How to Stop
the Three Most Annoying Dog Behaviours
As any dog
owner will tell you, their pet has some habit that just irks them to
no end and most likely this same trait is common amongst many of
their fellow dog owners animals. There are three traits people find
totally horrid that most dogs seem to find great joy in performing.
In this article, we will discuss the three worst behaviours for
annoyance factor and how to stop them.
When you ask
around regarding the most annoying dog behaviours known, this one is
sure to come up. Dogs are known for this behaviour around the world
and still they persist. What behaviour are we discussing? You
guessed it. Dogs like to drink from the toilet and just do not seem
to grasp the point that you find this behaviour disgusting. To be
fair, they probably wonder how you can stand to drink bottled water
and sodas as, to them, this would appear a stagnant pool. Dogs
prefer fresh, cool, running water and, unfortunately for those who
really wish their pet would find a different fountain; the modern
toilet provides just that.
Thus dogs the
world over seem drawn to this bottomless water dish and while, with
the exception of cleansers and household poisons, this is fairly
harmless to the dog, humans the world over are in an uproar. So how
do we fix this problem? Well, the first step is an easy one. Break
the pattern of the behaviour by closing the toilet lid or the
bathroom door. This will remove the temptation and force the dog to
look elsewhere for water. In conjunction with this step, be sure to
provide your dog with lots of clean, fresh water at all times. The
dog should always have a readily available water source unless a
veterinarian tells you otherwise. By closing off access to the
toilet and leaving alternate water supply, you are retraining your
dog towards a more suitable water source.
But what of
the second most irritating behaviour, jumping on guests. Luckily for
the trainers of the world, this is almost as easy to correct as the
first problem. Dogs are friendly and gregarious creatures. When they
see a new playmate, they naturally want to start playing right away.
Unfortunately, your well-dressed guest might not feel too inclined
to play with the dog that has just been rolling in the mud puddle in
the back yard. So how do you teach your dog to mind his manners and
save your guests prom dress at the same time?
Well, just as
with everything else, it all goes back to the training. Teach the
dog while it's a pup and it will remember its whole life. If you
thought it was cute for a fuzzy little pup to try and jump up and
greet you, guess who is responsible for the one hundred pound mud
monster that just ruined your prom? Or you could have avoided this
tragedy by starting small and ignoring a pup that jumps. After a
while, the animal realizes that this action gets no attention and is
not really worth his trouble. Instead reward the pup for not jumping
with copious amounts of verbal praise and treats.
This teaches
the dog that not jumping is the reward getter. Also try introducing
your dog to new faces while the animal is on a leash or harness as
this provides more control for the handler and a properly placed
"no" will tell the pup that this behaviour is inappropriate. If your
dog has gotten past the puppy stage before you try to correct this
situation, things may be a bit tougher but take heart. With
persistence and patience, you can still have a dog that minds its
manners.
The third most
annoying behaviour we will discuss is Face Licking, which is
especially annoying if your pet also has the first behaviour.
Licking is a way for dogs to show affection and also to be
comforting to their masters. If your dog is licking you, it is
probably for one of these two reasons or maybe just because your dog
likes the way you taste. The problem most people encounter is when
the correct the dog for this behaviour, the animal either sees it as
a game or thinks it is not getting its message across and comes back
stronger. So how do we correct this?
Again the key
is consistency and starting with a younger dog will make this much
easier. Remember to use your "no" commands and give the dog some
other outlet for expressing affection. Perhaps let the dog lick the
back of your hand or give the dog treats for not licking. If the dog
persists in licking your face, a light but firm slap to the nose
should calm the even the most amorous pooch. Or if the dog seems it
will never give up, just smile and be happy that at least he doesn't
drink from the toilet anymore.