Over 21 years ago, I adopted a beautiful Yellow-Nape Amazon Parrot named Dudley. Not by any fault of his own, before I welcomed Dudley into my home, Dudley experienced being passed from one caretaker to the next. With a "colorful past" and a life offering good material for a soap opera, Dudley's first 12 years involved a number of challenging transitions. Consequently, I immediately began working with Dudley for modifying negative behavior. I committed myself to provide Dudley with the best of care, unconditional love and my devotion.
To modify Dudley's negative behavior, I achieved the most success when I provided structure and clear communication. So, I apply the same approach in my work with dogs. Dogs ultimately thrive in an environment where they are provided with clear structure and communication. Desirable behaviors are rewarded, whereas, undesirable behaviors are discouraged by implementing clear rules and avoiding any forms of psychological and physical intimidation. Modern scientifically-based dog training and modern dog behavior modification focuses on teamwork, and ultimately, the creation of a harmonious relationship between dogs and owners.
Dogs and cats sometimes engage in behavior that their humans don't like or find troublesome. Both species respond better to positive responses than to punishment, and fortunately you can draw on an array of modification tools to encourage the kind of behavior you want from your pet.
Dog training behavior modification is based on changing your dog's attitude and responses. It's different from standard obedience training, which has a stronger focus on specific commands and teaching tricks.
1. Base your training on relaxation. Helping your dog stay calm is at the heart of behavior modification.
2. Don't show your dog fear or anger. Instead, create a healthy rapport between you and your dog based on leadership and respect.
3. Employ passive behavior modification. Manage your dog's aggressive behavior by teaching him to defer to you. You can do this by rewarding him correctly: give him treats only when he is in a calm state.
4. Utilize desensitization techniques. This is the process of honing in on the areas where your dog acts aggressive. Approach such behavior in a non-threatening way. If he shows aggression toward animals, start exposing him to other dogs from a distance.
5. Rely on counter conditioning in dog training behavior modification. This involves changing your dog's association with something through repetitive techniques.
6. Use positive techniques. Do not use violence to train your dog. Encourage him through kindness and respect. You will develop a stronger bond between the both of you and he will follow your commands better.
7. Reinforce repetition and consistency. Build and strengthen good habits by establishing routines and repeating behavior. Keep up the routines even after your dog learns the new behavior.
8. Pump up the exercise. The more activity your pet has the better he will do with his dog training behavior modification. Walking and retrieving activities will help him release anxiety and forgo bad behavior, like improper chewing.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement, also known as reward-based training, can be an excellent tool for changing your pet’s behavior. When the animal does what you want, you provide a reward—a treat, praise or anything else that motivates her. When she doesn’t obey, you simply ignore her. Most pets dislike that, so they do whatever will result in attention. Cats can be more difficult to train than dogs, because they’re usually more independent and you may have a harder time finding the right incentive. But if you’re patient and persistent, you should be able to modify your cat’s behavior using positive reinforcement.
Clicker Training
Clicker training expands on the idea of positive reinforcement. You can use a clicker designed for this type of training or something like a clicking pen that you already have in the house. When your pet does what you want, you immediately click and give him a treat. Eventually, he should associate the click with the reward and perform the desired behavior when he hears the click. You need to repeat the training enough for your pet to learn what you want, and don’t exhaust him with long sessions.
Changing the Environment
Altering your pet’s surroundings can be an effective tool for preventing unwanted behavior. For example, if your dog likes to drink from the toilet, leave the toilet lid down or close the bathroom door to resolve the problem. If your cat jumps on the kitchen counters, put down tinfoil or double-sided tape; cats hate stepping on either of those.
Provide Other Outlets for Natural Urges
Some behaviors are natural for dogs and cats. You might not be able to change them, and trying could take far more time and energy than you want to spend. Dogs and cats both like to chew. Cats scratch furniture and climb curtains, while dogs chew your shoes and run circles around your house. Rather than trying to change the animal's behavior, find other ways to satisfy these natural urges. Take your dog on on daily jogs or to the dog park so she gets exercise. Give your cat a scratching post to sharpen his claws and a cat tree he can climb.
Other Options
If nothing else works in changing your pet's behavior, you might need to consult a professional behaviorist. Your vet should be able to suggest someone reputable in your city or area. Make sure this person has the appropriate training—he should be either a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB or ACAAB) or a veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB). Another option your vet might suggest is medication. Antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications can help control symptoms, such as nervousness and agitation, that could be preventing your pet from responding to behavior-modification training.
I am interested in any experiences you may have had with training and modifying your pets negative behavior. What worked for you and your dog? What didn't? Please share your pet's behavior problem and how you modified it. Did you work it out on your own, with a vet, behavioral specialist or a trainer? Please share your experiences.
Thanks for your friendship and support!
Warmly,
Paul
Paul F. Flotron
Creature Comforts Great & Small, LLC
"Giving your creatures the comfort they deserve"
www.CreatureComfortsGreatnSmall.com
Cell: 314-775-7107
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