Is your dog jumping on guests, barking excessively, or chewing things they shouldn’t? Unwanted behaviors can be frustrating, but with the right approach, you can guide your dog to choose better alternatives. Replacing negative behaviors with positive ones is an effective, humane way to help your dog learn good habits while keeping everyone happy.
Why Replace Instead of Punish?
Dogs often act out of natural instincts or because they’re unsure of what we want from them. Punishment might seem like a quick fix, but it rarely teaches your dog what to do instead. They can go through a thousand different iterations of what not to do before stumbling upon something that you actually want. By redirecting them to an alternative behavior, you’re giving them a clear and rewarding option right away, making training more effective.
Step 1: Identify the Need Behind the Behavior
Before you can teach a replacement behavior, figure out what motivates the unwanted action. For example:
- Jumping: Dogs jump to greet people because they’re social creatures and sometimes get very excited to greet people.
- Chewing: Chewing can relieve boredom or anxiety, especially in young or high-energy dogs.
- Barking: Barking can happen out of fear, excitement, or to alert you to something.
Understanding these needs will help you select an alternative behavior that still meets your dog’s needs in a positive way.
Step 2: Choose a Replacement Behavior
Replace the behavior with something more acceptable and rewarding for both you and your dog. Here’s how to address some common behaviors:
- Jumping on People → Teach “Sit” or “Four Paws on the Floor”
- Starting slow and in an easy environment, teach your dog to sit. Gradually increase the difficulty by switching venues.
- When your dog approaches someone, ask them to sit. Make sure they are unable to jump on the person by holding a leash or having them behind a baby gate. Reward them with a treat or attention only if they maintain the sit position.
- Over time, they’ll learn that sitting politely brings more rewards than jumping.
- Chewing Furniture → Offer an Appropriate Chew Toy
- If your dog is a chewer, redirect their energy to toys like Kongs or chew bones.
- Emphasize the toys by interacting with your dog using the toys. Play tug, fetch, and other fun games with your dog involving the toys.
- Make these items readily available and praise them when they choose their toy over your shoes or furniture.
- Excessive Barking → Teach “Quiet” and Use Positive Redirection
- To manage barking, start by acknowledging the alert (for example, by calmly saying “Thank you”) and then teaching a “Quiet” command.
- Reward silence, even if it’s just for a second. You can use your clicker to click pauses between barks, and then gradually increase the amount of time they must be quiet before you click.
- Redirect them to a different activity, like fetching a toy.
Step 3: Reinforce the Replacement Behavior Consistently
Consistency is key in helping your dog learn and retain their new habit. Reinforce the new behavior each time the old behavior arises:
- Positive Reinforcement: Reward with treats, praise, or playtime when they perform the desired behavior.
- Prevention: Use management to prevent the unwanted behavior from happening.
- Remove Reinforcement from Unwanted Behavior: If, in spite of your best efforts, the unwanted behavior takes place, make sure they don’t receive the reward they are looking for. They’ll eventually learn it’s not rewarding, and not worth the energy.
Step 4: Practice with Real-Life Scenarios
Dogs learn best through repetition, so practice the replacement behavior in situations where they might revert to the old one. If guests are visiting, have treats on hand to encourage sitting over jumping. Or, when you know they’re likely to chew, preemptively give them an approved chew toy.
Step 5: Use Redirection Techniques When Needed
Sometimes you may need to immediately redirect your dog away from unwanted behavior:
- Redirect with Toys: If they’re chewing or barking, redirect their attention with a toy or engage them in a game.
- Engage in Obedience Commands: Commands like “sit,” “stay,” or “come” can interrupt the behavior and give them something productive to do.
By replacing unwanted behaviors with positive alternatives, you’ll create a calmer, happier environment for both you and your dog. Through patience, consistency, and a little creativity, you can turn challenging behaviors into opportunities for bonding and growth.