How to Set Ground Rules for Your Dog

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1Establishing Leadership

2Setting Rules for Dog Behavior

3Establishing Dog Friendly Spaces

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Article Summary

Setting ground rules is an important part of being a responsible pet owner. The first step in successfully setting rules for your dog is to establish your authority. Once your dog understands that you are the leader, you can establish ground rules for behavior. Being consistent and rewarding good behavior in a timely manner are also key to successfully setting ground rules for your dog.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Establishing Leadership

1. 
   1
   Understand the importance of establishing your role as the boss. It’s critical that your dog understands that you are in charge and learns to respect and trust your position in the household. Whether you think of yourself as the “alpha” or the “pack leader,” it’s important to let your dog know that.
2. 
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   Make your dog walk beside or behind you. A good way to establish your leadership is to make your dog walk beside or behind you while on a leash. Do not allow your dog to walk in front of you, or pull on their leash. Giving your dog the upper hand while on a leash will send a message to your pooch that they are in control, which is the opposite of what you need to communicate to your dog.

   • Try walking your dog on a leash in your backyard, and give them a treat when they walk beside or behind you.
   • If your dog refuses to walk beside or behind you, or pulls on the leash, stop and make your dog sit. Then say, “let’s go,” and try again.
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3. 
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   Control your dog's food. Feed your dog at established times and avoid giving them scraps while at the table. Having control over what your dog eats, and when they eat, is an important part of establishing a routine and ground rules. You should feed your dog at regular, established mealtimes in the same area.

   • You should not give your dog scraps while you are at the table, as this will teach your dog that begging will be rewarded.
4. 
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   Make your dog sit before pleasurable interactions. Whether you intend to give your dog a toy, take them for a walk, or feed them a treat, have them sit first. This will help them be more settled and calm, and it will also help the dog understand that you are in control of the situation, reward, or activity.

   • For example, make your dog sit before playing with a toy or going for a walk.
   • Once your dog is sitting calmly, you can then give them a toy or take them out on a walk.
5. 
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   Be consistent. One of the most important parts of setting ground rules for your dog is being consistent. Once you set a rule, you must make your dog follow it at all times with no exceptions. This will help the dog learn the rule.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Setting Rules for Dog Behavior

1. 
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   Prevent your dog from mouthing or biting people. An important ground rule to set for your dog is a prohibition on biting or mouthing. If your dog tries to chew on your hands, try substituting a chew toy. You should also encourage your dog to play in ways that do not involve contact, such as fetch or tug-of-war.

   • If your dog does bite or mouth you, try giving a high-pitched yelp and then ignoring your dog for sixty seconds.
   • Use a muzzle to control your dog biting behavior.
2. 
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   Stop your dog from destructive chewing behavior. It's important that you curb any destructive chewing your dog engages in. For starters, you should make sure all items that might be appealing for your dog to chew on, such as shoes, are in places that are out of your dog's reach. You can also purchase a bad-tasting repellent or spray at the pet store to use on furniture or other items. These specially formulated sprays are not toxic to dogs but the taste will deter your pet from chewing.

   • When you leave the house, either crate your dog or make sure they have a chew toy to gnaw on during your absence.
3. 
   3
   Make your dog sit when the doorbell rings. Some dogs have a bad habit of rushing to the door when a visitor knocks or rings the bell, and many will jump on your guests once the door is open. Teach your dog to sit and stay when they hear the sound of a doorbell or knock. This will help your dog learn that guests are only to be greeted after the successful execution of a command and permission from you.

   • When the doorbell rings, make your dog sit. Do not open the door until your dog is sitting.
4. 
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   Don’t allow your dog to beg. Dogs are great at begging, using their adorable faces and sad eyes to convince you that getting on the bed or nabbing a bite of your pizza is a great idea. It is important that your dog understands that begging will not be rewarded. If your dog begs for food, try establishing a place away from the table where they are required to be during meals.

   • At mealtimes, make your dog go to a designated area such as their crate or bed.
   • Try rewarding your dog with a dog treat at the end of meals if they remain in their established space.
5. 
   5
   Do not let your dog jump on people. An important ground rule to establish with your dog is the prohibition of jumping. While jumping up is a common way for dogs, especially puppies, to greet people, it’s critical that you stop this behavior in your pet. When you come home from work, do not give your dog any attention until they sit and stay. If they jump on you, continue ignoring them until they follow your commands. Then reward them with attention by petting them or giving them a treat.
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   Use positive reinforcement. Once you establish your authority and set the ground rules, it’s important that you use positive reinforcement as you teach your dog the ropes. Positive reinforcement can come in many forms, such as extra attention, a walk, or a treat when your dog does a good job following the ground rules.
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   Reward good behavior in a timely manner. When your dog does something good, such as responding positively to a command, be sure to reward them quickly. For example, if your dog sits and stays while the doorbell rings and a guest enters your home, reward them immediately with a treat. If you wait until five minutes after the good behavior, your dog will not associate following a ground rule with a treat.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Establishing Dog Friendly Spaces

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   1
   Create a comfortable space for your dog. It's important that your dog has a space that is all their own within your house. If you decide to crate your dog, the crate can become this safe space. If you do not crate your dog, make sure they have a bed in a designated area of the house.
2. 
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   Use doors and gates to establish your dog’s indoor territory. It is important that your dog understands what parts of the house are open to dogs, and what parts are off limits. Use child or pet gates to block off areas you do not wish your dog to visit. You can also close doors to rooms that are not part of your four-legged friend’s territory.
3. 
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   Establish furniture rules. As a dog owner, you have multiple options when it comes to rules regarding furniture. You can teach your dog to completely stay off the furniture, institute an invitation-only policy, or allow the dog to sprawl out on the couch whenever they feel the urge.

   • If you want your dog to stay off the furniture completely or to enforce an invitation-only policy, try placing a barrier on the furniture to prevent them from getting onto it, like boxes or upside down chairs.
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Expert Q&A

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• Question

  What are the most important commands to teach a dog?

  

  Beverly Ulbrich
  Dog Behaviorist & Trainer

  Beverly Ulbrich is a Dog Behaviorist and Trainer and the Founder of The Pooch Coach, a private dog training business based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a Certified CGC (Canine Good Citizen) Evaluator by the American Kennel Club and has served on the Board of Directors for the American Humane Association and Rocket Dog Rescue. She has been voted the best private dog trainer in the San Francisco Bay Area 4 times by SF Chronicle and by Bay Woof, and she has won 4 "Top Dog Blog" awards. She has also been featured on TV as a dog behavior expert. Beverly has over 18 years of dog behavior training experience and specializes in dog aggression and anxiety training. She has a Master of Business Administration from Santa Clara University and a BS from Rutgers University.

  

  Beverly Ulbrich

  Dog Behaviorist & Trainer

  Expert Answer

  Teach them "Sit," "Stay," "Come," and "Off." "Sit" means you can get them to settle when you need them to. "Stay" means they know not to move again until you say—that's an important one that could save your dog if they're about to run in the street or do something they shouldn't. "Come" means to come to you or to anyone who's caling, which would be helpful if they ever got lost. And "Off" means to leave something and not to ever touch it again, which could save them from getting into something dangerous.

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