Breaking Your Dog's Bad Habits Read Online Free PDF Page B

collar and take her for a short walk that way. This will let her get used to walking while wearing the device, but without any pressure. Since the leash is not attached to the restraining device, you will not be able to physically correct pulling, so keep these walks short.
    After three walks in this manner, attach the leash to the restraining device and start out for a walk. By this time, she will be used to the feel of the new harness or collar. Now you can start working on correcting the pulling behavior. Be sure to praise and reward your dog when she walks properly.

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Chases Cars
    Cubby is such a feisty 5-year-old Pomeranian that it’s hard to believe she nearly didn’t make it to her first birthday. When she was just 6 months old, she was severely injured by a car. Cubby and her owners live on a side road off a busy country road. Because of the heavy traffic on the main road, her owners always put Cubby on a leash whenever she is outside. One evening, Cubby’s owner unclipped her leash just as they were walking up the front steps. At that moment a neighbor’s car turned onto the side road in front of their house. The crunch of tires on gravel startled Cubby, and she spun around to defend herself and instinctively went on the attack. She hurtled herself toward the car. The car’s front tire clipped Cubby and sent her rolling along the gravel, head over tail.
    Cubby suffered extensive internal damage and severe abdominal lacerations from the accident. As a result of the accident she becomes enraged with any vehicle other than her owner’s that passes the house. Whenever she hears or sees a car, she breaks into frenzied barking. Even if she is inside the house when a vehicle is passing, she reacts with fury, racing around in the hope of catching the offending car.
    Cubby’s accident and the behavior that resulted from it vividly portray the dangers for dogs who chase cars. But the behavior puts humans at risk, too. A dog hurtling out of nowhere can startle a driver enough to make him go off the road or into oncoming traffic. And many people are devastated when they accidentally hit an animal.
    Desensitization is an excellent technique to use for banishing car-chasing behavior. Desensitization works by gradually exposing the dog to the stimulus that provokes his terror or aggression so that over time his reaction (sensitivity or overreaction) to the trigger will gradually decrease.
    Throughout the desensitization process, try to avoid any situations that will trigger your dog’s old fearful or enraged reaction. If such an incident does occur, it can undo the desensitization you have accomplished, and you will need to start the process all over again. You should plan on several training sessions a week over many weeks. During the sessions, keep your dog on a leash and in your control at all times.

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    Laying the Groundwork
    For desensitization to work, it is important that your dog has mastered basic commands such as sit , stay , and lie down . If he does not promptly obey basic commands, go through the retraining steps for that bad habit first. Once he responds consistently, you’ll both be ready to tackle more serious behaviors.

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Step 1. Study your dog’s behavior in response to vehicles (the stimuli). You may see some subtle clues before the dog decides to bolt. When does he start to react—when he hears a car or when he first sees it? Or does he seem to know that it is coming before you see or hear it? Once you know the clues, start trying to figure what your dog is feeling. Is it fear, anxiety, or anger?
    Step 2. Identify the treat or reward that most pleases your pet. What is his absolute favorite treat, the thing that makes him wriggle with joy? Whether it’s a food treat, a toy, or even a favorite game you play with him, you’ll use it regularly as part of the desensitization process.
    Step 3. Take your dog to an area where cars will pass by occasionally, but avoid heavily trafficked areas.