When Your Dog Makes A Mess, They're Just Being Themselves!

As humans, we don’t fully understand our dog’s language. Just as dogs are similar to us in many respects, so they are different.

For instance, you may find it disgusting when you meet a friend or colleague after a period of absence and the friend starts to lick your face. But for dogs, that is one way they express love. So, what if every action taken by your pup is an act of communication? For instance, what if the moment your pup pees inappropriately, it is as a result of separation anxiety or prolonged isolation?

It could be that he missed you so much and couldn’t hold it longer or that she’s requesting more outdoor time? Your pup could be passing a legitimate message, but for the fear of punishment, she cowers in the corner, afraid. Having this possibility in mind, then, punishment may not be an ideal solution in such situations.

We should try to understand the subtle messages our dogs pass because of our reactions to the matter. To keep our pups in good spirits, we have to accept them as unconditionally as they accept us, we have to love them at all times, neglecting their faults, we have to see every mistake as an opportunity to show them how much we care. So, the next time your dog messes up the place, there are better ways to respond without creating hostilities.

First, you should totally ignore the mess. In behavioral psychology, one of the best ways to teach or strengthen an organism’s behavior is through reinforcement. This applies to all living things, so you need to avoid punishing or scolding your dog whenever it messes up the place, as doing that may heighten the anxiety that led to the mess. Rather, learn to ignore the mess. It’s the first step in building positive reinforcement.

What do you do when your dog messes up the house? Let us know in the comments! Watch out for Part 2!

Feature Image Source: Pixabay

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