Last week I gave you a pop quiz regarding common behavior challenges. Let’s see how you did!

1. While walking my dog, speeding up everytime my dog sees and pulls towards another dog will result in:

A. My dog learning to greet dogs appropriately on leash

B. My dog pulling like a freight train every time she sees another dog

The correct answer is B. Following a dog who pulls rewards your dog for pulling. Instead, don’t allow your dog to greet unknown dogs on leash. Teach your dog to look at you everytime there’s a new dog around, rather than pull towards the novel dog.

2. When my cat sings the songs of his people at o’dark hundred, getting up and feeding him

when he cries will:

A. Encourage this behavior every morning

B. Help him sleep in

The correct answer is A. When your cat tries to wake you up with soulful meowing, ignore him. When you do get out of bed, don’t feed him right away. Get the coffee or tea started. Check the news. We don’t want your cat to associate you getting out of bed with his breakfast.

3. When my dog starts barking whenever I’m on a video or phone call, feeding him will:

A. Quiet him in the moment and prevent barking during future calls

B. Quiet him in the moment and encourage barking during future calls

The correct answer is B. Ever wonder why your dog barks every time you’re on a call? Feeding your dog right after he barks rewards barking. Instead, have bully sticks, food puzzles, and nylabones at the ready. Before your call, tire your dog out and give them a long lasting chew or food puzzle before the call starts.

4. Walking my untrained dog over and over again will:

A. Train her to misbehave on walks

B. Train her to walk well on leash

The correct answer is A. Many well-meaning people may tell you to just keep at it, keep walking your dog and she’ll eventually get it. This strategy may work when they become too old to pull on walks. Fast forward your dog’s walking skills by training with a force-free professional dog trainer.

5. Giving my cat a food dispensing toy while I eat dinner will:

A. Prevent her from jumping on the kitchen counters and dinner table

B. Prevent her from learning to ignore human food

The correct answer is A. Giving your cat a task incompatible with the undesirable behavior is a win-win for everyone.

Bonus Question: Should my dog have access to his safe space?

A. Yes

B. No

The correct answer is A. Your dog should always have an escape route in your home. It’s especially important to give your dog access to his safe space during times when he’s scared. A quiet safe space can help your dog cope during thunderstorms and fireworks season.

How did you do? Whether you aced this pop quiz or not, let me know! Tag Behavior United in a picture of your dog and your score on social media!