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May 2, 2010 - Bark Busters Observes National Pet Week with Top 10 Tips for Dog Owners
Englewood, CO., May 2, 2010—In celebration of National Pet Week, May 2-8, 2010, Bark Busters, the world’s largest dog training company, has issued a list of the Top 10 Things Every Dog Owner Should Know. National Pet Week was founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Auxiliary to the AVMA to promote responsible pet ownership, celebrate the human-animal bond, and promote public awareness of veterinary medicine. As a world leader in natural home dog, Bark Busters and its global network of dog behavioral therapists are championing responsible dog ownership by fostering a positive relationship between owner and dog to establish a lasting emotional bond based on respect and trust.
“As part of our commitment to responsible dog ownership, Bark Busters dog behavioral therapists have compiled a Top 10 list that will help dog owners better understand their canine pets,” said Liam Crowe, Bark Busters CEO and master dog behavioral therapist. “What better way to celebrate National Pet Week than by promoting a better understanding of man’s best friend?”
- A dog is a dog. The greatest misconception many dog owners have is to assume their dogs communicate the way people do. Dogs live by the same pack rules and exhibit many of the same behavioral patterns as their wild ancestors. To effectively train your dog, you must first understand his instinctual pack behavior.
- All dogs think in terms of the pack. Dogs instinctively know that living with others, under the leadership of a dominant pack member, enhances their chances for survival. As a dog owner, one of your responsibilities is to model a leader’s strong and consistent characteristics so you will be accepted as the pack leader and your dog will learn to respect and obey you. Your leadership will make your dog feel safe and eliminate many behavior problems.
- Dogs don’t understand English. In addition to barking, growling and other guttural sounds, dogs rely heavily on body language. And yet, your body language can easily be misinterpreted. By understanding how dogs communicate, you will avoid the mistake of telling your dog one thing while your body language and voice pitch tell him something completely different. (Learn more about body language and voice tones at BarkBusters.com.)
- Dogs are neither spiteful nor deliberately naughty. There are three reasons why a dog misbehaves or disobeys: 1) he does not understand what you want, 2) he does not consider you its leader, or 3) he is suffering from some kind of stress or fear. Understanding this will help you address your dog’s problems and behaviors.
- Aggression is instinctual in every breed. Whether Chihuahua or German shepherd, a dog’s breed has nothing to do with aggression. Instead, aggression is instinctual and caused most often by fear of the unknown—that is, whatever the dog cannot understand or does not recognize as normal. When a dog becomes frightened, it will do one of two things: fight or take flight. By reinforcing leadership over your dog, you can avoid unacceptable or uncontrollable aggression.
- You can teach an old dog new tricks. Dogs are continuous learners and have good memories. The three things that primarily influence a dog’s behavior are association, instinct, and experience. By conditioning your dog and effectively showing him what you consider good and bad behavior, you can help him change his behavior.
- Bad behaviors may be natural, but they do not have to be acceptable. Most people consider digging, chewing and jumping as unacceptable dog behavior—but to dogs, these actions are natural. A dog owner needs to associate a dog’s bad behavior with a negative experience (such as a harsh voice tone) and good behavior with a positive experience (such as high-pitched praise).
- It’s illogical to get angry with your dog. Dogs do only what comes naturally or what they’ve learned through association, so getting angry—or using physical force—is both inappropriate and counterproductive. Moreover, never use your hands for disciplining because dogs find this provocative and threatening. Use your hands as little as possible when training—and when you do, make sure your dog always associates your hands with gentleness and pleasure.
- Correct your dog on the spot. Because dogs learn from association, they will comprehend your message only if it is delivered in a timely manner. A correction must be issued at the precise moment the dog is either contemplating or actually doing something wrong. Because it can be difficult to catch your dog in the act, find ways to create situations that will cause your dog to misbehave so you can then correct him immediately.
- Dogs experience the world differently from people. With 25 times more olfactory receptors than humans, dogs can sense odors at concentrations millions of times lower. In addition, dogs’ sight has been described to be like that of a person who is color-blind. Dogs use other cues (such as smell, texture, brightness, and position) rather than relying on color. With acutely developed hearing, dogs can hear sounds four times farther away than humans—but dogs also hear selectively. They can sleep beside a blaring television but wake up as soon as they hear something unrelated to that.
Bark Busters, the world's largest, most trusted dog training company, started in Australia in 1989 and came to the United States in 2000. Since inception, more than 500,000 dogs have been trained worldwide using its dog-friendly, natural methods. With 250+ franchised offices in 40 states and more than 400 offices in 10 countries, Bark Busters is continuing its mission to build a global network of dog behavioral therapists to enhance responsible dog ownership and reduce the possibility of maltreatment, abandonment and euthanasia of companion dogs. Bark Busters is the only international dog training company that offers guaranteed lifetime support. SPCA International selected Bark Busters dog behavioral training services as the “Best of the Best” in its category. No other training company or dog trainer received such a distinction. To fetch a trainer in your area, call 1-877-500-BARK (2275) or visit www.BarkBusters.com, where dog owners can complete a Dog Behavioral Quiz to rate their dogs' behavior.
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