Dog Training – The MUTT Method, a reliable plan to change your dog’s behavior
Dog owners sometimes come across a behavioral problem and don’t know how to deal with it. In my book, The Amazing Dog Training Man, I came up with an acronym that anyone can use as a tool to understand and deal with any behavioral problem.
Here’s how you can use the MUTT method to deal with any behavioral problem.
M – Management. The first step in dealing with any behavior problem is proper behavior management. Behavior management will not solve the problem, it will only help limit the problem. For example, house training won’t be fixed using a crate, but it will definitely help with behavior management. A muzzle can help you control a dog that is aggressive towards other dogs. So the first step is to think about behavior management.
U – Basic. Every behavior problem has an underlying cause. You need to find out what the root cause is. Say your dog has a digging problem. Why does the dog dig? Is it frustration, boredom, a specific breed, etc. Let’s say you have a problem with homeschooling. Is your dog stressed for any reason, has a health problem, etc. Once you understand the root problem, you can move on to the next part of the MUTT method…
T – Train. Now that we have managed the behavior and understood the underlying problem, we can begin to train the dog. Let’s go back to digging for a moment. If the dog is digging out of frustration, we can remove the frustration and give the dog other activities. If the dog digs because it is breed specific (terriers live with a dog), then we can teach the dog to dig in a certain place and so on.
T – Time. Once we have started training a new behavior, we need to be patient and give it some time. Behavior experts say it takes at least 21 days to learn a new behavior. So as you go through the process, be patient and stick to the plan.
Behavioral problems can sometimes be difficult to deal with. When you understand why the behavior is happening and what you can do about it, the problem is much easier to deal with.
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