How to unspoil your dog

It’s hard not to spoil your dog, especially if you’re a first-time dog owner. Many pet parents will do whatever it takes to ensure their dog feels happy and well-loved, but that can sometimes lead to spoiling them. Just like raising children, you must establish boundaries to prevent behavioral problems. If you’re guilty of spoiling your dog, this blog post will teach you ways to unspoil your furbaby.

Ending co-sleeping

Dogs love to sleep, and they especially love to sleep on cozy human beds. Although co-sleeping with your dog may bring a lot of comfort to you and your pet, it can also promote bad behavior such as:

You should check out [this)(https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/should-my-dog-sleep-with-me/) article by the American Kennel Club to learn more about what behavioral problems can arise in your dog by co-sleeping with them.

As for ways to end co-sleeping, you should follow the steps below:

  1. Buy a comfy dog bed and fill it with their favorite toys to help encourage them to sleep independently.
  2. Praise them each time your dog goes to the dog bed, especially around bedtime.
  3. If they jump or beg to go on your bed, redirect them to their dog bed, issue a command, such as “bedtime,” and give them a treat.

Ending feeding from the table

Giving your dog food from the table can lead them to beg, which can be annoying if you want to enjoy your meal in peace.

To end this habit, you should perform the following steps:

  1. Feed your dog while you have your meal but in a separate room.
  2. If they try to jump on your lap, whine, or beg while your seated at the table, consistently say the “no” or “down” command.

Ending chronic misbehavior

When you spoil your dog, that can sometimes give the dog permission to do whatever they want, such as leash pulling, jumping, and not listening to basic commands.

To correct chronic behavior, you should perform the following steps:

  1. If your dog is pulling at the leash, stop the walk until they stop pulling.
  2. If your dog jumps on you, ignore them until they’ve calmed down.
  3. If your dog stops listening to basic commands, re-train them and reward them with treats.

If you stick to these methods for unspoiling your dog, your furbaby will be unspoiled in no time.

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