Every dog owner knows that our beloved pets will soon become part of the family. 33% of Britons live with a dog in their householdmaking them the most popular pet in the country.
Even though owners think they know what is best for their four-legged companion, not everything we do for our four-legged friends is recommended by professionals.
Dog trainer and behaviour expert Nick Jones MA has revealed five common pet owner behaviours that can do more harm than good to the dog. He warns that some dog owner mistakes can lead to bad behaviour and negative power relationships.
Nick has over two thousand dog behavior cases under his belt and over 20 years of experience. He recently partnered with ACME Whistles to educate dog owners on how to train their pets and deal with behavior problems.
From training techniques to choosing the chew item, HELLO! asked the expert to reveal the things he would never do as a dog owner.
© Maya KarkalichevaNever neglect to train and socialize your dog
“In my daily work as a dog behaviorist, many of the problems I encounter could be prevented or resolved through appropriate training and addressing issues that can cause anxiety in dogs,” explains Nick.
“Even older dogs and rescue dogs can be trained and guided in such a way that they quickly adapt to their new surroundings, give them security and enable a pleasant coexistence for dog and owner.”
© fotostormNever feed your dog from your plate
Sorry, dog lovers. As much as you’d love to share the last bites of food with your four-legged friend, letting your pet eat from your plate could do more harm than good.
“We can give our dog healthy leftovers, I would not feed the dog directly from my plate or allow him to sit at my feet and stare at me while I eat,” says Nick.
“Not only does this lead to problems with begging, but this relatively small point can also be the basis for further deterioration of a healthy, leadership-based relationship with the dog. Balanced and consistent rules in the household are essential for happy dogs and happy families.”
© DRACULA IMAGESWhen you buy a puppy, you always meet the mother
Although adopting or rescuing a puppy is always preferable to buying a new dog, Nick explains the importance of getting to know the mother dog.
This way you can be sure that the breeding of the puppy is well thought out and that the breeders are doing everything they can to ensure the welfare and best prospects for the new puppies.
“Far too many people I work with have bought puppies without seeing the mother with the puppies,” warns Nick.
“Observing the mother not only allows us to identify her temperament, which can influence the behavior of the puppies, and gives us insight into the genetic health of the puppies, but also ensures that the puppies were bred in that location.
© GettyNever neglect training recall
According to Nick, nothing is more important when training a dog of any age than a good, reliable recall. If your dog doesn’t come back to you when you call him, he could be putting himself or others in danger.
“When training, always make sure you set yourself and your dog up for success,” advises Nick.
“For example, using a long training leash (30 to 50 feet long) attached to the dog’s body harness, a high-quality reward food and/or toy, and using open and encouraging body language and voice is an extremely effective training method for most dogs.”
© Anita KotNever let your dog pull
Rewarding a dog at a young age for walking well next to its owner is a very valuable tool.
“I have seen many owners suffer from shoulder, neck and back problems because their dog is constantly pulling, but this doesn’t have to be the case,” adds Nick.
“If you take some time during the day and do some very simple and fun ‘heel’ exercises with a young dog in different locations, introducing plenty of stops, left and right turns and occasional sit and down commands for variety and interest, you will soon develop a dog that is much more attentive to the owner’s position.”
