Think it’s too late to teach your pet good manners? Think
again.
Does it seem like your pet is just too stubborn to learn
anymanners?
Or that your pet is
too old and set in its ways to learn new habits? Some days it sure feels
that way. But I’m here to assure you that you
can teach an old (or new) pet new tricks! I’ve found that the recipe
to success boils down to a few basic ingredients: Patience and Consistency;
Self-Deprecation is optional.
Some of you may be thinking, “Yes, my pet’s manners
could use some adjusting.” Others of you are thinking, “Manners?
I’d love to teach manners…as soon as I get my puppy (or kitten)
to stop biting me!”
As some of you know, I am the lucky owner of Riley,
an 11-year old Black Lab. His “Marley-ish” stories are legendary.
As such, I am constantly reminded that teaching – and maintaining – good
manners is an ongoing battle. Today may be “Bark at the Neighbor
on his Bicycle" Day; yesterday was “Can Mom Keep Her Balance
as I Drag Her Down the Sidewalk” Day; and tomorrow?? It’s
anyone’s
guess what tomorrow will bring.
So what, exactly, are “Good Manners”? Each of us has a different
answer to this question – and that’s great. Even though some
behaviors are “just socially expected”, we each teach and tolerate
other individual behaviors from our own pets. Most of our parents taught
us the basics: Yes, please. No, thank you. Ladies first. Elbows off the
table. Since our pets don’t come to us knowing good manners from
bad, it’s up to us to teach them.
Here are some behaviors that I categorize as “basic” good
manners:
• Don’t jump on me or use your feet to get my attention
(pawing)
• Don’t put your teeth on me for any reason (this includes
play-biting)
• Don’t display “drama” at the front door or
window when someone approaches
• Walk nicely on your leash; and greet other pets and people calmly
• Play politely with others
Now that we’ve defined them, how do you teach your pet good manners?
In my years of behavior experience, I have found that positive forms of
teaching get faster, more solid results. “Pay” your pet well
in a currency they understand (i.e. food!) and they will want to give you
the behavior that you are trying to achieve. I strongly recommend a training
method called Clicker Training. Clicker training is not only an effective
training method, but I have found it to be fun for the whole family, especially
your pet. Let’s face it; everyone in the household has a hand in
spoiling your pet so you might as well put them all to work with the training,
too! My dog Riley has been known to pick up a clicker (in his mouth, of
course) and bring it to me practically begging me to make it click so he
can get a treat! (That’s a true story!!) And don’t worry kitty
owners, your cats can be clicker trained too! The key is finding the right
treat or toy to motivate them. A great, easy to read book - complete with
pictures – is “Clicking
with Your Dog,” by Peggy Tillman.
While you’re reading about clicker training, what can you do in
the mean time? I’ve narrowed it down to three simple – but
not always easy – tips:
• Define the “House Rules”. This addresses
the expectations of everyone in the household – people as well as
pets. Both you and Bailey (refers to dog or cat) will begin to understand
what's expected. Bailey will be able to predict your reaction (or lack
of) and you'll begin to narrow down what behaviors you want Bailey to do
or not to do. Bailey will learn that no matter who is near him, the rule
is the same. For example, the pets are not allowed on the furniture - this
happens no matter who is home, no matter how cute Bailey may be at the
time, etc.
• Be Consistent. Establish (and stick to) a routine
that incorporates the new behavior you expect from your pet. Routines establish
predictability which then helps everyone live up to their expectations.
2+2=4…this
is consistently true, right? It’s not just true on some days, or
in some situations. It doesn’t depend on your mood or on the weather.
When you have consistency, the new behavior will become as predictable
as a math equation.
• Stay Calm and Patient. Take the drama out of the situation.
Yes, teaching manners can be frustrating at times. It’s an ongoing
battle for all of us. When you allow drama to take over, your pet may be
accidentally rewarded for a behavior you really didn’t want reinforced.
As with any of us – adult, child, pet – bad attention is better
than no attention. Too much emotion takes away the consistency and predictability
of your training techniques. It can add confusion to an already challenging
task. If you find yourself becoming overwhelmed during a training session
or a stressful situation (i.e. your dog just tackled the pizza delivery
guy at the front door and is happily munching on your breadsticks) it’s
time to step back and take a deep breath. Walk away for a bit and come
back to your pet in a little while. It’s not worth jeopardizing your
relationship with your four-legged companion. You’ve worked way too
hard to lose ground now.
As with anything, learning a new habit can be overwhelming. To encourage
yourself to keep working toward your goal, it’s important to celebrate
the baby steps along the way. These baby steps add up and before you know
it, your pet will have such nice manners that your friends will be begging
you for advice.
We at CCAH firmly believe that if we understand our pet's
behaviors (and where these behaviors come from and what causes them), it
will be much easier to include our pets as members of our families. For
more information on Behavior Consultations at CCAH, please follow
this link.
At Cheshire Crossing Animal Hospital, the doctors and
staff consider dental health to be a top priority. A thorough examination
of the mouth with emphasis on the teeth and gums is an integral part of
every pet’s physical exam.
Disease of the gum tissue, known as periodontal disease, affects 85% of
adult dogs and cats. Left untreated, periodontal disease can lead to pain,
bad breath, and tooth loss. Over time, chronic bacterial infection of the
mouth can lead to disease in other parts of the body such as the heart
and kidneys.
We all know that caring for our own teeth involves frequent brushing,
flossing, and rinsing. And while we may have the very best...read more
is
too old and set in its ways to learn new habits? Some days it sure feels
that way. But I’m here to assure you that you
can teach an old (or new) pet new tricks! I’ve found that the recipe
to success boils down to a few basic ingredients: Patience and Consistency;
Self-Deprecation is optional.
Now that we’ve defined them, how do you teach your pet good manners?
In my years of behavior experience, I have found that positive forms of
teaching get faster, more solid results. “Pay” your pet well
in a currency they understand (i.e. food!) and they will want to give you
the behavior that you are trying to achieve. I strongly recommend a training
method called 
