My Sidekick and Me: Zoom Calls and Your Dog

By Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC-Pet Behavior Columnist

You are on a very important Zoom call and your dog will not stop barking at your feet. Your doorbell rings and your dog begins barking, twirling and jumping on you as you go to open it. You are frustrated. You want to stop your dog’s bad behavior. 

The time to teach your dog what behaviors you would rather him do in any given situation is often NOT when that situation is happening. It is important to plan ahead. Put management into place. Teach your dog good manners behaviors ahead of time. Practice. And practice more.

Remember, your pet is doing what behaviors work to get him an outcome he values. Barking can get your dog social interaction or distance, depending. Jumping on people can get social interaction, mental and physical stimulation (or even a means of expressing anxiety and wanting distance). Pawing at people who are eating a meal can get a treat or social interaction. Growling at the hands coming near a valued toy can get hands to move away.

If you are frustrated with your pet, know that he is just doing what experience has taught him works to get a need or want fulfilled. 

I encourage you to shift your focus. Think about behaviors you would rather see your pet do, that can also help your pet get needs and wants met. Or think about what behaviors your pet already knows that you can teach your pet to do in certain situations to get certain outcomes. 

If you would like for your dog to settle at your feet while you attend that Zoom call, practice teaching your dog to settle at your feet before the Zoom call. Practice. And practice more. 

Do a Zoom call with yourself and ask your dog to settle (or just teach your dog the contextual cue that *when you are working at your desk,* that means *you* (dog) settle. It may be helpful to give your dog an activity to do before the call so that he may value that resting time more. 

Want your dog to sit while you attach a leash instead of running in circles, jumping and barking? Teach your dog that sitting gets good stuff to happen. Then practice teaching your dog that sitting gets leashes attached outside of the context of a walk. Then practice before a walk. 

Stopping Your Dog’s Problem Behaviors

• Identify each problem behavior or set of behaviors you are wanting to change, when that behavior is likely to occur and what is maintaining that behavior (what does your pet “get” from doing the behavior in that context). 
• Ask yourself what you can do to prevent your dog from practicing that behavior in that context. 
• Identify an acceptable, other behavior that your pet can do instead to access an outcome of at least the same value. 
• Teach and practice that other behavior over and over. 
• Oh yes, and always have fun!

Remember, if you have not trained to the level of incorporating the other behavior in the context you need it, manage to keep your dog from practicing (and getting reinforcement from) the unwanted behavior. 

There is absolutely nothing wrong with your saying you will just continue to use management to solve the issue. However, know that management can fail. 

Lisa Desatnik, CPDT-KA, FFCP, FDM, CPBC, with So Much PETential was voted 2024 Cincinnati’s Best Community Choice Award winner in pet training. She is a certified dog trainer, a certified Family Dog Mediator, and the first trainer in Hamilton County to earn Fear Free certification. She is also a licensed Family Paws Parent Educator. She is committed to using and teaching the most positive, science-based approaches to changing behavior. For more information, visit www.SoMuchPETential.com.