Look for Your Dog Doing Something Right

Everyone wants their dog to be well behaved, so we correct our dogs whenever they screw up. If he bugs you to play when you are trying to concentrate, you say "NO!" If he begs at the table we say "SIT!" If he jumps up, we say "DOWN!"

Did you ever notice that when the dog lies down in the corner to sleep, we ignore him? If someone comes over and the dog remains calm, we don't notice? When is the last time that you caught your dog doing something right and rewarded him?

Try this... Next time you catch your dog minding his own business, give him a treat. Next time he eliminates outside, give him a nice piece of hot dog. You will probably surprise and excite him. He will wonder what he did to deserve such a prize. If you do the hot dog thing again under the same circumstances, he might begin to notice a pattern. The final outcome? You have reinforced and defined the behavior you want. You will get it more often.