Bailey is a Springer X Cocker Spaniel who has learned to control his human family by biting, growling and snapping. I have just had him for a week and for the first few days he was slightly depressed and a little bit unpredictable if he felt under stress at all.
In order to sort his mental state out he needs to be happy and relaxed and the way to achieve that is to ensure that you walk and play with him/her everyday and burn off a lot of the excess energy that can be destructive. Ensure he/she understands that he/she is a dog and their wishes and desires are unimportant when it comes to house rules and discipline. If you want to do something that involves the dog, DO IT! it is irrelevant what the dog wants to do and if you give in to a dog demanding to do something you are putting yourself at risk of creating a dominant dog that will be difficult to control!
I don't allow dogs into the kitchen whilst I'm cooking or preparing anything because it is dangerous to have a dog under your feet. I always ask the dogs stopping at ours to stay in the dining room and not to cross the line into the kitchen. Now this serves two purposes, firstly it keeps everyone safe and secondly it shows leadership to the dog and gives rules and boundaries for him/her to follow.
Bailey decided to dance around me and didn't want to comply with this rule and this would normally end in a stand off and him biting. Picking up a tea tray to place in front of me to deflect any bite, Bailey was ushered out of the kitchen and instructed where to stay which he duly did! By repeating this every time you are schooling the dog in rules and discipline and showing leadership over him/her.
When you let the dog out in the morning you must ignore them whilst they perform their crazy routine around you! Bailey went home to his owners and immediately jumped up each member of the family, entering their personal zone without permission and being very rude! He did not do that to any member of my family because this is never encouraged or tolerated! Your dog has to know that he is not the leader and that he is bottom of the pack in the family. This is not cruel, your dog is happy to have that position and is looking to you to exert leadership over him/her. How can he respect you if he doesn't see you as a leader!
Show your dog leadership by giving clear rules and boundaries of behaviour and being strong and in control and most of all enjoying being with and interacting with your dog!
Happy training!
Steve
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