Should You Allow Your Dog On The Bed?

Let me start this article off by saying that there are millions of dogs sleeping in people's beds and without a problem. However there are a number of dogs sleeping in people's beds that create a lot of problems the worst of which is usually aggression. 

It's a documented fact that when you put a dog in your bed or on your furniture it becomes an equal. If your dog is an equal why should it listen to you it's just as important or has as much authority as you do? 

Like I mentioned a moment ago there are dogs that sleep in people's beds that are not a problem. This is usually a dog that has been trained or at least knows its place in the pack. 

So now back to the question should you allow your dog on the bed and the answer is generally no? Not unless your dog has been trained properly and knows his place in the pack. 

So now let's talk for a moment about those dogs that do have a problem like aggression. Usually this type of aggression is directed at members of the family which could include the kids, mom and dad, or even the other dog. So how do we fix it? 

Actually it's fairly easy. You are going to start off by not allowing your dog on the bed or on the furniture at any time for the next few weeks. That means you'll need to find a way to keep the dog off your bed during the night while you're sleeping. Using a crate to accomplish this is always an easy fix. 

Keeping the dog off the furniture can sometimes be a little trickier but it's really very easy. Each time your dog gets on the furniture simply grab it by the collar and pull it off the furniture as you give the command "off". I think that you'll find within as little as 24 hours your dog will stop getting on the furniture. 

The second part of the equation is to now obedience train your dog. Ideally you'll want to hire a professional dog trainer that can help you accomplish your goals quickly and efficiently. 

The training should include all the basics. 

· Walking on a loose leash 

· Sit on command 

· Down command 

· Sit stay 

· Down stay 

· Recall - the come command 

These exercises are actually going to establish you as the master and it will show your dog its place in the pack. 

So after the training is completed and your dog knows its place in the pack you can invited back into the bed. If there aren't any additional problems you can allow him to stay in the bed. However if your dog reverts to its old bad habits then it will have to get out of the bed again. With some dogs if you give them an inch they will take a mile.

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Make Dog Training Fun, Not A Chore

I always tell my clients that dog training is something you should enjoy doing with your dog not somethinginer. 

 that you dread. I have always found that training with my dog was so exciting when the light bulb goes off and the dog grasps the new exercise. I know it is just as exciting for the dog as it is for the tra

One thing that you can do to add a little excitement to your training sessions is to change things around. Don't get into the habit of always making your training sessions the same. Change the order that you do the exercises in so your dog does not get bored. 

After the initial training it is a good idea to change up your training locations. You can start inside then move to the backyard and then to the front yard. Once your dog is doing the exercises well in the front yard then start doing them while you go for a walk around the neighborhood. 

When your dog has started doing the exercises well start using them in your everyday life. For example start requiring your dog to do a down stay while you eat dinner or a sit stay while you wash the dishes. Get the dog used to the fact that these exercises aren't only for when we are training, they are required all the time. 

I want you to keep in mind that training should not only be fun for you but it should also be fun for your dog. Make sure you give your dog a ton of praise when it does a good job. Praise is something that people always seem to be stingy with, especially men. Women are usually much better with their praise than men. 

I always suggest that you do something that your dog enjoys after a training session. If your dog likes to retrieve a ball then throw it. If it enjoys a walk then walk it. You get the idea. This simply gives your dog something to look forward to after each training session.

 

Remember that training your dog not only gives you a trained dog but it also establishes you as the master and develops that great master dog relationship. There is just nothing better than a well trained dog that you can enjoy and are able to take with you and be assured that your dog will not be a problem. So go out there and enjoy the training!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Make-Dog-Training-Fun,-Not-A-Chore&id=8389506