In the last blog, I talked about Leadership and how it does not equal dominance. Leadership also means being consistent and having boundaries. One of the top reasons a pet will become destructive or “pushy” is because there may not be proper boundaries in place. Or if there are boundaries, enforcing them is not consistent.
Setting a boundary doesn’t have to be draconian. It’s as simple as having your dog sit before they get a treat, and they get a treat on your terms. One thing that I had incorporated (as well as a few others I know) is that when I was out for a walk with my dog, and we came to a street corner, the dog needed to sit until I said it was ok to cross the street. In a suburban or country area where there isn’t a lot of traffic, that may not seem to be a big deal. But, if you live in a heavy populated city (like New York or Washington D.C.) this particular command and boundary is critical!
Boundaries help keep chaos to a minimum in the house. If there are multiple people living in the house - then everyone needs to be on board and enforce the boundaries in the same or similar way. You know what happens when boundaries are not consistently enforced by everyone in the house? The pet will play you. Don’t believe me? How about this situation: Person A gives in every time the dog (or cat) looks cute and gives them a treat, while Person B only gives treats when the pet has worked for it. Does this sound familiar?
The above is just one example. Other boundaries include: going outside for elimination, chewing on the proper toys (instead of furniture), listening to commands.
Are there any unique boundaries you have set for your pet? How do you enforce them? I’d love to hear from you!
