Nice and naughty are often seen as opposite ends of a spectrum when it comes to behavior or character traits. “Nice” typically refers to being kind, considerate, and generally good-natured, while “naughty” implies mischievousness, disobedience, or engaging in behavior that is socially unacceptable. However, these terms can also be subjective and context-dependent. What might be considered nice in one situation could be perceived as naughty in another, and vice versa. It is the balance between the two that often makes life interesting!
When we are discussing dogs and their behavior, I often hear things like “My dog is so naughty’, “He doesn’t listen”, “She gets into everything”, etc. or “He/she is really a nice dog but has a naughty side to him/her.” As a certified dog trainer, my first thoughts when I hear these things is to question the age of the dog. Most likely the “naughty” dogs are young puppies or dogs in adolescence. They are nice dogs overall but their developmental stage can have a significant impact on whether we deal with the nice or the naughty side at any given moment. Basic obedience training, like the A to Z Day Training program offered at Playful Pups Retreat, can play a significant role in whether the dog is well-behaved or displaying their naughty side.
So how do we help the naughty dog through this phase? Training is most often the answer. Training helps build a bond and establish leadership with your dog. Probably the most important thing we can do is to build a solid relationship with our dogs. It is important to teach your dog how to make better decisions by using clear, concise, and controlled commands. When we speak, our words need to matter to the dog. When a dog is wanting to go tear up a pillow or dig a hole in the yard, we need to be able to communicate with the dog in a way they understand they need to make a better decision.
Training commands, whether just starting, or perhaps revisiting them after not working with your dog for a while, will give your dog the opportunity to decide on what they want to do. Teaching and working on self-control exercises with commands such as, come, wait, stay or leave it can help your dog immediately change their behavior.
Playful Pups Retreat’s A to Z Day Training program is a 4 week, fast paced and thorough training program that will introduce your dog to the all-important self-control commands. Our training team will help them walk better on leash, work on dog-to-dog interactions and dog to people introductions. Our trainers have fun with the dog at each training session while teaching the training commands. When the dog is having fun, understands what we are asking them to do, and learning something new every day, at the end of the four-week program (and continuing work in the home), the “naughty” behavior will begin to present itself less and less. When maturity and training meet, your dog will be a well balanced “nice” dog.
Learn more about our A to Z Day Training program and all our other dog training offerings HERE.
Written by Maria Stouffer, CCDT
Training Director at Playful Pups Retreat and Owner of Full Potential Dog Training