1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On bad habits
Dog Trainer Auckland
November 4, 2025
1 Tip - on life with your dog
Your dog is barking, you yell, and for your dog, it's like you are barking too. Instead, go to where your dog is and quietly say 'Enough' or 'Quiet'. Call them away and do something else with them, a quiet game or a gentle pat.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
Dogs pick up habits just like we do. If your dog is doing something you don't like, ask yourself: 'How are they being rewarded for this behaviour?'
Dogs repeat behaviours that get them something they want — attention, play, access, or relief. The reward is either the behaviour itself (digging is fun!) or what happens immediately after (barking gets the door opened).
Watch closely: Does your dog enjoy the behaviour, or is it your response that reinforces it?
Once you identify what's reinforcing the unwanted behaviour, you can start to shift it.
1 Quote - on dogs
The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. James Clear
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