How to Teach a Naughty Dog

Dogs want to know who is in charge. Contrary to what people might think, a dog does not want to rule the roost. A dog cannot feel safe, satisfied or loved before knowing the order of his environment. Giving a dog constant affection without rules confuses the dog and gives emotional instability. A dog then becomes naughty to get attention and to establish himself as the pack leader in your family. Reverse this thinking by setting boundaries, being consistent and rewarding the dog when he is deserving.

Things You'll Need

  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Commands
  • Leash
  • Treats
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Instructions

    • 1
      Make eye contact with your dog when disciplining.

      Establish yourself as the Alpha in the situation. Get the dog to understand that you make the rules by being consistent and firm, yet loving. Decide what you will and will not allow the dog to do, such as jump on people, sleep on the couch or bark when company comes inside the house. Think of command words, such as "sit," "no" and "back away," to use when training the dog.

    • 2
      A dog should not show his teeth to family members.

      Take notice of the naughty traits your dog consistently exhibits. Is he having too many potty accidents inside when he should know better? Does he whine for 20 minutes after you leave the house? Does he beg while you are eating dinner? Write a list of the biggest offenders and why you are bothered. This will solidify the importance of changing the behavior.

    • 3
      Teach the dog to obey to get what he wants.

      Create a schedule. Walk your dog for 35 minutes every morning. Give mental exercise to the dog. Be firm and consistent with rules and discipline and give affection when she obeys. This will be seen by the dog as a reward for being good. Give your dog a task to obey before he gets food, affection or a toy. For example, ask the dog to sit before you will give her a bone. Give it only after she sits.

    • 4
      Calm the dog by showing her you are in control.

      Insist the dog walks behind you when leaving the house and beside or behind you while on a walk. This demonstrates to the dog that you are the leader in the situation. Put on the leash, open the door and make the dog sit for a moment. Walk in front of the dog and say a command, like "come." Make the leash lead short and let it hang loose. Tug the lead up and to the side when the dog pulls. Hold the lead loosely again. Make the dog sit if he is not staying beside you. Wait until the dog is calm and start again.

    • 5

      Stop a dog immediately from urinating from excitement. Does your dog urinate when children play with her or when you pet her? This is a sign of overexcitement. Place a mat on the floor and show the dog where to go with a command, such as "Lay down." When he does, you greet him. Pay no attention to the dog when you first get home until he calms down and sits on the mat. Eventually, the dog will learn to control his excitement.

    • 6

      Shut barking down by treating the problem (the dog's insecurity) not the symptom (barking when someone comes to the door). Acknowledge the barking for the doorbell, for example, and then direct the dog to something else. Remove what the dog wants if he does not listen. Move away if the dog wants to get out of the crate, for example, until he stops barking. Walk toward the crate when he is finished barking and let him out. Demand the behavior stop before giving the dog what he wants.

    • 7

      Hire a professional dog trainer. Find someone who specializes in the dog breed you own or the traits you want changed. Get referrals from people who have well-behaved dogs.