Saturday, April 25, 2009

How To-3: "How to Make Dogs Love You"


How to Make Dogs Love You


from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Dogs are very loyal and intelligent animals. You can create lasting friendships with them. Read on for tips on how to properly love a dog and make one loyal to you.

Steps

  1. You can not make a dog love you. Dogs are said to have an inborn "wolf sense", meaning they can sense your emotions.
  2. Be consistent. There's nothing more frustrating for a dog than an owner that can't make up his/her mind.
  3. Use single word commands like 'sit' and 'stay' and stick to them. Don't use 'stay' one day and 'wait' the next. If you teach a dog to lie down by saying 'down', don't teach him to get off of the couch by saying 'down'. He'll think you want him to lie down; use 'off' instead.
  4. Be pleased with your dog. When he behaves favorably, praise him and reward him.
  5. Use a friendly tone. When he does something undesired, use a stern tone.
  6. Don't ever hit your dog. Displays of aggression only teach the dog to be defensive and therefore aggressive.
  7. Socialize your dog with people and other dogs. He will learn to be friendly to both if he is familiar with them.
  8. Make sure your dog gets all the play, walks and exercise he needs. Dogs with pent up energy tend to become destructive and depressed.
  9. Make sure your dog understands the pecking order of his "pack". If you have children, he should be below them on a pack level. The owner or primary caretaker of the dog should be the "alpha" the dog should respect this leader. If the alpha is not present, the dog may try to take charge. Dogs need to be part of a pack to be happy.
  10. Give your dog outlets for stress, boredom, or frustration. If he chews, give him raw bones or chew toys. If he digs, make him a "dig box" (a wooden frame in the ground, filled with soft dirt, this saves your yard!).

Tips

  • While your dog is a puppy, make sure you put your hand in the food dish (before they get too possessive of it) and make sure the dog gets used to people around while it's eating, that way if there are little children around they don't have to worry about getting bitten during the dogs eating time. Plus, it encourages the dog to share its things. (STOP doing this if you see any negative reaction, and consult a professional dog behavior consultant or trainer.)
  • As I said in the steps section, do not be physical with them if they aren't comfortable with you. Over time, your dog will be more and more comfortable with you, and you can progressively get more physical.
  • Old dogs CAN learn new tricks, sometimes it just takes time Patience.
  • Giving dogs treats as a reward encourages them to behave well if the treats are connected to good behavior. Be sure to use a variety of rewards - not just food treats, but toys, attention, games, and activities. Use positive praise with a happy voice, and back scratches.
  • It make take a bit of time for a new dog to get used to you. If they hide, don't bother them. They will love you at some point.

Warnings

  • Rescued/shelter dogs may have a hard time trusting you and learning new things. Be patient; they may have been hurt by their previous owner. Show them they can trust you by giving them time, patience and love. Never hit a dog. They may bite you.
  • Dogs could be hurt by their previous owner. If you get mad at them, they can get upset. Take it nice and slow, you don't want to be hurt.

Things You'll Need

  • A dog
  • Time
  • Patience

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Make Dogs Love You. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.