Dogs are a reflection of their owners. They feed off of our energy and behavior so the next time your dog jumps on you for attention, think twice about how you respond. Here are five common dog behaviors that you may be enabling.

1. Chewing - When dogs are not sufficiently entertained, especially after being left alone all day, they will do anything to alleviate their boredom including chewing on mommy's new shoes. Instead, make sure they have access to their favorite toys so they can keep themselves busy while your gone.

2. Excessive Barking - There could be a variety of reasons why your dog is being vocal, but if every time they bark, you bark back "Quiet!", they'll take that as a sign to keep at it. Instead, try calming your dog down by demonstrating the energy you want them to mirror. Try calmly, but firmly saying "Quiet." and wait until they stop. Once they do, praise them and give them a treat.

3. Jumping On You - A "Tail-Tale" sign that a dog is used to getting their way is when a dog jumps on you for attention. Don't reinforce this behavior by giving them what they want, instead ignore them to teach them that that's not the way we get attention.

4. Climbing on Furniture - Humans tend to unintentionally reward negative behavior from dogs, and giving them a treat when they get on the couch is a very common mistake people make. If you find that your dog always seems to get on the furniture, especially with you around, try calmly taking them to their "place" and rewarding them when they listen.

5. Nipping on Your Clothes - Here's another example of when it's a good idea to remain calm and not give them the attention they seek. Instead, ignore them for the time being. A properly trained dog will figure it out in their heads that there are better ways to communicate what they want other than just biting on your clothes when they're hungry, thirsty or need to go outside.

To learn more about how better communicate with your dog and ultimately create an even stronger bond, call us at (713) 324-8850

Common dog behaviors that you might be enabling