Overview of Mobile Service Industries
The services industry has evolved in recent years. It used to be if you wanted to get a haircut, you had to go to the barbershop or salon. If you desired takeout for dinner, you had to travel to the restaurant. The same goes for tire repairs, car windshield replacements, veterinary check-ups, laundry and many other services. You had to go to them. Now many of these providers come to you. Businesses created these mobile services to fill a need – convenience for their customers.
Why I Started Mobile Dog Training Services
I started mobile dog training services for the same reason. Many trainers have brick-and-mortar facilities to which owners bring their dogs. This is extremely convenient for trainers but not necessarily for dog owners. It can be difficult to get to training facilities due to work schedules, kids’ after-school activities and other conflicts. Because of these obstacles, I decided to bring dog training to clients’ homes. In addition, because many of the behaviors that owners complain about happen at or near home, it’s easier for the owners to address them there.
In-Home Dog Training – Behavior Modification for Common Habits
A dog owner contacts me because he wants his dog to modify annoying or inappropriate behaviors. In my experience, two behaviors rank equally. The first is barking when a dog hears its home’s doorbell. The sound of the doorbell causes some dogs to get overstimulated. They may bark because they’re excited that someone is entering their home. The second is a dog pulling on the leash while walking. A dog who pulls on its leash presents a hazardous scenario for its owner. Some dogs are very strong and can pull their owners down. People have reported broken bones, sprained ankles and skinned knees after their dogs pulled hard on their leashes.
Barking at the Sound of a Doorbell
There are a few reasons why a dog barks when it hears its home’s doorbell. It’s exciting to know that someone is entering its house. Or, depending on the breed, it feels the need to protect its family from the person entering. Another reason may be that the dog is anxious about who might be on the other side of the door. Whatever the reason, it’s important to help a dog get used to this sound. I use counterconditioning which is a form of behavior modification. Counterconditioning is used to change a reaction to a stimulus. In this case, a dog owner wants his dog to stop barking when it hears the doorbell. The dog owner uses something pleasant (treats, for example) to distract from the stimulus (the doorbell) to change the dog’s reaction.
Pulling on the Leash While Walking – Option #1
The other behavior many dog owners want to change is keeping a loose leash while walking. Dogs have an extraordinary sense of smell. They pull on their leashes because they want to check out interesting smells. Combined with the fact that dogs walk faster than humans, it’s not surprising they pull. There are different ways to change this behavior. One is to use a head harness. This is a collar combined with a nose strap that gives the dog owner full control of the dog’s head. Where the head goes, the body follows. It’s like a bridle on a horse. The head harness doesn’t cause harm or pain to a dog. When fitted properly and used consistently, a dog will become accustomed to the head harness. Using the head harness instantly stops the dog from pulling.
Pulling on the Leash While Walking – Option #2
Many owners report when they attempt to control their dogs on leashes, the dogs pull the other way. This is called the opposition reflex. To stop pulling on the leash, the owner should stop walking. This communicates to the dog that when it pulls, the owner won’t go any further. Once the dog releases tension on the leash, the owner and dog can resume walking. If the dog pulls again, the owner stops walking. This is repeated until the dog understands if it pulls, it can’t keep walking.
Conclusion
- It’s important to understand that behavior modification doesn’t cure inappropriate habits overnight. Owners need to practice patience and consistency in order to see improvement. If you’re reading this and it sounds like something from which you could benefit, feel free to reach out to me through my website’s contact page. I look forward to helping you and your dog!