MALINGER/SUBTERFUGE

To pretend injury or illness in order to avoid responsibility or work; a scam or ploy to avoid doing something.

Dogs are great, even witty when it comes to thinking up ways to avoid or get out of doing what you want.

EXAMPLE: "every time I try to train my dog, he becomes "lame," like the old "war injury." SOLUTION; Make sure there is nothing wrong, start to train, and when that old affliction appears, say "you poor baby, I hate to see you so lame.
Let's quit this work stuff and we'll take a ride and buy you an ice cream."

As soon as 'old sooner' jumps for joy and heads for the car, you've caught him "FLAGRANTE DELICTO". Point it right out to him and really rub it in. Dogs don't like to be made fun of... the embarrassment might cause a good laugh!

SEPARATION ANXIETY:
When you leave, your dog may become worried that you may not return. Or, because while you-are-gone, a visitor or disturbance of some sort may have come by--- causing a tense disruption.

EXAMPLE: "Every time I go out, my dog barks/whines, chews things, soils the house, etc. He's vindictive. He does it on purpose! I can't leave him alone! I can tell he knows he's done wrong just by the look on his face!"

SOLUTION; There could be several factors involved. If a dog is indiscriminately relieving himself in the house while you are gone, it could be caused by stress if you have been in the habit of scolding him for any mischief he had indulged in, in the past. That could make him nervous enough to need to relieve himself every time you go out.

Or, it might be the result of barrier frustration, or just a negative attention getting device satisfied by your response upon return. Don't fall victim to these tactics. Don't scold or make an issue out of these problems. Use this distraction technique to cure separation anxiety; Upon leaving home, say "good bye" to a toy or inanimate object lastly, after saying good bye to your pet.

Upon return, search for and say hello to this same object first.
MAKE A BIG DEAL OUT OF THIS. Even if your dog is jumping on you or had gotten into some mischief while you were out.

IGNORE ANY MISTAKES OR JUMPING. Then say to your dog, "AND YOU'VE BEEN A GOOD BOY TOO!" Try to sound like you mean it. Usually within three or four examples of this the dog will try to copy the actions of the article and behave while you are out. He may even develop a sense of security and friendship to it. .