7 Things You Are Doing That Are Unintentionally Breaking Your Dog’s Heart

by sierrag on in Useful Tips 29
sad pug puppy

Now is the time to practice your leash rules and work on your doggy's commands. Instill in her positive behaviors now so that you won't have any issues later. And if you have been doing things incorrectly, it's never too late to change them.

Commands should always correlate with positive reinforcement. If you use fear and threats to scare your dog into submission, that's just a bad idea. Keep reading for more of a scoop on commands…

pug's body language

5) Playing fast and loose with leash rules

Pulling on the leash is inherently rewarding for dogs. Why? Because it gets them where they are going. Don’t allow your dog to strain the leash and drag you from place to place. If your dog is pulling, make like a tree and stand still. Once the leash relaxes and your dog is looking at you, continue your walk.

6) “COME HERE NOW!”

How many of you have called to your dog and a wild west standoff ensues? Well, what exactly are you calling them for? We often expect our pups to come even when they know there’s no incentive to do so. Instead, ensure that “come” works every time by rewarding your dog with a puppy party every time they obey this all-important command.

The key-word here is reward. Puppy parties should involve anything your dog finds rewarding–a nice belly rub, a yummy treat, their favorite toy, etc.

Never punish your dog for coming when called. Even if your dog is coming back after an hour-long escapade through the neighborhood, they still get a puppy party. Remember to always issue a recall command with a pleasant tone and a smile on your face; no dog wants to come running to an angry tone and a scowling face.

On the next page, you'll learn (if you haven't heard of it already), about a very common thing that pet owners do that is in reality very wrong. I was actually told this was okay to do to my dog when she was a puppy. Thankfully I never followed through!

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29 thoughts on “7 Things You Are Doing That Are Unintentionally Breaking Your Dog’s Heart”

  14. Sherrill Comeaux

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    My pug had been badly abused before I got him. He was 8 months old. It took him a year to bark. He is the King of my castle. He is almost 10 years old. I would not trade him for the world!!

  20. Sherrill Comeaux

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    They sure are. The woman that had him wanted him to breed. He was 8 months old. You can see the burn marks on his legs. A friend of mine wanted him. He kept him one night. I could tell he was scared of his shadow. I felt sorry for . I’m a cat person. His sad face got me.

  29. Christine Stevens

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    We dont do any of this to our 4 Pugs. Our babies always get treats when they sit tho because it took forever for us to teach them that. And we get them to come to us by calling their names and patting our knees. I love cuddling all 4 of my babies. They smell bad, but its worth it! 🙂 <3

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