Being consistent

[Poppy]

I remember reading about an owner who had trouble getting his dog off the couch. His 9-month-old puppy couldn't understand why he was no longer wanted on the couch while as a young puppy, he was allowed on it, for whatever duration he wanted to lie there. This got me thinking about how you should start training very early, lest you experience the trouble of having to retrain a dog.

 

[Vinny]

Excellent point! I always start shaping behaviors when I first meet any dog. Trying to change behaviors that has been working for a dog and reinforcing is always hard to change. Dogs are opportunist and always default to the most reinforcing behaviors.

 

[Poppy]

Very true @Vinny and I think that the biggest challenge for most dog owners is striking that balance between training the dog and disciplining it because they are the most adorable animals. On the other hand, I feel that a dog can be helped to overcome behavior problems in many ways, including but not limited to mental stimulation and lack of enough exercise.