Training your Dog To Be Left Alone

You get a new puppy. Unfortunately you are not going to be able to be with him all day long every day. You are going to have to train him to be left alone. You may want to use a crate or keep him confined to one room in the house. Or you may want him to stay outside in the yard. Whatever you decide – you want him to learn early that being alone is not a bad thing and that you are going to come back.

You also want to be sure that while you are gone, your dog is behaving in an appropriate manner. You do not want him, barking, digging, chewing or destroying things while you are gone. Many dogs exhibit these behaviours because they are bored, and not out of spite as many owners believe. They also might be nervous about being alone so it is up to you to teach or train your pet to understand that that alone time can be fun time. [Read More ...]

Stopping Your Dog From Barking

For those of you who are working on the best way to housebreak a puppy, barking can be tough. A constantly barking dog can be a huge nuisance.  It is challenging to learn how to stop your dog from barking, because there are any number of things that sets off constant barking.  Then, each breed is also unique. Figuring out what causes your dog to bark can help you figure out exactly how to teach your dog to control this behavior.

Some dog are just barkers.  It may seem like they live to bark.  Some people don’t mind a lot of dog barking, but it is annoying to many other people.  Try to remember that when dogs bark they are using vocal cues and signals to try to communicate with humans or other dogs.  Don’t try to stop your dog from barking completely, just try to narrow the barking down to when it is essential for their communication.  

One way to avoid excessive barking issues is by not choosing a dog that is known as a big barker.  A dog’s breed and purpose is often a huge factor in its barking habits.  Dogs bred to protect their owners will bark more than those bred as family pets.  Dogs bred for hunting may also tend to bark and even howl more than other breeds.  You cannot always predict a dog’s barking behavior by its breed, but knowing the tendency of a breed to bark is important before you choose a dog.  

Once you get a dog, don’t let it teach you to respond to incessant barking.  If you get up and do what your dog wants just because it doesn’t stop barking, you are only rewarding the problem.  Respond to your dog once she quiets down.  This will train your dog to understand which behaviors will get her rewarded. Consider this before you buy a citronella dog collar.  

When your dog starts to bark, give him a few seconds to get it out of his system.  If the barking persists clasp your hand firmly, but gently around your dog’s muzzle.  If the dog tries to escape your grasp and continue barking reach out with your other hand and hold her by the collar.  

You may be able to figure out why your dog is barking on your own, but sometimes it requires outside help to figure out why your dog will not stop barking.  Don’t feel awkward about asking for help.  I did and it worked.  My dog no longer barks all the time at every noise she hears.

Dog Leash Training: Dog Pulling on Leash

Your daily walk in the park has turned into a battle. You and your dog are constantly engaging in tug of war. Other dogs can walk nicely on a leash, why not yours? Perhaps it’s time to start looking at some dog leash training methods and put an end to the nonsense once and for all.

Many owners find that their dog behaves really well at obedience class but the minute he goes out for a walk he turns into a demon. Maybe it is not the dog who changes but you. Is it possible that during training sessions you treat the animal one way and another when he is out for his daily walk? Or maybe you treat the animal one way and your partner or children treat him another. If so, your poor dog is receiving mixed signals.

Training is not going to involve just you and the dog but everyone who has to walk the dog. Consistency and patience are the keys to training any animal. And this means that all the people who walk the dog must follow the same procedures with the animal, all the time. And you must all use the same commands.

Once everybody has agreed to work together, you can start to look at the dog’s behaviour. If he likes to pull it is probably because he has learned that if he pulls he gets to go where he wants. Simply put, he is getting rewarded for pulling on his leash. You have to teach him immediately that dog leash pulling does not get rewarded.

The moment that your pet decides to pull on the leash STOP. Do not move. Do not pull on the leash. When your dog eases up on the leash take a step. If the pulling starts again stop. Once you have puppy focused on you, begin to move. Puppy will soon realise that if the leash is tight nobody goes anywhere.

As your puppy learns this concept, be sure to offer lots of praise and rewards. When the puppy turns to you to find out why there is no movement you might try backing up a step. Reward the puppy as he returns to you. A great way to get your dog to stay focused on you is to alter direction. Try not to walk in a straight line. Walk backwards; make sharp turns, both left and right. Be sure that at no time do you pull on the leash. Instead Stop. Remain frozen in place until the tension on the leash eases up.

You may not get far on your first few tries but if you are consistent you will see results. Remember that everyone who walks the dog must practice this technique, all the time. This is not always easy to do. There are times when you are in a hurry and taking the time to stop is annoying but remain unremitting.

These lessons are extremely important. You do not want to rely on choke collars or halties to get your dog to behave. You want the dog to stay close to you because it is the best place to be. Training collars are just that, for training. You want your dog to behave even when you are not doing a training session. You want to have control of your dog at all times.

If you remain persistent with your dog leash training exercises you will be surprised at how soon your walks become a joy instead of a chore.

How to Stop a Dog From Biting His Leash

Having a dog that bites his leash can be frustrating. If your dog does mange to chew its way to freedom it can become a dangerous situation. Not only is your dog at risk from cars, and other dogs but your best friend may ingest something that is life threatening. Save yourself a lot of time, money and grief by correcting this behavior as soon as possible.

There are a few different tactics that will correct this behavior:

• The first and easiest thing to try is using a bitter apple liquid. Liberally apply the bitter apple to the entire length of the leash. It may be a bit messy and will smell awful but it is worth it. Some dogs do actually like the taste of this product so as an alternative try using the hottest sauce that you can find. Neither of these methods will harm your dog, but most dogs only need try this a few times before they realize that it does not taste good.
• Another simple technique is the moment that your dog begins biting the leash, Stop. Give him a sharp “no” and remove the leash from the dog’s mouth with a quick pull. You may have to repeat this a few times before it works.
• If you have begun training your dog with the leave it command this is a great time to practice. If your dog drops the leash, give him a reward. However, be wary, you do not want the dog learning that he will be rewarded for taking the leash.
• You might also try the stop walking method during your dog leash training exercises. The moment the dog starts to bite his leash STOP and freeze. Do not move, this is the same technique that you can use to get your dog to stop pulling. Once your dog settles down, begin moving again. Your dog will get the idea that nobody goes anywhere when the leash is being bitten. You might even try putting the leash under your foot and ignoring your animal until he calms down. Once the dog is quiet and calm continue walking.
• If your dog is very playful, he may be biting the leash for more attention. You could try allowing the dog to carry a toy, ball or stick on your walk.
• Another idea is to try getting your dog to focus on other things while you are walking. Make the walk more challenging. Change your direction frequently; this will help to keep the dog’s attention off the leash. You might also try issuing other commands as well such as working on sit and stay. It may take a bit longer to get where you are going but it works.
• Take the dog somewhere new. Try walking your dog in different places. If a dog is entertained by new sights and sounds he is too busy to bite the leash.
• If need be, shorten the leash as much as possible. Keep the dog in almost, the heel position and begin walking. Walk at a very brisk pace. Do not talk to your dog, or pet him, keep moving.

With patience and practice you can get your dog to stop biting the leash. But you have to remain consistent. Whichever method you decide to use, be sure to give it time to work. None of these will work the first time out; they might not even work the second, but keep at it. You and your dog will reap the rewards.

Stop Dog Digging: How to Stop a Dog From Digging

Digging can be a very destructive and dangerous behaviour. You don’t want your dog escaping into the street or destroying your newly planted garden. But, many are at a loss when it comes to how to stop a dog from digging.

Whenever you are trying to change a dog’s behaviour it is important to understand why he is behaving the way he is. Looking at things from the dog’s point of view will often save you a lot of time, money and headaches. Read more

How to Stop Your Dog From Chewing Up Your House

Every dog likes to chew things. It is up to you to teach your pet what he is and is not allowed to chew. You do not want this behaviour to become a problem. If want to know how to stop a dog from chewing the first thing you need to understand is why dogs chew.

Dogs chew for a variety of reasons. If they are young they may be teething, which any owner will tell you can be a trying time. Some dogs chew out of boredom or loneliness.  Once you have figured out why your dog is chewing you can start to correct, or at least curb the behaviour.

Make sure that your dogs has chew toys. These are his toys that he is allowed to play with and abuse. Read more

Understanding Your Dog’s Behavioral Problems

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. I’ll explain why your pooch may be doing some of the things she’s doing so you can take steps to curb inappropriate behaviors.

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. If no chew toys are present, everything in the house is a potential chew toy, including shoes, furniture etc. When you notice her chewing on things she should not be, sharply tell her. 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. There barking may be because their are other pets in their surroundings. At times it’s just an attention grabbing issue.

To discourage inappropriate barking, make sure your pooch gets exercise each day. When bored, her pent-up energy can trigger the behavior. Also, avoid encouraging her barking by giving her attention when she does it. Instead a Loud clap from your hands will inform your dog that their actions and behavior is unacceptable.

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. If she receives something when she begs, she’ll naturally (and quickly) begin to believe that begging is appropriate.

You can discourage the begging behavior putting the dog into another part of the house during meal times.

The Value Of Obedience Classes

Most behavioral issues can be curbed by enrolling your dog into obedience classes. If you do so when she’s a puppy, the training is more likely to “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.