Dogs Are How Humans Raise Them
On many occasions we hear phrases about dogs such as: “this breed is very aggressive”, “this breed of dogs is very sleepy”, “that other breed is very antisocial” and a vast number etc. What is certain is that dogs are how humans raise them.
Well, while it is true that there are characteristics in dogs that generally come from their breed and genes, it is also true that many others are formed by their owners.
Therefore, we have to know what to teach a dog and what not to teach, what are the mistakes we make and how to correct them. Your dog will be or will become what you make him. So keep in mind everything we’re going to tell you in this article.
3 Most Common Mistakes When Raising Dogs
Author: Mariano García-Gaspar
punishment instead of reinforcement
So, instead of punishing the animal, which can even turn into abuse and arouse the aggressive side of the dog, canine psychologists recommend positive reinforcement. How is this done?
Well, instead of being aware of every thing the animal does wrong, be aware of what it does correctly, to reward it. Dogs respond with good attitudes when they know that they will be rewarded and will, little by little, leaving aside the ones that are not so good.
Stop unwanted behavior immediately
It is true that we use the word “STOP” more than once with dogs. Well, this is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. Dogs, like humans, need time to adjust to apply what they learn. Trying to immediately stop or brake a behavior will only make our dog stressed.
Stress can make you sad, not wanting to eat, not sleeping and even becoming aggressive and antisocial. Really: do you want a dog like that? We are sure not. So, forget about strict orders and arm yourself with love, affection and patience to educate your dog.
use the force
No no and no. Don’t even scare him off by knocking a newspaper somewhere. This is cruel and will make dogs suffer, moreover they will grow in fear, which can make them antisocial and aggressive, as they look for a way to defend themselves.
How to raise dogs. 5 steps
Take the time to teach them
Spend at least 15 or 20 minutes a day training your dog or dogs. Don’t overload them with more than one thing. Go by parts; first teach one little thing and then another.
Prepare mentally for your training
If you are going to teach it contentedly and with a good attitude, having thought beforehand about how to make the animal have fun, it will react in the best way. Conversely, if you reprimand him every time he does something wrong, the dog or dogs will relate the training sessions to your disappointment and will not be predisposed next time.
Give the dog immediate rewards
Dogs don’t understand the long-term consequences of their actions. So if your dog doesn’t do anything that should be rewarded and you reward him, he won’t link the reward to any attitude and you won’t teach him anything.
be consistent
Be consistent with what you teach your dog or dogs. And, most importantly, get the rest of the family to collaborate. For example, if you have taken the time to teach your dog not to get on the couch, make this clear to the whole family so that they don’t allow the dog to get on the couch, either.
ignore your barks
If your dog barks and barks for no reason or for the sole purpose of getting your attention, ignore him. When he calms down and stops barking, give him a prize. If you try to silence him by tossing him a ball or a toy, you will only teach him that by barking he will get what he wants.
Make your dog obedient, affectionate, sociable and polite, not only with you and your family members, but also with other people and other dogs. It doesn’t depend on your race, size or color, but on the upbringing and the love, affection and upbringing you give them.
Your dog will be how you want him to be. Just think carefully before educating him: What kind of dog or dogs do you want to have?
Image credits: García Jaubert.
