Okay, okay. This title might be “click bait”. But hear me out.
Killing your dog with affection sounds extreme, but it’s really not. I saw it happen all the time with my foster dogs. These dogs would come to me with no chances left. They had bite records and massive anxiety….all because of too much affection.
I see the beginnings of it in my client’s dogs that I train now. And I tell all of them the SAME thing:
STOP GIVING YOUR DOG AFFECTION
Giving affection to a dog is like feeding your kid on a diet of candy. It causes health issues, attention deficit issues, and major behavioral issues. You get dogs that don’t listen, jump, bark and yes, even bite. And by giving unearned affection you are ENCOURAGING these behaviors. You are telling them whatever they decide to do is okay with you.
And here’s where it gets dangerous. You know how your dog barks and lunges at strangers? When you bend down (or pick them up) and talk soothingly to get them to stop…you are training your dog to be aggressive. With petting and soft soothing tones you are telling your dog it is a GOOD thing for them to be scared and to bark and lunge.
“But Bethany”, you say, “is there ever a time I can give affection to my dog?”
Absolutely! But hey…how about they EARN it first? How about you treat your dog, and hear me out here…like a dog? You need to love your dog how THEY need to be loved. And dogs need to be loved by providing them with rules, with boundaries, and correcting them when they do stupid and harmful behaviors.
I am a dog trainer and I give my dogs all the love in the world. They get lots of squeezable hugs, and soft baby voices, and kisses. But guess what? They also get lots of crate time, lots of structured walks, and yes…even corrections for behaviors I don’t want.
Stop giving your dogs too much affection. Love your dog so they can be mentally healthy and happy, and not the way that only makes YOU feel good.
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