Tony Soprano style dog training

Website design By BotEap.com“Revenge is like serving cold cuts”

Website design By BotEap.com-Tony Soprano

Website design By BotEap.comThat saying was the first thought that came to my mind when I hung up the phone.

Website design By BotEap.comI’m a huge Soprano fan. I thought the show was very funny and it made me roll on the floor laughing at times. Especially when they messed up common quotes like “Revenge is a dish best served cold.”

Website design By BotEap.comAnyway, let me explain why I was thinking of the classic Tony Soprano misquote.

Website design By BotEap.comI had just spent about 20 minutes trying to explain the dog’s behavior to a very angry person. This person was upset with his dog because every time he leaves his house his dog destroys something.

Website design By BotEap.comToday he was especially angry because his dog ate the TV remote. Add to this that his dog has already destroyed his shoes, the corners of his coffee table, and the cushions on his couch.

Website design By BotEap.comAnd guess what?

Website design By BotEap.comThe behavior was getting worse.

Website design By BotEap.comHe was convinced that his dog was mad at him and he was doing it out of spite. I asked him how he handled the situation when he came home to find his dog had chewed on something.

Website design By BotEap.comHe was honest with me and told me that he yelled at him and sometimes hit his dog.

Website design By BotEap.comIt was at this point that I tried to explain that dogs have emotions. I don’t care what anyone tells you, dogs are capable of experiencing fear, happiness, anger, etc. I am a firm believer that dogs have emotions BUT I also believe that dogs operate on a much more basic level than we do.

Website design By BotEap.comWhen you look up the definition of spite, it says:

Website design By BotEap.com1. A malicious, usually petty, desire to harm, annoy, frustrate, or humiliate another person; bitter ill will; malice.

Website design By BotEap.com2. A particular case of such an attitude or action; Crush.

Website design By BotEap.com3. To annoy or frustrate, out of spite.

Website design By BotEap.comSpite, revenge, gratitude, etc. They are much more complex emotions. Dogs really live in the moment.

Website design By BotEap.comAre dogs capable of revenge, spite, etc.? None of us really know. But from my observations, we often project our feelings and emotions onto our dogs. It reminds me of another favorite J. Allen Boone quote:

Website design By BotEap.com“There are opinions about dogs and there are facts about dogs. We have all the opinions and the dogs have all the facts.”

Website design By BotEap.comWhen you leave your house, your dog doesn’t sit there and think about how mad they are that you left. What happens is that your dog is an extremely social animal that is programmed to be with other dogs or humans. Because they are connected in this way, they get stressed when left alone. To relieve stress, they chew, usually something with your scent on it.

Website design By BotEap.comThe dog’s owner comes home to find that something has been bitten. It’s not much fun to come home from a hard day and find your favorite pair of shoes destroyed. Due to anger and frustration, the dog is punished.

Website design By BotEap.comBut here’s the rub, and it’s really ironic.

Website design By BotEap.comYour dog does not associate the punishment with biting your shoes, your dog associates the punishment with your coming home. If this happens a lot, your dog will learn that coming home is associated with punishment.

Website design By BotEap.comIn the same way, your dog can learn when it’s time to eat if you feed him at the same time every day. In the same way that your dog can tell when your spouse is coming home, if he comes home at the same time every day.

Website design By BotEap.comYour dog may learn that when he gets home he is going to be grounded, which stresses him out. Now destructive behavior can become a real problem because…

Website design By BotEap.comDogs relieve stress by…

Website design By BotEap.comYou guessed it.

Website design By BotEap.comchewing.

Website design By BotEap.comSee how the whole problem can get out of hand.

Website design By BotEap.comAim…

Website design By BotEap.comI couldn’t make the guy I was talking to believe me. He wanted to think that her dog was getting revenge. Too bad, I really feel bad for the dog. Unfortunately, some people find it difficult to think like a dog, which is the real secret to dealing with behavior problems.

Website design By BotEap.comDon’t think like a human; Learn to think like a dog.

Website design By BotEap.comI might be wrong. Maybe our dogs walk thinking:

Website design By BotEap.com“How can I get back at him for leaving me here? What I can do? make him angry I’ll show you by leaving me here.

Website design By BotEap.comThe great trainer Jean Donaldson puts it perfectly when she said:

Website design By BotEap.com“Expect your dog to act like a dog. Don’t take it personally when he displays typical canine behavior. He’s not being ‘mean’, he’s just being a dog.”