Building mutual respect between a child and a dog in the family.

Parents must firstly put in place and teach the dog and child negotiated household rules and structure. The rights and feelings of the dog must also be understood and respected by the child. The dog is not a mere toy to be played with.

All following suggestions MUST be with parental attendance and assistance.

1. The child with parent  to teach the dog to sit and wait for it's meal to be prepared and served up.

2. The Child then tells the dog to "WAIT"or "LEAVE IT", and places its bowl, waits for a moment and then says "OK". ( Reinforcement to the dog initially will be necessary)

3. The child makes the dog follow established household rules always with parent backup.

4. The child calls the dog to them for pats. Not to go after the dog to pat it.

5. Child and parent control of the dog getting in and out of the car.

6. Child attaches and removes dog's collar and lead if able to.

7. Place 2 leads on the collar and take the dog for walks with handler and child each side of the dog. Eventually just the child can hold the lead in tandem with parent.

8. Have the dog wait until the child walks thrtough a door first, and then invite the dog through.

9. Practice being able to take things from the dog and then return them. Ensure you control this closely and that adults can do it successfully first.

10. Praise praise praise the dog for any attempts.

When children find they have some control over the dog, ensure they don't abuse it.

When a child does the wrong thing, don't correct the child in front of the dog. Make the dog do what it was told to do by the child, and then instruct the child.

Hint 9 - When that dog is pulling you along the street, did you ever stop to realize that it is actually being rewarded for doing so. So what do you do about it.

 

Answer to Hint 9 - As long as you keep moving forward it is going just go where it wants to go as fast as it wants to go. First remember, in order to control your dog you first need to control yourself. Remove the carrot from in front of its nose.The moment the dog gets slightly in front of you, and that might be at the front gate, turn 180 degrees and head back. when the dog is alongside you again, praise it and the moment it surges again, probably a couple of paces, repeat and repeat. Your half hour walk might only get you 50 metres, but with self control the dog will start to calm and will then start to learn.

Hint 8 - Why do dogs like to jump up on people and what can be done about it? They are basically demanding attention, and they pretty much always get it. They don't even care if it is bad or good attention. The problem is people have caused it themselves probably from their first days on the planet. From tiny puppies, we have picked them up to cuddle them and give them affection. Yes, pretty normal, myself included. But eventually for us we carry it on too long and it becomes an unwanted behaviour, obviously especially for larger dogs, but it can be a real nuisance from little dogs and indeed more prevalent with them as they have been picked up for much more of their lives.

Answer to Hint 8 - You need to realise that in demanding attention, your dog is attempting to dominate you, even if it is jumping in a playful manner. Different methods of correction will suit different dogs, and size will have an impact on which method is successful, but I will give you a couple of entirely different methods here that work on quite different principles.

Firstly, with what ever method you use, you need to be able to anticipate the circumstances and timing of the dog even thinking about jumping and if you can correct it before it jumps, all the better. If you miss that opportunity, it is important not to allow the dog's paws to make contact with your body. Step away from the jump, making sure there is no contact and then step forward again so that you are then back in a position to correct your first missed opportunity and praise your dog on the ground.

The other method I would recommend here is again to anticipate and catch the dog's paws in your hands before the paws touch your body. Then the trick is to hold the paws away from you with the dog still standing on its back legs. It will only take a matter of 10 seconds or so and the dog will start pulling its paws back, and even sometimes looking back at the ground. What it is in effect saying to you is Ï want to get down". Now you see, the dog's mind has changed completely. When you feel confident on the dog's message, lower the paws to the ground, don't drop, and pet your dog calmly on the ground.

Hint 7 - Does your little dog snarl or snap at people when you are carrying it or it's sitting on your lap?

Answer to Hint 7 - Just as we need to develop self confidence, so does a dog. Whether your dog is a small dog or large, they all have the same brain, ways of thinking, same instincts and drives. What makes them different from each other is the way we treat them. A dog constantly nursed, petted and protected, may find it has no confidence in other people or other animals and snarl or snap to keep them away. They have also elevated their position in the hierarchy and snap at the owner or family members. So try to keep their 4 feet on the ground and allow them to learn to communicate with dogs and people without your backup. You will all be surprised how quickly they can learn to fend for themselves

Hint 6 - There are 2 types of dominance from dogs, aggressive dominance is obvious to everyone, and is either caused by it's upbringing and environment, or to a lesser extent it's genetic lines. Can you guess what the other type is, which can be even more dangerous.

Answer to Hint 6 - The other is passive dominance, and this is something that builds over an extended period, and the one problem that I spend most of my time with dog owners. Most dogs are continually looking for weaknesses in their owner or family pack. If they perceive a weakness in their leader, they will seek to fill that hierarchical position themselves. Some of their tactics are very subtle and usually owners will not be aware of the conditioning that they are being subjected to. The dog will start making demands of the owner without their knowledge, and the owner dutifully complies, usually by over affection or over protection. The reason why this can be more dangerous, is because a bite or negative reaction from the dog can be totally unexpected.

To learn more, contact me personally.

 

 

Hint 4 - Is your dog fearful of meeting other dogs even when you know that they are friendly.

Answer to Hint 4 - The trick is not to encourage your dog to meet at all, just the opposite. You need to meet the other dog, and very very importantly don't at any stage even glance at your dog. So pat and pat and pat the strange dog thinking only of it. The chances are very high that your dog will come up behind you looking for support. Continue to pat and ignore your own dog. Your dog might carefully go up to the other dog's nose and sniff, but more inclined to go to the back of the other dog to sniff it's back end glands.

A great lesson for all, as long as you never look at your own dog.

Hint 3 - When dogs meet, a wealth of information passes between them through their scent glands between their toes behind their ears above and below their tails together with lots of body language. There is one key signal between them that I look for all the time.

Answer Hint 3 - I mentioned it in Hint 1, It is my equal sign". That is when the two bodies go parallel with each other looking in the same direction. It may only be witnessed for a second or two or it can be extended. Sometimes they go bounding together in this way, I'm sure you have seen that. Sometimes one is wanting to show it, and the other not, or not accepting, and the dog wanting to demonstrate will keep throwing their hip in while rotating clock or anti-clockwise. When this position is accepted between the dogs, they can play and rough and tumble and no harm will come to them. Good fun!

Hint 2 - Ever wonder why your dog seems remorseful when you come home from work each day only to see the same hole or chewed the pot plants. You tell him off, but they do the same the next day?

Anwer to Hint 2 - Dogs don''t associate the past with the present as we do. So you telling him off after he slinks away again when you come home, only means that he associates you coming home with being told off. You are just ruining a relationship. Timing is critical, catch the dog in the act or thinking about carrying out the misdeneanor when you can use a much more warning tone. Then he will put it together.

Oh! And don't forget to be pleased every time you see your dog, no matter what he might have done during the day. Contact me and I can tell you more.

Hint 1- Dogs like to meet you not for you to meet the dog. Never forget to ask permission first. Don't offer your hand out for a dog to smell it like most people are taught, it could bite it instead. I have been bitten 3 times in 42 years with thousands of dogs in my hands. Once was demonstrating exactly what not to do. So what do you do?

Answer - Stand alongside the dog looking in the same direction, but not looking at the dog. (My equal sign) With hands well away, allow the dog to smell your leg and whatever else it wants. When it stops smelling it has met you in its own time in its own way, and you can now pat the dog, but please not on top of the head, down the side of the face or under the chin first. If all good, it likes you, and you can be free with your praise.