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All dogs learn avoidance techniques to prevent them doing things they don’t want to do. Some dogs run away while others freeze on the spot refusing to move. Hiding under the table is another good example along with jumping up, growling or simply ignoring you.

Once your dog believes you have no answer for his tactics it becomes his ‘trump card’ to be played whenever he chooses. It’s very frustrating if you are trying to go to work and your dog runs away.

I adopted a little Labrador called Claret who’d learned to display nervousness whenever she misbehaved. It got her off the hook and saved her from the consequences of her actions. It became Claret’s trump card until I finally worked it out. When her nervous routine no longer worked she abandoned it.

You MUST have the answer to every avoidance tactic or your dog will use it with increasing frequency. I attach a 20-foot line to dogs prone to running off and tread on it whenever they bolt.

I lift my knee to dogs that jump up. They don’t find it so much fun launching themselves onto a bony knee.

I always hold my ground in the face of growling never allowing the dog to gain any advantage.

You’ll be surprised how quickly these antics disappear when your dog learns you have an answer.