Bad Dog Behavior - Was It Worth It?

Here's a true "bad dog behavior" story.

"It's after midnight, and a long, long evening. Mama was cooking everything in sight for Thanksgiving the next day and I was "kitchen help." Finally, sinking into bed, this whipped 14-year-old was drifting off to sleep. Deep sleep.

Crash!

Then screaming! (My parents never screamed.) Alarmed, I jumped out of bed and ran down the hall to the kitchen. Mama was throwing that yellow Lab out the door!

I couldn't enter. The large kitchen floor had what seemed like inches deep, thick, awful ham fat all over it. Well-trained Ginger, so good and reliable, just somehow couldn't resist the ham cooling in its pan and drippings (fat) on top of the stove.

Mama tossed me cleaning rags as she prepared a bucket of hot, soapy water. As my sister appeared, she was given the same.

Seemed like Mission Impossible! Ever tried to clean up thick, widespread ham fat? Trust me, you don't want to! It took the two of us three hours. Every time we wiped and scrubbed and wiped and scrubbed, it was STILL slick and greasy. I'll never forget it.

Mama started cooking something else to augment the turkey for the big day that was coming all too soon. And Ginger spent the night outside! (She was the lucky one.)"

Thank you, my dear friend, for sharing this story.

For those of you facing what she's experienced in - caregiving for an elderly or infirm family member - check out The Caregiver - Caregiver Support To Relieve Caregiver Stress

Rena Murray
DogWhisperWoman

Bad Dog Behavior - Or Is It?

Having been around dogs all my life, I stress the importance of listening to and paying attention to your dog. Especially if your dog does a behavior that is out of his character, a bad dog behavior.

I read a story of a woman who had a Black Lab, who was very gentle, and never harmed a living thing. He also was just the "average Joe" pet, and had not received any special training.

One day she sat on the couch. Her dog came up and began nudging her breast frantically. She pushed him away in annoyance, and told him "No!" The more she resisted, the harder he pushed. . . And then, he bit her!

The woman had a doctor's appointment scheduled. She went into the appointment, and the doctor examined where the dog bit her. He recommended a biopsy. Sure enough, the results came back POSITIVE. . . directly in the place where her loyal friend had bitten her.

He was trying to tell her something was wrong, but she had not listened to his warnings. So he took action and MADE her listen.

I pay a lot of attention to my dog's signals. Of course, he gets corrected when he is clowning around instead of listening to me. But here have been a couple of times already when he has refused to listen to me because he is trying to help me.

So please, pay attention to out-of-character behavior. It just might not be bad dog behavior. It just might save your life!

Rena Murray
DogWhisperWoman

Dog Whispering - More Consistent and Effective Than Positive Reinforcement Training

The most important rule of dog whispering is to remember that dog whispering is about seeing things from the dog's point of view.

I once heard a child say, "Mommy, does dog whispering mean you whisper in the dog's ear?"

What people don't realize is that by not taking time to observe dog behavior, through positive reinforcement we are often creating dog behavior problems.

Think about it.

If Rusty jumps on you, and you remove the paws gently saying, "No, no," very sweetly, that's not serious. So as far as he's concerned, you agree with the behavior.

It's the same with getting on the bed, or the sofa. If he gets up there and nobody removes him, he sees that as saying he can get up there any time he wants to.

It is for this reason that I do not like positive reinforcement training at all. It sends too many mixed messages.

The biggest mistakes I see made are rewarding bad dog behavior with affection, or simply ignoring it and thinking that with time it will go away.

Behaviors you don't agree with have to be addressed promptly and firmly. I'm not talking about being mean. There's a big difference between being mean and being firm.

Dog whispering means listen!

Rena Murray
DogWhisperWoman

Dog Whisper and Dog Body Language -How Important Are They?

I'm not sure when the title "Dog Whisperer" was first really used, although I have read about some "early users." But I do know that people with that gift have been around since the beginning of time. So the title belongs to no one.

I use the dog whispering technique simply because for 8 out of 10 dogs, it works easier and faster than other techniques. It is a lot easier for dogs if you show them through dog body language what you want.

Instead of saying "Leave it" and getting now response, CLAIM it and get: "Okay, no problem!"

Instead of being frustrated because you never catch Rover in the act of destroying your shoes, learn how you can correct his bad dog behavior without destroying his emotions.

The Dog Whisper method is often the last hope for extreme fearful, hyperactive, dominant, or aggressive dogs that are simply driving their owners off the wall. You are never going to take a hyperactive dog, screem at it, and change its dog behavior.

Same with all these other guys. You are going to have to set up an effective communication system - which is Dog Body Language.

For more, why not check out Dog Whisper With Rena - Dog Behavior Training and Dog Obedience to Shout About?

Rena Murray

Treat Training - My Dog Won't Come Without It!

Several clients say to me: "My dog won't come to me when I call him, but when I get a hotdog for him, he's right there!"

What they don't realize is that they are teaching the dog two bad dog behaviors. Eventually, the dog will become bored with the hot dog. What do you do then?

You have to depend on your dog to come to you without a treat. That's why I have no use for "treat training." It can also turn some pets into aggressive dogs... They start nipping at their owners when they don't get the treat. Same with horses.

Have you been teaching a dog to come but with little or no success?

If you call your dog and he does not come, move toward him calmly and with authority. Take him by the scruff of the neck, and MAKE him come to you. Repeat your word-signal-sound as he moves, so that he puts two and two together. Whistle, "come," signal ... any of those that you use mean "come forward NOW, not when I feel like it!"

You should never grab your dog when you are angry. That can result in a dog bite, even from the most mild-mannered dog if he is startled.

That's why I press again. Your touch must be calm and with authority.

The reason it is so important to make the action happen right away is that dogs live in the moment. They remember what happened in that moment. Always keep that in mind.

Rena Murray

P.S. Have you visited my new Squidoo lens - Dog Whisper With Rena - Dog Behavior Training and Dog Obedience To Shout About?

Bucking Bronco Dog - Recognize This Dog Behavior Problem?

No! No! NOOO!

That is the common reaction from people who are trying to walk a bucking bronco type dog. This dog behavior problem is not "Bad Dog behavior" as some would say, but a result of lack of exercise and discipline.

To handle it correctly, correct the dog each time he starts to buck. Then allow him to release himself (any stop or pause). Continue like that and he will calm down and you can move forward.

The whole point is to stay there until you get one hundred percent. If you ask for less than the best, you will never get it.

Dog Body Language - Is That Really Aggressive Dog Behavior?

A few months ago, I was taking a bike ride when a couple with a Black Labrador Retriever and a Golden Retriever stopped and asked me for directions. One thing about me is that I never fib about such things; if I don't know where I'm going, I say so.

Naturally I asked the woman about her dogs. Both were sweet. The Golden Retriever was particularly mellow.

The Golden Retriever's first owner had a six year-old, she said. The dog has hip dysplasia and was sound asleep. The six year-old jumped off the couch and landed on the sleeping dog's hips. Of course, she bit him! Can you believe the owner was ready to put her to sleep for that?

Needless to say, it took me a few minutes to calm down from that one. I would never tolerate aggressive dog behavior, much less toward a child.

But think about it. When people are sleeping, if you startle them, most will wack you one! It's reflexive. It's defensive. It's automatic, before they are fully awake.

A lot of people panic over growls and showing of teeth. A lot of times, the dog is playing. Watch the body language. If that rear is in the air while the dog is growling at you, I promise you - He just wants to play! That is referred to as the "play bow."

Or if you have just come home, your dog's tail is wagging and his mouth is open so that all his teeth are exposed - He's smiling!

The display of one canine tooth is also a warning. Not really dog aggression.

Everybody needs to become more aware of dog body language... and stop panicking.

My old Beagle Hound used to growl when she was playing. My current dog doesn't. He asks permission to step past me, runs a figure eight outside and does a jump in the air to release his exuberance, then comes back to me.

Please, pay attention to your pet's dog body language.

If you have concerns about anything your dog is doing, ask a dog behavior professional to be sure you are not overreacting.

New Bad Dog Behavior - Is Something Wrong?

If your dog does a bad dog behavior that he has never done before, you should check the situation carefully to be sure nothing is wrong. Sometimes a bad dog behavior is an intentional act designed to get your attention.

For example, my Border Collie NEVER mounts anyone... but he walked over to one of my clients and did that to his leg!

I was livid. But somehow I managed to ask the client, "Let me see your leg." Sure enough, it was infected and needed attention ASAP.

Gatsby has never before nor since repeated this bad dog behavior. He was telling me about the health problem in a way that he knew I would listen!

Dog Instinctive Behavior - Don't Sniff My Crotch!

Okay, let's be honest. Nobody likes a dog that's smelling a crotch! Most people don't want anything to do with "that thing" after it's done "that."

There's a common misconception that a dog is being perverse by smelling that area in a human. Our crotch is like a dog's anal glands to them - like calling cards. It's like reading our personal history in seconds.

That's why dogs smell each other's anal glands - To learn as much about each other as they can. It's dog instinctive behavior, but unacceptable bad dog behavior to us. Again, most humans don't find that kind of behavior pleasant or desirable.

So here's what you do.

Take the dog by the scruff of the neck and sit him down in one place. Do not allow him to return to contact with people for at least 5 minutes, possibly 10. What works even better is to make the dog sit down right where he made the mistake, and then he is surrendering the situation.

If you don't calm his brain down first, all you are doing is creating a dog that will go right back to the situation and do it again - because he is still just as fixated as when you started the exercise.

You also should not shut the dog away, because that just escalates the frustration. Anywhere.

No more sniffing crotches!

Rena

P.S. By the way, guys. I agree with you. I hate that!