs do aren’t representative of their personality, it’s a symptom of a lack of structure. When I address a lot of issues, I focus on foundation work: obedience commands, structured walk, socialization, and general rules and boundaries around the house. Without directly addressing any of the unwanted behaviors, they end up going away on their own. A dog might dig in the yard because it doesn’t have a job. A dog might chew up furniture because it doesn’t get sufficient exercise. A dog might jump all over you because it doesn’t respect you. (Of course, other factors can be at play for these issues). If a dog is allowed to continue these behaviors, then it means we are doing a disservice to them.
So what can be done?
Give your dog the exercise they need – Challenge them mentally and physically while getting them out to see the world. After all, we get stir crazy if we don’t get out of the house.
Set rules and boundaries for them – Set rules and stick to them. Be consistent. If you let them jump all over you when you’re in your sweats, don’t get upset when they do it when you’re in a suit or dress. It also wouldn’t be fair to blame the dog when he jumps up on a child or an elderly person. I can understand the logic, but a dog won’t.
Give them a job – We get so much stimulation throughout the day. We interact with people, go to work, browse the internet, watch tv, have hobbies, exercise, etc. What does the typical family dog do throughout the day? Giving new tasks to keep them stimulated is fulfilling to them. Doing some obedience commands or tricks, a dog sport, taking them out with you – all great ways to build up their self worth.
Show them they have a purpose within the family and they will stop trying to find something to do on their own, because we all know – dogs have some pretty bad ideas sometimes when it comes to what they should do. Not to mention the fact that furniture and landscaping can be expensive!