There are many reasons for teaching proper dog behavior through dog behavior training. Teaching such behavior has many benefits for both the human and canine partners.
Let’s dive right in.
How to begin Dog Behavior Training
Dog behavior training is vital to such life and death issues as preventing aggression, and controlling dog on dog aggression problems.
It also teaches dogs to interact properly with both their handlers and with other members of the family.
Evolution and Interaction
Understanding how dogs evolved and how dogs interact with each other is very important to understanding how to properly train your dog to be a devoted, loyal companion.
The original dogs were probably orphaned wolf pups adopted by early humans.
These wild dogs probably learned to perform behaviors that their human protectors valued. Such as guarding the cave or scaring off predators.
In exchange for these valued behaviors the humans probably provided their new companions with food, protection and shelter.
Still Exists
That kind of relationship still exists today, of course. Dogs still can, and do, perform valuable jobs for their human benefactors.
Those jobs include herding and guarding livestock, guarding property, guarding people and finding game.
Packs
When planning a dog behavior training program it is important to know that dogs are pack animals.
In wild dog societies packs are formed and each member of the pack quickly learns his or her place in the pecking order.
Except in the event of death or injury to the alpha dog the hierarchy never changes once it has been established.
The lower dogs know not to challenge the alpha dog and the alpha dog understands his place as leader of the pack.
Dog Behavior Training involves Leadership
All the other dogs in the pack look to the alpha dog for leadership in important survival issues. Like finding food and avoiding larger predators.
In order to properly train your dog and gain its respect it is important for you to become the alpha dog.
That is because a dog that sees its owner as a superior leader will follow the commands the owner gives without question.
Respect is Required in Dog Behavior Training
Getting the respect of the dog is the most important step to proper dog behavior training. And it will form the basis of all subsequent training.
The reasons for training a dog properly are many. Especially in today’s world.
A well mannered, obedient dog is a joy to be around both for the owner and his or her family. And for people in the community at large.
At Ease
In addition seeing a well mannered dog sets people’s mind at ease. Especially with breeds of dogs thought to be dangerous. Such as Dobermans, Rottweilers and Pit Bulls.
When training dogs and dealing with unwanted dog behaviors it is important to understand the motivating factors behind those behaviors.
Unwanted
For example many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors such as chewing and destroying furniture due to separation anxiety.
When conducting dog behavior training, dealing with the sources of problem behaviors is an important first step toward eliminating those problem behaviors.
Many dogs exhibit unwanted behaviors as a result of stress in the animal’s life and its inability to cope with that stress.
Goal of Dog Behavior Training
The goal of a good dog behavior training program is to allow the dog to tolerate greater levels of stress without becoming a problem animal.
When dealing with dog behavior it is important not to confuse human behavior with dog behavior.
There is a great temptation on the part of dog owners to see their dogs as almost human.
Reality
In reality dogs and humans have very different motivations and very different reactions to similar situations.
One trait that humans and dogs do share, however, is the need to form close social groups and strong bonds within those social groups.
Bonding
This bonding is important to both humans and dogs. But it has served vastly different ends as both species have evolved and changed over time.
So keep these points in mind when you begin dog behavior training with your furry best friend.
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