04/24/2023
Get Your Dog’s Attention
It hurts my heart a little every time I call one of my furry, four-legged boarding clients by name and realize they have no idea I’m talking to them. Recognizing and responding to their name is both a safety issue (you need to be able to get your dog’s attention in a hazardous situation), and a connection. It’s the reason we have dogs as our pets: We say their names and they wag and “smile” and come closer for some love!
Here are two simple tips to get your dog to respond to its name:
*Food, of course, is top of the list for most dogs. Every time you say their name and they respond by looking at you (or at first, even looking like they’re thinking about looking at you), reward them with a treat.
*For dogs that put attention over food, a happy pat and an excited “Good girl!” make their day and will result in them eagerly looking for their next love-fest.
NEVER punish your dog when she comes to you; if you do, she’s going to connect the correction to coming, not to the behavior you want to correct.
If you’re upset at something she’s done, approach her and correct her. Better yet, ignore the undesired behavior temporarily and take time to find a positive, creative way to correct it.
I love calling my dog and having her come running to me, tail wagging and excited. It’s affirming to me that I’ve mastered at least one training goal and can move on to the next challenge. With dogs, it seems there’s always another one around the corner!
Diane, ~WAGS In-Home Country Dog Boarding
Middleton ID
