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Puppy love

Posted Sun, Mar 02, 2008, 10:12 pm PST
Let's take a closer look at the ways in which you express your love for your dog.

Remember, every time you give your dog affection you are reinforcing the preceding behavior. Are you reinforcing stability by sharing affection after your dog has exercised and eaten, changed an unwanted behavior into a behavior you asked for, responded to a rule or command, or entered a calm-submissive state? Or are you reinforcing problem behaviors by giving affection when your dog is fearful, anxious, possessive, dominant, aggressive, whining, begging, barking, or breaking a household rule?

Love is not only expressed through petting and giving kisses; it is also proven by fulfilling your dogs needs! Is your dog up-to-date on shots and receiving annual veterinary visits? Do you supply adequate food and access to fresh water? Are you providing daily walks and rules, boundaries, and limitations? Have you taken the role of pack leader by providing calm-assertive energy?

Affection is an important part of the canine-human bond. Make a commitment to prove your love by giving affection at the right times!

Showing 22 of 22 Comments

  • 1. cindy m - 4:07AM on 03/03/08

    when puppie is fearful of noises she hides behind my legs,, i tell her its ok,,

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  • 2. Mary - 11:14AM on 03/03/08

    I try to give affection to reward desirable behaviors,and not to give affection when doing wrong behaviors. But is it okay to give affection when they just look so cute sitting, laying down or whatever?

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  • 3. CJ Anderson - 11:34AM on 03/03/08

    You Know Mary, when the dog is calm and YOU are the one choosing, that is ok by Cesar - the big issue is when THRY try to get the pets and cuddles! I have to watch for this in my house all the time, it is so subtle! You know when they come up and casually put their head under your dangling hand or...kinda sorta lean up against you... or give you the quick lick in passing! My biggest change has been in learning that exercising my dogs is the most affectionate gift I can give them! One can see the difference of night vs day when they come off that treadmill before we go for a walk, where we work on the disapline and obedience issues. Marley runs at 3.5 miles for the most of an hour and Valentine goes for 2.5. Everyone is so much calmer and so much less reactive! I know I enjoy them even more in that quiet state!

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  • 4. vivica d - 9:08PM on 03/03/08

    tahnks for that info

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  • 5. pam g - 9:16PM on 03/03/08

    Any suggestions?? I have a 1 1/2 year old Old English Bulldogge, he gets walked 3 times a day and played with by the kids all day but it is not enough.His energy level doesn't decrease...How do you train a dog to get on a treadmill and walk it..I think this would be great for him!!

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  • 6. Claudia E - 3:16AM on 03/05/08

    Good advice to be calm and assertive and the pack leader....but HOW? Our dogs (and we ourselves) just don't get it! They are basically well behaved nice dogs, but when you take a closer look, THEY run the show. How can I change that?

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  • 7. robeynj - 8:55AM on 03/05/08

    Hello, I have a Husky/Shepard mix and she is 12 years old. She is in great health. Lately she has been chattering her teeth, can I get some help in why she is doing this, should I take her to the Vet? Concerned, Thank you

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  • 8. kelly t - 3:28PM on 03/05/08

    I have a 7 week old min pin. Where should he be kept where he can sleep?

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  • 9. J M - 4:40PM on 03/05/08

    kelly...you have to decide if you want to crate train your dog. he can always sleep with you, but sometimes that isn;t the right thing to do. he should have his own space at night where he is safe and sometimes you have to teach him that night time is sleep time. if he cries cover him with a towel or sheet and give him a little chew bone and he will fall asleep all by his self. it might take a few nights before he realizes that this is where is is going to be at night. make sure if he does cry at night that he doesn;t have to go potty..if he doesn;t go potty then just put him back in the crate and follow the same sch as if he was going to bed. but it is importent that you keep the same sch. then later after he becomes older and you want him to sleep with you , that is your discision... also have a bed in the crate so he is use to his bed and then take the bed out and tell him to go lay down,. he will get use to the rules...

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  • 10. ambe - 4:51PM on 03/07/08

    wow j m you sound like a professional

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  • 11. Toni Hamilton - 1:18PM on 03/08/08

    Robyn, take your dog to the vet asap. Our dog did that, we thought she was shivering, but it was siezures. the vet said he could give her something for it, but before that happened, she had a stroke and died. She was 14. I can never hurt to have it checked out, but I hope that's not what's happening with yours.

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  • 12. eaglestare2 - 11:01PM on 03/08/08

    To Claudia: I think Cesar would say that the pack leaders makes the decisions for the beginning and end of each activity. This includes displaying and projecting the calm-assertive energy, correcting behavior in a firm consistent manner. It sound like if your dogs really run the show, they need consistent rules, boundaries, and limitations. Watch lots of Dog Whisperer shows over and over, and buy Cesar's DVDs about Mastering Leadership on cesarmillaninc.com. You'll begin to understand his philosophy and methods better, and you will be transformed just like I have been.

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  • 13. limon_m@att.net - 2:45PM on 03/09/08

    i dont know if my puppy is trying 2 ply with me or he just wants to bite me

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  • 14. Deloris G - 8:24AM on 03/10/08

    Whenever my dog did something wrong I would get upset and yell at him. This did no good. I then watched a DVD by the whisperer, quit yelling and just did as was told for each bad action and boy was sure happy. My dog did much better and is on the way to becomming a much better behaved dog. This is 1st. time I have had a male, and they seem to be more stubbone. Is it true that once you have them nutered they are much better behaved?

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  • 15. alsuwaidi895 - 2:49AM on 03/14/08

    helo i have a 3 month dalmaition he has a small pink skin i think his fur or hair fell down what do i do

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  • 16. FAITH S - 5:40AM on 03/18/08

    My 2-year old German shepherd died 2 weeks ago from antifreeze poisoning and I just can't get over her. She was my baby. Any suggestions?

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  • 17. Joanne - 8:10AM on 03/25/08

    I have heard from more than one person that Chihauhau' are difficult if not impossible to housbreak as a breed. Does any one have have any comments about Chihauhau's? I recently "adopted" a very small 14 week old little girl and she seems immpossible to train at any level and doesn't even have a clue about housebreaking after repeated and consistant attempts.

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  • 18. Zoeys Mom - 12:08PM on 03/29/08

    Joanne, Hi. Have you tried the puppy training pads? We have a 3 lb 1/2 chihuahua 1/2 jack russell that was 12 weeks when we got her and not trained, but trained in two days with the pads. Put a pad in your bathroom and show her where it is. You don't need pads all over the house, one will do. She'll know where it is once you show her and she starts using it. If you crate her at night, all the better. Take her out in the morning and directly to her pad. Close the bathroom door and set her on the pad. If she gets off the pad without peeing, gently put her back on, without talking. Be patient. If she's been crated all night you KNOW she has to go. Praise her when she goes and give her a tiny tidbit of cheese. During the day you'll have to keep a constant eye on her and watch for "signs". When you see her start to circle or squat, quietly pick her up and take her to the pad. If you catch her in the act clap your hands to startle her (no talking) and take her to her pad. Don't yell or talk, just gently put her on her pad. If she gets off, gently put her back on. Take a tiny treat with you to the bathroom (cheese works very well) and praise her and give her the treat every time she uses the pad. If she has an accident, take the paper towel you use to wipe it up and put it on the pad so she can smell it. If she poops any place else put it on the pad and show her. Leave it there for future reference. The most important thing is to stay calm and don't yell or reprimand her. She doesn't know where to relieve herself, you have to show her, repeatedly. For a few days you'll have to watch her constantly to catch her before she has an accident. Just be patient and calm, she'll get it!

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  • 19. Joanne - 12:24PM on 03/30/08

    Thank you so much for the reply. Do you think the same method would work if I want to train her to go "outside" or sre the pee pads a beginning step?

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  • 20. Zoeys Mom - 1:17PM on 03/31/08

    We started with the pads, in addition to taking her outside, and now she mostly uses the pads. Its like box training a cat- you don't have to worry about thinking all the time "Should I take her out again?" She will learn that the pad is her indoor potty. When she has to go she'll just trot right in the bathroom and do her thing without you even knowing. Its great. Thats the great thing about a tiny dog: tiny pees,and tiny poops. Zoey actually tells us when she poops because she knows she'll get a little treat and big praise. She watches us flush her poop and follows us into the kitchen, sits, and waits for her treat. (she knows she has to "sit" and "stay" to get a treat) Too cute. The other great thing is that you can take them anywhere without worrying that she'll have and "accident" at someone elses house- just take a pad with you, show her where you put it when you get there (I always put it in their bathroom too) and she will use it. Zoey would rather do her business indoors that out which keeps the yard clean too. The first thing she does when we come in from a walk or playing outside is go into the bathroom and pee. I flush poops as she does them, and change the pads when there are too many pee spots, usually late afternoon she needs a new pad, and in the morning after her big pees that she held all night.

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  • 21. Tina H - 9:46PM on 04/06/08

    Hi, I have 3 dogs. Two 12-week-old chihuahuas and a yr old Yorkie . The problem I have is the excited/fearful squirting that they do. Can anyone let me know how to get them to stop this. The female baby just starting doing that. Everytime she walks up to us she squats and pees. They also think that they're in trouble when I say no or eh (even to my kids lol) and when I walk up to them to pet them, they'll do the squat and pee. It's mostly the exciting squirt though. Can anyone help with this? Thanks so much!

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  • 22. Tina H - 9:47PM on 04/06/08

    Hi, I have 3 dogs. Two 12-week-old chihuahuas and a yr old Yorkie . The problem I have is the excited/fearful squirting that they do. Can anyone let me know how to get them to stop this. The female baby just starting doing that. Everytime she walks up to us she squats and pees. They also think that they're in trouble when I say no or eh (even to my kids lol) and when I walk up to them to pet them, they'll do the squat and pee. It's mostly the exciting squirt though. Can anyone help with this? Thanks so much!

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