The Tooth Trouble
So, here’s the deal. Caza, my beloved canine, had a bit of a mishap and broke not one, but two canine teeth. Initially, we thought it was just one, but a visit to the vet for surgery revealed it was two. This little adventure cost us about $1,200 and has left Kaza in a cone, unable to do much of anything for a couple of weeks. Her bite work career has taken an unexpected pause, and life has been quite busy around here.
Unhealthy Attachments
Given the disruption, I decided to record a podcast outside our usual schedule since we missed two episodes. Today, I want to dive into a topic I believe many dog owners can relate to: unhealthy attachments our dogs form with us.
Think about your daily routines. When you go to the bathroom, where’s your dog? If they’re not sleeping outside the door, they might be in there with you, guarding or just laying on your feet. When you brush your teeth, where are they? Probably at your feet again. And during dinner? Either begging, which is super annoying, or laying under the table.
Treating Dogs as Humans
A lot of times, we create these unhealthy habits by treating our dogs like humans. We allow them to do things and be in places they don’t necessarily need to be, such as in the bathroom with us, in our beds, or in the kitchen while we cook. This doesn’t translate to respect in a dog’s brain as it might in a human’s. Instead, they see it as freedom to do whatever they want.
Dogs don’t think, “Oh, I should still respect my owner.” They think, “Hell yeah, I have freedom!” Give them an inch, and they’ll take a mile, or ten.
Creating Healthy Boundaries
If your dog is perfect and has no issues, great! Keep doing what you’re doing. But if you face any challenges, here’s what I suggest:
1. Implement Commands: When you get up to leave a room and your dog follows, give them a command to stay focused on—whether it’s “down,” “sit,” “stay,” or “wait.” They need to learn to stay put and not follow you everywhere.
2. Bathroom Boundaries: In the bathroom, tell your dog to get out or to down-stay outside the door. They don’t need to be in there with you.
3. Mealtime Manners: During meals, your dog shouldn’t be begging or drooling at your feet. They should be elsewhere, doing their own thing.
4. Kitchen Rules: The kitchen is for cooking, not for dogs. Teach them to stay out while you’re preparing meals.
5. Bedtime Boundaries: Stop letting your dog sleep in your bed. Utilize a kennel more often to give them their own space and create a structured environment.
Be the Leader
To have a well-behaved dog, you need to be a proactive and disciplined owner. Setting rules and boundaries is essential. By giving your dog guidelines, you’re setting them up to be the best version of themselves.
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Feel free to reach out for any training inquiries or if you have topics you’d like us to cover. Remember, a well-trained dog begins with a well-informed owner. Let’s all strive to be the best dog owners we can be!
Take care and happy training!
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Dawg Boss K9, based in Richmond, Virginia, specializes in training aggressive and reactive dogs. While primarily serving Richmond, we also extend our services to Powhatan, Midlothian, Chesterfield, and surrounding areas. With a focus on addressing challenging behaviors, Dawg Boss K9 is committed to helping dog owners create a harmonious relationship with their pets.
