The dog handler spoke about the causes of bad habits in dogs

When a dog starts messing around, pulling on a leash or jumping on people, its owner gets upset, believing that he got a pet with a stubborn character. In fact, any bad habit of an animal has its own reason, and most often it is fixed undesirable behavior. Vladimir Golubev, President of the Russian Cynological Federation, told Izvestia about this on May 10.

According to him, positive reinforcement is the basis for competent and effective dog education. It consists in the fact that after each correct action of the pet, whether it is a quiet walk or going to the toilet in the right place, the person praises the animal.

"The praise can be in the form of treats, stroking or playing. This is how a dog learns to understand what actions a person expects from it. But it happens that the owners, often without noticing it, by their actions, on the contrary, consolidate undesirable behavior. Once the dog incorrectly read your signals, and now repeats the habit over and over again," the expert explained.

If the pet is begging for food from the table, then it is likely that the owner had previously treated the dog in a similar situation. The animal remembered that if you try hard and wait, you might be able to get food again.

"A pet on a walk led you towards the house or to the right place, and you succumbed. The signal has been received: the dog has realized that it can control the owner. It is necessary to wean the animal from this habit as early as possible, since a strained leash can even lead to problems with the spine. In no case should you pull the dog in response — it is better to adopt the "tree" pose every time the leash is stretched. And keep moving only when it weakens," the Russian Cynological Federation advised.

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The habit of jumping on people can be formed even in puppyhood. The dog realized that after such an action it gets the attention of a person. From an early age, you need to teach your pet to "sit" and only after it is completed, show emotions and continue playing with the puppy.

If the dog barks alone at home, then perhaps the habit has formed, because one day the owner responded to the signal, returned to the room or to the house and tried to calm the dog. The animal remembers that if you whine and bark for a long time, sooner or later the owner will return.

In addition, the pet may spoil toys and furniture, trying to make it clear that it needs attention and activity. The best solution is to distract him. Take him outside or throw him a ball, the expert said.

"There are habits that do not appear as a result of the mistakes of the owner. For example, a dog may be afraid to walk, swim, or cut its claws — this is also undesirable behavior, but it is most likely caused by a negative experience. It is important for the owner, through competent positive reinforcement, to gradually accustom the pet to the fact that any such situation does not really pose a threat to him," the Russian Cynological Federation explained.

Another common problem is when dogs mark corners in the house. In this case, you first need to make sure that the animal does not have problems with the genitourinary system by contacting a veterinarian. If your health condition is satisfactory, you need to increase your walking time and keep your pet occupied with games. At home, you need to give him a special toilet mat. You can resort to a trick: if your pet has chosen a specific place, move a bowl of food or a lounger there.

Earlier, on February 21, veterinarian Alexander Alyasov told Izvestia that the most common diseases in pets that are difficult to notice without examination include kidney failure, heart disease, periodontal disease (deep damage to the parotid tissue) and arthritis. Overweight and obesity are also private problems of some animals.