The Truth About Humans And Dogs

Although there is constant debate between people about which animal makes a better pet – cat or dog – it is the dog that has taken the title of “man’s best friend”. The major reason for this is that dogs are easier to train than cats, and are considered to be more easy-going than cats for pretty much this reason. It is far from impossible to train a cat – indeed, if you watch its behavior for some time you will see how they often train themselves. Dogs, however, are more likely to respond to a human’s command.

Part of the reason for this is that dogs are pack animals, and in every pack there is a leader to whom the other animals will look for examples on how to behave and for a command of some sort. When a dog is a domestic pet, the pack mentality does not disappear. Without a larger dog to respond to, the dog subconsciously elects you as the pack leader, and will look to you for guidance. This makes it easier to train a dog. It searches for some sort of validation through your response to it.

While some people prefer cats exactly because they are more independent and autonomous, the fact that humans are social animals means that dogs will feel more comfortable with them than will cats. As a consequence, there has for some time now been a strong link between humans and dogs which, in the main, we do not have with cats.

How To Eliminate Bad Behavior In Your Dog

Dogs are like any other animal – including the human being – in that they will sometimes step over the line of bad behavior in the pursuit of enjoyment or comfort. If you are honest with yourself you must admit that there have been times when you did something wrong because the results of such action had benefits for you. Whether those benefits were active – you took something that was not yours and enjoyed using it – or passive, in that you did not do something because the alternative was preferable to you, you still transgressed.

Dogs are just the same. If a dog has gone to the toilet in the house, for example, it will have done so because it was easier than going outside. There may be many reasons why this was the case, but all the dog knows is that its action was what seemed like the right thing for it. This is not a mode of behavior you would wish to encourage, so you need to consider how to eliminate it in future. The best way of doing this may be to scold the dog sternly, or deprive it of its favorite toy – the important thing is to establish a link between action and outcome.

If a dog goes to the toilet in the house, there is little point in going to find the dog and handing out punishment there and then. The dog will not connect the punishment with the action. You need to establish this firm link by taking the dog to the scene of the action, and making clear your displeasure. Only then will the dog link cause and effect,

Man’s Best Friend?

Training your dog can be either a heck of a lot of fun, or a consistent nightmare for any pet lover depending on a number of factors. Getting it right can, and usually will, take a lot of persistence and a great deal of patience too, even if your pet pooch is generally well-behaved. The trouble with training even the most well-behaved dog is that you are trying to get it to work against its instincts – and this doesn’t happen overnight.

All the same, it is worth sticking with it. A dog can be taught to follow certain commands, even if it has shown all the signs of being resistant to training. It is a matter of not giving up, and telling yourself that you will not be beaten. Getting through to your dog may take time, but when you do achieve it you will see that it was worth it. It is important to remember to reward your dog for examples of good behavior, no doubt, because this will make things go a lot smoother.

Dogs really can be man’s best friend. They are fiercely loyal and endlessly entertaining, and are one of the most popular pets in the world for a reason. If your dog is beginning to get you down by stepping out of line frequently, it is time to put in place a training regime that will teach it the right way to behave. It may be daunting to begin with, but in time you will recognize the benefits and may even begin to enjoy it.