Do you praise your dog when it does what you want?:

Praise is one of the things I see people forgetting to do when their dog is doing what they want them to. The best way to create the environment you are looking for is to "mark"(to reinforce, praise / reward)the behaviors you like when they occur.

 Here are a few examples:
1. Your dog is laying down on the floor while you are eating dinner. He isn't begging! Get up from the dinner table for a minute go over to your dog and say "good dog" and give him a treat for doing what you like make a big deal out of how great this is!

2. Your dog is not sniffing the ground while you are walking him on leash. Look down at your dog and say "good dog" and give him a pat on the side.

3. Your dog is far away from you and just for the heck of it you call his name. HE COMES TO YOU!! Make a huge deal out of this "good dog" with lots of praise and petting.

When you mark the behaviors you want and ignore the behaviors you don't like your dog will over time show you more of the "great rewarded behaviors" and less and less of the ones he gets no praise for.

Happy Training,
-Hera Minkove ABCDT