How to teach a dog to ask for something

Some owners want to improve communication with their pet. And they are interested in how to teach a dog to ask for something. Let’s figure it out.

In truth, all owners teach this to their four-legged friends, but sometimes they themselves do not realize it. And then they complain that the dog is begging at the table or attracts attention by barking. But this happens precisely because the dog was taught to ask for what he wants in this way. Reinforcing begging or barking.

Exactly the same way you can teach a dog to ask for something in an acceptable way.

The main principle is to create an association between the dog’s action and your reaction.

For example, if every time a dog comes up and looks into your eyes, you give him attention, he will learn to ask for that same attention by looking into your eyes. If you only react when the dog is already barking, he will learn to bark. When he scratches you with his paw, scrape you with his paw. If you only notice your pet when it’s stealing your favorite sweater or running around the house with a stolen sock, that’s exactly what the dog is learning.

If you give a bite when the dog is barking at the table, he will learn to bark for treats. If you treat your pet when he puts his head on your lap, he learns in this way to “earn” treats.

You can teach your dog to ask outside by ringing a bell. To do this, hang a bell at the door and teach the dog to push it with its nose or paw by pointing or shaping. And then they associate these actions with a walk. That is, as soon as the dog pushes the bell, the owner goes to the front door and takes the pet out for a walk. Thus, the dog learns the association: “Rang the bell – went outside.” And he begins to signal his desire to take a walk.

The list of what and how you can teach a dog is almost inexhaustible. Rather, it is limited by her physical abilities (to fly to get what she wants, the pet will definitely not learn, no matter how hard you try to teach it) and your imagination. We can safely say that the dog is constantly learning something, including teaching us to respond to its requests. And your choice is what exactly in her behavior to reinforce and how.