Posts Tagged ‘dog behavior’

Dog House Training. What Works And What Does Not.

Sunday, July 26th, 2009

Dogs Puppy Training Video

When you get a puppy, you might not think immediately about dog training, but you should. Having a well trained dog can mean the difference between a alm and settled household and a chaotic one.

Dog behavior is directly impacted by how much training he has. He needs to have structure and limits in his life. If you don’t provide this, he will, and that can create significant behavior problems in your dog.

Why Train Your Dog?

No matter your dog’s breed, he is descended from wolves and it is his instinct to be part of a pack. In the dog pack, there is a hierarchy, with clear dominant roles and submissive roles. If you don’t become the leader of the pack, your dog will make himself that leader. That’s not good and creates all kinds of dog problems.

Training establishes and reinforces the hierarchy concept for a dog. It teaches him that someone in the household is in control and that he must submit to that person.

Although some people say they prefer to not provide any dog obedience training, that’s a mistake. Puppy training – it’s best to start them young – can do much for your young dog, and will only help him as he gets older.

Where to Get Training?

You have a few choices:

1. You can hire a professional trainer to come to your house
2. You can attend dog obedience training classes
3. You can buy an online ebook and CD or DVD (the cheapest and the preferred option)

Whatever you do, it’s important that your dog’s first (and future) experience with training is successful.

Crate Training.

When most of us think about dog training, we think first and foremost about dog obedience training. Dog obedience training is really about the basics of training and includes learning commands like “sit,” “stay,” and “heel.”

Even if your dog only learns the most basic of dog training commands, his knowledge of just a few basic commands is immensely useful to you as the dog sowner.

A dog that’s received some dog obedience training is also much more pleasant to strangers and other dogs. You can control his behavior when necessary and he will also develop the inner discipline that will help him make right decisions even when you’re not around.

Dog House Training

Dog house training is something you can do yourself. You don’t need the experts for this, though a little advice from a dog training expert certainly can’t hurt.

Your dog must be house trained in order to ensure that he can understand the basics of his needs. That is, he should understand, through some consistent dog house training efforts on your part, that there are certain needs he has that must be met appropriately.

If you have never done any puppy training before with potty issues, you might look in the following places:

* Books, online ebooks and CD or DVD
* You Tube videos
* Friends with more experience than you
* Dog training experts

Crate Training

The concept of crate training is lost on many dog owners, but it’s a concept and a behavior that should be encouraged.

Crate training dogs gives them a sense of safety and security. While initially, many dog owners will use crate training as a puppy training method, the older dog benefits greatly from using a crate as well.

Crate training can be used to reinforce house training, or it can be used as a tool to teach a dog to sleep in a particular place at night, to keep the dog away from strangers, or transport the dog in the car.

There are so many essential uses for crate training, in fact, that dogs suffer from not having this kind of dog obedience training in their lives.

Basic Dog Training

Dog training tips run the gamut from “be sure you use a firm voice” to “let your dog lead the way.” The reality is what works for you might not work for someone else and a different dog might respond differently to training.

Find your own path with your new dog. Keeping in mind that:

* He needs structure and discipline and dog obedience training gives him that
* He will respond to firm direction from you that its given lovingly and consistently
* Both you and he will be happier in your relationship if your dog has even the most basic understanding of dog obedience training.

Dog training is an essential part of owning a dog. It’s worth whatever effort you are willing to give it.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Dogs | No Comments »

Train Your Dog to Stop Chewing Everything

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Companionship is one reward that comes from keeping a dog and an affectionate dog is great for the kids. A well trained dog is an asset to any family. Controlling your dogs chewing is important to gaining the most enjoyment from your pet. 

Several issues must be considered when your dog is chewing excessively. Assessing the dog’s environment is an important consideration. Does your dog seem bored or under stress? Is it teething? These are all factors that could lead to your dog displaying chewing behavior. Read my Dove Cresswell Review to learn to stop your dog from chewing.

Here are some steps that you will need to remember in order to stop your dog from chewing:

Your dog looks to you for direction and don’t forget that you are in control of your dog’s behavior. You must ensure that your dog knows this. You are the leader of the pack and your dog doesn’t mind being at the bottom of the pack.

Lets get started with what is being chewed? If shoes, clothes etc are being chewed your dog thinks this is Ok. A simple way to deal with this is to remove objects that are too tempting for the growing puppy, until more self control and maturity is learned. {Sometimes spraying an object with chili will stop your dog from chewing it}. Your dog will remember this next time and soon learn not to chew that object again.

Secondly, why is your dog chewing? Maybe your puppy is getting new teeth? Painful gums can be helped with something appropriate to chew on. Dogs are able to tell the difference between things they have permission to chew and objects they are not. For sore gums you could try a hard rubber ball, puppy teething rings or some frozen dog chew toys.

Does boredom or stress factor in your dog chewing? Quite a deal of stimulation will be required to keep your new family member entertained. If you are away all day you could try your dog with some interesting dog toys that require persistence to master. Stress could come from you being out all day. You could try leaving without your dog knowing, to reduce the separation anxiety. Including your pets in your activies when you are at home ensures they don’t feel ignored. Being bored will lead to your dog behaving in a way that is unacceptable to attract your attention.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Dogs | No Comments »

Steps to Reduce Dog Barking

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Understanding why your dog is barking is key to training your dog to stop barking. Over time you will learn to understand what your dog is trying to communicate through barking. Sometimes you will want your dog to bark, when something is not right or your dog needs to go to the toilet, for example. Not all barking is bad!. Neighbours with barking dogs are annoying and it is up to you to train your dog about barking behaviour. Remember, you are the boss and your dog will follow your instruction about what to do and what not to do.

For more ideas for your training read these reviews of the top dog training packages available today. Go to Best Dog Training Product now.

Is your dog feeling bored, anxious or lonely?

A major cause of problem barking is a dog who feels anxious or lonely. Does your dog spend the major part of every day alone? Make sure you are providing your dog with plenty of exercise to compensate for that, 1 - 1.5 hours per day depending on size and breed. A walk before or after work is highly recommended. Consider hiring someone to walk your dog in the mornings and/or evenings if it’s too difficult to arrange. Your dog will be much happier having received this attention. A host of dog toys are available from pet shops etc, to try when you are away from home. Try buying your dog a bone to chew or a ball to play with. A great way for your dog to rediscover toys is to rotate them.

A common cause of barking is a dog who spends too much time alone. Dogs are very social animals requiring lots of attention, interation and communication. Spend a lot of time with your dog playing and showing it affection. Dogs need this to thrive. Find activities that include your dog, when at home. Dogs who are loved are happy. A dog that gets plenty of attention is also less likely to show other unwanted behaviors and you won’t need to Stop Your Dog Chewing.

Is your dog feeling playful?

Do not give in to a demanding, barking dog. If you do give in you will reinfoce this bad habit. Mutual respect is key to your relationship with your dog and harassing you in this way demonstrates lack of respect. You will need to ignore this behaviour if you don’t want your dog to demand your attention in this way. Moving away and turning your back towards your dog is a way to demonstrate this effectively. This is likely to confuse your dog to start with. Since the barking behavior has worked in the past your dog may thinking that if it barks for just a little longer you will give in. Do not give in! Be firm. Don’t be suprised if the baking gets worse before it gets better. Praise is the key and when your dog realises barking isn’t working, praise it. Let your dog know how pleased you are, with positive reinforcement. After a short time of consistent work your dog will re-learn this behavior and stop barking to attract your attention.

Effective dog training requires consistency. Dogs respond positively to knowing who the boss is. Your leadership is necessary for your dog to respect you and become well adjusted, well behaved and happy. A dog does not necessarily have to be quiet to be well behaved. If your directions are clear your dog will learn when it is and is not appropriate to bark.

To learn more about training for your barking dog visit Dog Barking Problems.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dogs | No Comments »

Quick guide to Dog Behavior Issues

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Understanding Your Dog’s Behavioral Problems

Dogs exhibit many behaviors that leave their owners scratching their heads in confusion. Whether it’s barking, digging, nipping, or a number of other annoying activities, canines do things that seem odd to us. However, by understanding why they do such things, owners can learn to modify such behaviors.

Below, we’ll discuss several behavioral problems that can frustrate owners, their guests, and their neighbors. The purpose of this article is to give you the tips and tools to understand and correct yoru dogs behavior issues.

Chewing

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. Sometimes, they’re anxious. Other times - especially in the case of puppies - they chew because they’re teething. Still other times, they simply become bored or restless. They do it to work off excess energy.

If your canine limits her chewing to a chew toy, or Bully Sticks there’s little harm in it. When no chew toys are around, your house belongings are at risk for damage from a chewing dog. When you physically see your dog chewing on inappropriate objects, may sure you inform them. Take away (or remove her from) the item on which she’s chewing and give her a Odorless Bully Stick in its place.

Excessive Barking

First, it’s important to realize that your dog barks as a way of communicating. While it can become frustrating if she does so excessively, owners should understand that there may be a valid reason for the behavior.

That said, canines often bark excessively for a number of reasons that are inappropriate. For example, they may be bored or excited. The barking could be caused by other pets near by. At times it’s just an attention grabbing issue.

To discourage  the excessive barking, make sure your dog receives plenty of exercise and attention each day. When bored your dog’s behavior issues can increase because of pent up energy. Also, avoid encouraging her barking by giving her attention when she does it. Instead, a loud clap will let your dog know they are doing something wrong.

Begging

Dogs love food, even if they’re not hungry. Given the opportunity, they’ll continue eating as long as someone gives them something to eat. The problem is that owners encourage begging each time they provide a taste from the dinner table. Remember, your pooch learns by repetition. When it comes to food, she learns quickly. By rewarding your dog when they beg, the dog believes the behavior is acceptable and will continue.

You can discourage begging by keeping her in another room while you and your family eat meals.

The Value Of Obedience Classes

Most behavioral issues can be curbed by enrolling your dog into obedience classes. If you train them as a puppy, they will learn what is acceptable and what is not acceptable behavior and the training will “stick”.” If you enroll her as an adult, the training will be effective, but she’ll probably need periodic classes as a reminder of what constitutes appropriate conduct. In the end, a well-trained, well-behaved dog makes a more pleasant companion.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Dogs | No Comments »

Essential Training Tips For Your Rescued Dog

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Patience and dedication are a must when training a dog. But you will need double the patience and dedication to train a rescued dog. All of the hard work will be rewarded in the end.

Unplanned litters continue to be common even though the practice of spaying and neutering has been around for decades. The result is that the number of puppies born far outnumber the number of available homes. If you add to this the number of runaways and lost dogs, the shelters and missions are filled to the brim. For many of these dogs being euthanized will be the sad reality.

For a some lucky dogs, there is a second chance. They are either found on the street or adopted from a shelter and brought home to compassionate and caring family willing to give them a better life. However, these generous souls often find themselves at a loss with their new companion.

By the time dogs find their way to a shelter they are usually in poor shape. It is not uncommon for them to be victims of neglect, abuse of even terrible living conditions. Other times, for a number of different reasons, these dogs were released into the wild to fend for themselves.

In nature a dog is a pack animal. Because of this dogs that are in the wild usually do not do well in isolation. A domesticated dog that has been released into the wild and no longer has human or animal interaction do poorly. Dogs such as these can still learn to be less fearful with proper training.

As the first step in rescuing a dog you should take it to your veterinarian for a full exam. If the animal is sick or in pain your training efforts will be wasted. Take the time to restore the dog’s health and bring it back to a healthy weight.

If possible try to get any information regarding the dog’s history. Knowledge of past abuse, general temperament, or medical history will help you as your train the dog.

Take your time when trying to gain the dog’s trust. Try to avoid imposing yourself on the dog. The animal will begin to seek you out once they have learned to trust you. A suggestion would be to work on trust with a treat. After placing some food on the floor you can back up a bit. Avoid direct eye contact. When the dog takes the treat, praise him enthusiastically.

A few dogs that are rescued look for physical interaction from the beginning. Others may take a few days or weeks. Once established you can try to roll them onto their back and place your hand on the chest. You will have two possible reaction, either resistance from an aggressive dog or fearful acceptance from a passive dog. Aggression or fearful responses are not desirable. Forcing an aggressive dog into a submissive position is done under normal training. This will not work with a rescued dog. Establishing trust will take time. Make sure that a fearful dog understands that being on its back is not a punishment by given it a belly rub and talking in a calm voice.

You may find that the training is slower and more difficult with a rescued dog. A rescued dog is often a mix, older and has a stubborn temperament which adds to the challenge of training. Don’t give up. Your perseverance will pay off.

Don’t feel sorry for the dog. Training can be hindered by doing this. You will want to be loving and caring when appropriate but still be in control. You must establish your position as a leader and let the rescued dog understand that you are the alpha of the pack.

Rescuing a dog from a shelter is great adventure and with a little extra work and patience, will give you a great companion for year.

 

Stefan Hyross writes for the site All About Dogs ‘N Puppies. Learn about dog behavior problems and how to solve them. Feel free to visit the site for puppy potty training techniques and tips for you and your dog.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Dogs | No Comments »