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Cause For Paws, Dog Behaviourist, Dog Trainer - Canberra and Snowy Monaro Region

Responsible Dog Ownership

Our Methods of How to get your dog to behave.

🐾 Responsible Dog Ownership

🐶 What Does It Mean to Be a Responsible Dog Owner?

We all love our dogs—we 🥣 feed them, 🚶 take them on walks, 🐕‍🦺 play with them in the park, ensure they have 💧 fresh water, and occasionally toss a toy around at home. Most people believe that this level of care qualifies as responsible dog ownership.

However, ❗ this alone is not enough.


How to get my dog to behave

🦴 Are We Truly Being Responsible?

At first glance, yes—we appear to be good dog owners. After all, we:

  • ❤️ Love them

  • 🥘 Feed them

  • 🚶‍♂️ Take them for walks

  • 💩 Pick up after them

  • 🛁 Bathe them

  • 🎾 Play with them

But on the other hand, many of us stop there, thinking that’s all a dog needs. And that assumption? 🚫 A big NO.


🧠 Understanding the Canine Mind

“Responsible Dog Ownership” begins with recognizing the 🧬 differences between humans and dogs.

🐕 Dogs—from tiny 🐾 Chihuahuas to massive 🐕‍🦺 Great Danes—are primal animals with deeply rooted instincts.

They communicate through:

  • 🐶 Body language

  • ⚡ Energy

  • 🧭 Instinctual behavior

Unfortunately, many of us miscommunicate or send confusing signals that lead to unintended bad behaviors.


How to get my dog to behave

🏠 The Problem Starts at Home

Here’s a common story:

  • 🐶 You bring home a cute puppy.

  • 🛋️ It gets comfortable in the new environment.

  • 🕵️ Then it starts observing and learning your behavior and weaknesses.

Why? Because it’s built for survival. While you’re working, doing chores, or shopping, your dog is:

  • 🕒 Watching your routines

  • 🧠 Learning your habits

  • 🧩 Figuring out how to take control


🔁 The Cycle of Miscommunication

Eventually, your dog starts:

  • 👑 Taking leadership roles

  • 🚫 Testing boundaries

  • ❓ Getting confused by your corrections

Meanwhile, you feel:

  • 😤 Frustrated

  • 🤷‍♂️ Confused

  • ❌ Possibly reinforcing the wrong behaviors

This can lead to 🧨 more serious problems over time.


How to get my dog to behave

So, What Can We Do?

To be truly responsible dog owners, we must:

  • 📚 Learn how dogs think and communicate

  • 🧱 Set boundaries early and clearly

  • 🧠 Offer mental stimulation (not just physical!)

  • 🌟 Lead with calm, confident energy

  • 🔄 Be consistent in rules and expectations

When we do all this, we’re not just “owning” dogs—we’re 🫱🏽‍🫲🏾 building partnerships with them.

 

training mental stimulation

How to get my dog to behave

🤝 How to Improve Your Bond and Relationship With Your Dog

It’s all about:

  • 🐾 Responsible dog ownership

  • 🧠 Consistent training

  • 🧭 Clear guidance


🐕 Understanding Canine Communication

Dogs communicate silently. They use:

  • 🐶 Body language

  • 🐾 Gestures

  • 📡 Subtle signals

These behaviors help them express what they need or how they feel in the moment. According to scientific research, all dogs understand each other because they use the same universal body language—that of the Canis Lupus Familiaris(the domestic dog). Interestingly, this communication style is no different from that of the Canis Lupus (the wolf).


🐺 Dogs vs. Wolves: The Only Real Difference

The main difference between our dogs and wolves is exposure to humans:

  • 🐶 Dogs are born into human environments and quickly adapt to us.

  • 🐺 Wolves don’t see humans during their critical development stages, so they remain wild.

As a result, dogs become affectionate companions and can even be trained to support us emotionally and physically. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t need structure.


🧑‍🏫 Learning to Interact Properly

It is essential to learn how to properly engage with your dog. You must:

  • 🥎 Fulfill their needs

  • 📘 Understand their natural behaviors

  • 💞 Help them feel like a respected and safe member of your “pack”

Sometimes, dogs will vocalize to communicate with us or other dogs. There are many types of vocalizations, but for now, the goal is simply to help you understand your dog better and respond to their needs effectively.


🐩 Not All Dogs Are Alike

Dogs have different needs than humans. And those needs can vary based on breed:

  • 🚀 Working breeds tend to be energetic and need lots of stimulation.

  • 🛋️ Others are more laid-back and enjoy lounging.


How to get my dog to behave

🕰️ When Routine Disrupts the Bond

So, you’ve brought your new dog home and spent a few quality days together. But soon, work calls, and your pup is left:

  • 🏠 Alone in a beautiful home

  • 🌳 In a fenced backyard

  • ⏱️ For 8+ hours at a time

This is where the problems begin.


🧬 Pack Animals Need Pack Time

You must understand that dogs are:

  • 🧠 Intelligent

  • 🐕 Social

  • 🏃 Active

In nature, they live in packs—always together. They eat, sleep, play, and roam as a group. If they were in the wild, they would cover kilometres daily, roaming free and interacting with others.

Even our domesticated dogs are wired this way. They thrive under a hierarchical structure, typically led by an alpha pair (usually the parents). These leaders constantly:

  • 👁️ Monitor

  • 🗣️ Correct

  • 🔄 Guide behavior

And they do this with consistency from the moment their pups open their eyes.


How to get my dog to behave

🧸 Why We Get It Wrong

We, as humans, often let our dogs get away with unwanted behavior—especially when they’re little and cute. But we fail to recognize that:

  • 🐾 Puppies need structure

  • 🧭 They crave leadership

  • ⛔ They should not be allowed to misbehave just because they’re adorable


❓Why Do Dogs Misbehave?

Why does your dog:

  • 🛋️ Jump on the couch?

  • 🌱 Dig up the backyard?

  • 🪑 Chew the furniture?

  • 🙌 Jump on you when you come home?

Because in their world, misbehavior is corrected immediately by their pack. But in ours, we’re often inconsistent, too busy, or apply the wrong kind of correction at the wrong time.


🧑‍⚖️ Taking On the Leadership Role

When dogs enter our human world, we must become their leaders. Remember:

  • 🍼 Dogs are born neutral.

  • 🧱 They have no built-in skills or fears.

  • 🌍 We must expose them to their environment and teach right from wrong.

Be consistent. Dogs will test boundaries, and if we give in once, they remember.


🗺️ Their World Is Bigger Than Our Backyard

In the wild, a dog’s territory can stretch for hundreds of kilometres. But in our world:

  • 🏡 They’re confined to a backyard

  • ⏳ Left alone for long hours

  • 🤯 This leads to boredom, fear, and behavioral issues

This is often the reason why your dog might not trust you or see you as a true leader. After all, leaders don’t leave their pack behind.


How to get my dog to behave

🏃 How to Rebuild the Bond

The solution? Reconnect. Rebuild trust. Here’s how:

  • 🚶 Daily long walks

  • 🐕‍🦺 Visits to off-leash dog parks (at least 1 hour/day)

  • 🤹 One-on-one playtime when you’re home

  • 🧠 Mental stimulation exercises (3x per day, 10 minutes each)


🧩 Mental Stimulation: A Game-Changer

These exercises help:

  • 🧠 Train their minds

  • 📍 Reinforce your boundaries

  • 🤝 Build trust and a closer bond

  • 🎯 Increase focus and responsiveness

Be patient. It may take 10–15 minutes for your dog to learn a new task. But with repetition and consistency, they will get it.

💡 Pro Tip: Don’t overdo it. Stick to short, frequent sessions (10 minutes, 3 times a day).


🕹️ Find Games Online

There are many mental stimulation games available online. Just search:

“Mental Stimulation Games for Dogs” 🐾

You’ll find hundreds of ideas to help keep your dog balanced, engaged, and happy.


📩 Need Help? Getting you dog to behave?

If you need guidance with dog training or want to kick-start your dog’s behavior transformation, email us at:

📧 info@tutribuhealthy.tony.themerex.net

We’ll help you:

  • 🧑‍🏫 Understand your dog’s needs

  • 🐶 Begin the right training

  • 🛤️ Stay on track long term


🐾 Final Thoughts

Give your dog what they truly need—and they’ll reward you with:

  • ❤️ Loyalty

  • 🐕 Companionship

  • 🎯 Obedience

  • 😌 Peace of mind

Good luck, and remember: strong leadership builds strong relationships.