Tuesday Training Byte: My dog gets naughty when I try to pet him

We most often get a dog for companionship. We enjoy petting the dog and praising him by showering with affection. The problem is that often this over-stimulates the dog. At that point the dog starts jumping up, mouthing or nipping, and gets rough. Here are some tips to help curb that behavior.

1. Greet your dog with calm behavior. Do not pet him or act too excited yourself.

2. When rewarding your dog's correct (and calm) behavior with treats, toss the treat at the dog's feet or away from you rather than feeding him from your hand.

3. Limit petting- do not just pet him all the time as that creates dependency and encourages the dog to be in your space without boundaries. After a few minutes of affection, send the dog away from your space.

4. When leaving or coming home, do not immediately interact with your dog if he is too excited. If you establish a routine such as changing your shoes and putting up your briefcase or purse before sitting down, then your dog will learn impulse control and wait for the attention. My husband's dog knows that when he sets his glasses on the end table he is ready to give the dog some petting and attention.

   Happy training!

   

   My friend Rhea with "Cinders". After changing clothes and shoes from work, it is time to give her dog some calm attention and petting.