A dog trainer has sounded the alarm over a common habit many owners have when greeting their dogs after being apart.
After a long day at work or trip away, most owners are eager to shower their pets with affection. It’s heart-warming to see your furry friend jump up in excitement as you walk through the door.
But Paws Crossed Shelter trainer Scott Salant, collaborating with TrustedHousesitters, warns that this well-intentioned display of love could inadvertently encourage unwanted behaviour.
Dogs quickly learn from human reactions, so if they sense joy when they leap up, they’re likely to do it again in different situations. Scott elaborated: “This can make the pet get too excited, leading to behaviours like the dog jumping up. It could also make pets more anxious about their owners leaving them alone.”
Despite the popularity of social media videos showing joyful reunions between dogs and their owners, it might be wise to keep things low-key for a bit before lavishing your dog with attention.
Scott further advised that a tired dog is more amenable to training, as they can focus better than those who are full of energy but not exercised. He pointed out: “A dog that hasn’t had any exercise is more difficult to train as the focus may not be there. Burning off some of the energy before starting a training session is a good idea.”
Scott went on to suggest socialising your pets throughout their lives – not just when they’re puppies – as phobias can develop at any age. “The more stimuli we expose our pets to, the better able they are to cope with new stressors,” he said.
And on a similar note, he sought to dispel the myth that old dogs can’t learn new tricks, adding: “No matter the age, our dogs are always learning. Sometimes a little more patience is needed as an older dog may have lots of practice at doing the opposite behaviour than what you are asking of them, but with a little time and effort, they will learn what you want them to do!”