Show 70: How to Raise a Dog: Why You Need to Say “No” and Teach Dogs Boundaries

If you’re here because you’re wondering how to teach boundaries to dogs, I’m here to commend you! I know it’s tough. When our dogs start to show their puppy eyes, denying their requests becomes so hard. But there is power in SAYING NO. When dog owners say NO, it paves the way for better obedience training, and dogs that are calmer and easier to take care of. Additionally, dog owners who say NO are less likely to deal with aggressive, restless, stressed, and anxious dogs who don’t listen. “How is that possible, Dan? Can behavior problems really start because of not saying NO?” YES. Giving NO to your dog equals you showing your leadership and boundaries. And setting those two in place can make a BIG difference to your training and relationship with your dogs. Read on to learn how to teach boundaries to dogs and why NO is one of your most powerful dog training tools. Key Takeaways: A dog that gets YES all the time will start to think that they’re in charge. And when they think they’re the leader, behavior problems such as barking, aggression, and disobedience come up. Saying NO does not need to come with a heavy, angry energy. Using a calm energy while saying NO can communicate that your answer still comes from a place of love. You need to say NO to your dogs because it is one of the most powerful ways to show dogs that you’re in charge, you’re the leader of the pack. SET BOUNDARIES WITH YOUR DOGS THE RIGHT WAY WITH THE DOG CALMING CODE™️ Table of Contents: Why Set Boundaries With Dogs? My Experience with Spoiled Dogs How to Teach Boundaries: The Power of NO in Dog Psychology How to Teach Dog Boundaries By Saying NO Why No is an Expression of Love and a Powerful Way of Teaching Dogs Boundaries Dog Calming Code: The Program That Will Help You Set Boundaries… With Love   Why Set Boundaries With Dogs? My Experience with Spoiled Dogs Here’s what I’ve learned in my years of working with dogs: some of the hardest dogs to train are the ones that receive SO MUCH LOVE.   Disclaimer: showering our dogs in love is not inherently bad. However, when great love comes with zero boundaries and no rules, it becomes a problem. Dogs who are constantly given EVERYTHING they demand become a big problem to the owners that adore them. I’ve seen this firsthand. Some would come up to me asking “Dan, we’ve given our dog everything! What could be the problem?” THE DOG CALMING CODE: THE ONLINE PROGRAM THAT HELP YOU RAISE BETTER BEHAVED DOGS What Saying “YES” to Every Request (AKA Spoiling Your Dog) Does To Them Here’s the problem: if your dog is acting up, not listening, and still charging around despite asking them to behave, you might check if you have a spoiled dog. Ask these questions… Am I saying yes to my dog’s requests all the time? Am I letting my dog run the show and make the decisions? Do I treat disobedience with leniency instead of really setting the rules? If you said YES to any of these questions, you could be dealing with a spoiled dog. Spoiled dogs are just like spoiled kids: they are defiant, they are hard to control, and it’s a challenge to get them to respect authority and boundaries. Some may say “Oh, they’re just acting up because that’s part of their personality.” But the bottomline is this: because your dog sees you respond to every bark, every request for treats, every nudge for snuggles, your dog feels they are in charge—they can get whatever they want, WHENEVER! Giving a YES can be tempting, but in the long run, letting dogs have everything they want can have serious consequences. BE THE LEADER IN YOUR DOG’S EYES WITH THE HELP OF THE DOG CALMING CODE Consequence #1: Dogs In Charge Have Zero Downtime. They’re Constantly on High Alert Constantly saying YES to your dog’s demands has their mind going… “Aha! They said yes to my requests. They gave me treats when asked for some. I peed on the floor and I didn’t get a timeout! I barked and we walked! They gave me everything! Looks like I am the new leader