Unfortunately, eliminating problem behaviors is one thing that most dog owners eventually face. This article will focus on a few of the most commonly encountered behavior problems.
Problem #1 – Jumping up on people
One of the most frequently cited problems with dogs is that of jumping up on people. Unfortunately, this is one of those behaviors that is often inadvertently encouraged by well meaning owners. After all, it is cute and adorable when that little 10 pound puppy jumps up on you, your family members and your friends.
Many people reward this behavior on the part of a small puppy with kisses and treats. This is a huge mistake, however, since that cute little puppy may soon become a full grown dog who could weigh well in excess of 100 pounds. Suddenly that cute jumping behavior is no longer quite so cute.
In addition to being annoying, jumping up on people can be dangerous as well. A large, heavy dog, jumping enthusiastically, can easily knock over a child or an older or handicapped adult. In today’s litigious society, such an incident could easily make you, as the dog’s owner, the subject of an unwanted lawsuit.
The time to teach a dog that jumping up on people is unacceptable is when he is still young and easy to handle. Retraining a dog that has been allowed to jump up on people can be difficult for the owner, and confusing for the dog.
When the puppy tries to jump on you or another member of your family, gently but firmly place the puppy’s feet back on the floor. After the puppy is standing firmly on the floor, be sure to reward and praise him. It is important for every member of the family, as well as frequently visiting friends, to understand this rule and follow it religiously.
If one member of the family reprimands the dog for jumping and another praises him, the dog will be understandably confused. As with other dog training issues, consistency is the key to teaching the dog that jumping is always inappropriate.
When praising and rewarding the dog for staying down, it is important for the trainer to get down on the dog’s level. Giving affection and praise at eye level with the puppy is a great way to reinforce the lesson.
Problem #2 – Pulling and tugging at the leash
Pulling on the leash is another problem trait that many puppies pick up. Unfortunately, this behavior is also one that is sometimes encouraged by well meaning owners. Playing games like tug of war with the leash, or even with a rope (that can look like the leash to the dog) can unwittingly encourage a problem behavior.
The use of a quality body harness can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or retraining a dog that has picked up the habit of pulling on the leash. Try training the puppy to accept the body harness the same way it accepts the regular buckle collar.
When walking with your dog, try using a lure or toy to encourage the dog to remain at your side. A training collar, when properly used, can also be a good training tool for a problem dog. When using a training collar or choke chain, however, it is very important to fit it correctly, and to use a size that is neither too big nor too small for your dog.
When walking with your puppy, it is important to keep the leash loose at all times. If the puppy begins to pull ahead, the handler should quickly change directions so that the puppy fast finds itself falling behind. It is important to reverse directions before the puppy has reached the end of the leash. The leash should stay loose except for the split second it takes the handler to reverse direction. It is important to use a quick tug, followed by an immediate slackening of the leash.
When training a puppy, it is important to never let the puppy pull you around. Training the puppy to walk properly while he or she is still small enough to handle is absolutely vital, especially when dealing with a large breed of dog. If your 150 pound Great Dane hasn’t learned to walk properly while he or she is still a 20 pound puppy, chances are it never will.
It is important not to yank or pull on the puppy’s neck when correcting him. A gentle, steady pressure will work much better than a hard yank. The best strategy is to use the least amount of pressure possible to achieve the desired result.
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Feb 10, 2010 | | Dogs
Separation anxiety, also known in the dog training world as owner absent misbehavior, is one of the most frequently encountered problems in the world of dog training. Separation anxiety can manifest itself in many different ways, including chewing, destroying the owners property, excessive barking, self destructive behavior and inappropriate urination and defecation.
Dogs suffering from separation anxiety often whine, bark, cry, howl, dig, chew and scratch at the door the entire time their family members are away. Well meaning owners often unwittingly encourage this misbehavior by rushing home to reassure the dog, but it is important for the well being of both dog and owner that the dog learn to deal with extended periods of separation.
How the owner leaves the house can often contribute to separation anxiety issues. A long and drawn out period of farewell can make matters worse by making the dog feel even more isolated when the owner finally leaves. These long types of farewells can get the dog excited, and then leave him with lots of excess energy and no way to work it off. These excited, isolated dogs often work off their excess energy in the most destructive of ways, such as chewing up a favorite rug or piece of furniture.
Excess energy is often mistaken for separation anxiety, since results are often the same. If you think that excess amounts of energy may be the problem, try giving your dog more exercise to see if that eliminates the problem.
If separation anxiety is truly the problem, it is important to address the root causes of that anxiety. In order to prevent separation anxiety from occurring, it is important for the dog to feel happy, safe, secure and comfortable while the owner is away for the day. It is important, for instance, to give the dog plenty of things to keep it busy while you are away. This means providing it with lots of toys, such as balls or chew toys. A pet companion is often effective at relieving separation anxiety as well. Giving the dog a playmate, such as another dog or a cat, is a great way for busy pet parents and pets alike to cope with the stress of being left alone.
Setting aside scheduled play times, during which the pet is given your undivided attention, is another great way to alleviate boredom and separation anxiety. Playing with the dog, and providing it with sufficient attention and exercise, is a proven way to avoid a stressed and anxious dog. A happy dog that has been well exercised and well conditioned will generally sleep the day away happily and patiently wait for the return of its owner.
It is important to schedule one of these daily play sessions before you leave the house each day. It is important to give the dog a few minutes to settle down after playtime before you leave.
For dogs that are already experiencing separation anxiety and associated misbehaviors, it is important to get him accustomed to your leaving gradually. Be sure to practice leaving and returning at irregular intervals, several times during the day. Doing so will get your dog accustomed to your deparartures and help him realize that you are not leaving him forever. Dogs that have been previously lost, or those that have been surrendered to shelters and readopted, often have the worst problems with separation anxiety. Part of treating this problem is teaching the dog that your leaving is not permanent.
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Feb 08, 2010 | | Dogs
Whatever dog you have, he or she will sure appreciate having their own private space, just like us humans, dogs are territorial and always love to have a place to call their own. A dog kennel is the perfect opportunity to provide your dog with its own house and you with your own space…
Every dog owner is faced with the same dilemma, to keep the dogs in the house with the family or to think about a dog kennel that will serve the dogs as an outdoor home of their own. The advantages of a dog kennel are numerous and not surprisingly many find that a dog that has his own space is sometimes much more relaxed and happy. The dog kennel option also decreases some conflicts in the home since sometimes some family members are not too excited about having a dog indoors.
A dog kennel fence is an essential instrument for anyone who owns a pet dog. Not only does a kennel fence allow you to put your dog somewhere where he has more space to roam and play, but it also keeps him from tearing up your furnitureor wandering into someone else’s yard. Whether there are unwanted dogs roaming around in your neighborhoodor whether you simply want to keep your dog safe–fences are required to prevent then in entering and damaging any kind of land or property you have.
A dog kennel fence is a great idea for some dog owners and the dogs as well, but you should seriously think about the fence and the way it is going to positively affect your life, you will need to think about your dog too, does he need a lot of space? Should the be a covered area and a place for the dog to isolate itself from the exterior environment?. Once you decide to setup a dog kennel fence, you should take into consideration your dog’s size and personality. Obviously, the larger your dog chain link dog kennel is, the larger you will want the fence to beand the more space you will want him to have to roam. The next thing to think about is the main purpose of the dog kennel, is it for you to have better control over your dog? Is it to keep your dog from running away (as many dogs do), or to keep it from causing damage and harm to people or things in the vicinity?.
Dog kennel fences are available in many forms so you can many different options for the dog kennel setup, dog kennel materials can be made of metal, wire, and even electronic (but I dont personally recommend it at all). Each owner can select suitable fencing according to his and his dog’s needs. When making this decision, it is important to consider whether you are fencing your dog in or keeping other things from entering the cage. For instance, if your primary concern is preventing your dog from getting away, you may want to use a high dog kennel fence with a top and with a lock on the door. In contrast, if your primary concern is keeping other animals out, such as raccoons or other dogs, you may want to put up a double fence or an electric fence outside of the kennel.
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Jan 31, 2010 | | Dogs
A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its main purpose is to provide security, safety and protection for short term confinement while training a puppy or new dog about its own and house boundaries.
A crate may look like a jail cell, but when used properly is your dogs natural den a personal space where hell feels secure and comfortable. The best place to place a crate would be where your dog can see the environment and family members, hear and smell your house – the kitchen is usually a good spot.
An ideal crate should be large enough to allow your dog to stretch out, stand without hitting his head and be able to turn around. The crate should not be so large that your dog can relieve himself in one corner and play move away to play and sleep in another. If your puppy is still young and is not fully growth, try to block off certain section of the crate with cardboards or wood boards.
To encourage your dog to like his new den, you should preferably equip it with soft beddings, a bowl of water and a toy that he likes. (You might want to remove the water at night when you are potty training your dog)
You must introduce the crate slowly to your dog. Crate him in smaller interval, about 10 minutes, and gradually increase over time. Your dog need time to get used to being crate. Never crate him for more than 30 minutes or longer for the first time.
It is not advisable to crate a young puppy for long period of time about 2 hour and pup should always be exercised before being crated.
Its quite normal for dogs to kick up a fuss, bark and moan while in the crate. If these things happen, do not give your dog any attention! Yes! Do not even look in his direction.
Dogs are intelligent animals Dont let him know that hell get your attention when he kicks up a fuss. Simply ignore him! Let your dog out only when he settles down.
*if its a young puppy whom youve just introduce the crate to, maybe you can offer him a treat in the crate to calm him down. Whatever you do, dont let him out of the crate at that very moment!*
The exception I can think of is if you think your dog has to relieve himself. Even so, bring it out only after he stops barking. Another exception is when your dog is chewing on himself. Let him out immediately and consult a trainer or behaviorist.
Lastly, dog should not be crate for too long day after day. Hell develop destructive behaviors and anxiety problems. If you notice that your dog displays hyper active behavior compare to before, you might be crating him for too long!
Most important of all, never ever punish your dog in the crate, hell dread going back to the crate. It is meant to be a comfortable and safe space, not where hell get punish.
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Jan 01, 2010 | | Dogs
When choosing the right signature toy for your precious dog, you should consider several factors. Even when selecting dog toys that are made by signature and high-end labels, you should weigh in several things aside from price and manufacturers.
Here are some tips on choosing the right toys for your dog.
On choosing the perfect toys for your dog
Toys for the dogs should be enjoyable and fun. But, at the same time, you should check whether the toys are durable and safe. What if your dog accidentally chokes because it swallowed a part of its toy? Safety of the toys should be of paramount concern.
The safety and durability of a dog toy depends on many factors such as the size of your dog, its activity level, as well as your and your dogs personal preference. Ask dog-owning friends or family members for tips. Consult with your vet if needed on what toys should you buy for your dog.
Be careful when choosing the toys
In general, the toys that dogs find most attractive are the ones that could pose the greatest danger. Check with the store staff of the features of toys. Evaluate if some toys could be dangerous to your dog.
Choosing the perfect size of the toys
Do not buy dog toys that are so small that can be easily swallowed or could cause your dog to choke. Do not, on the other hand, pick toys that are way too big and heavy for your dog, as it would not enjoy the toy. Pick a toy that is just perfect for the size of your pet.
Check that any part of the toy cannot fall off or break
Look out for toys that may have parts that are not dog proof. Some of the parts a dog could chew or ingest are strings, eyes, ribbons, among others. Avoid such toys.
Dog toys that are squeaky and soft are good for some dogs
Some dogs that are gentler can play well with designer toys that are soft and squeaky. Some, however, like to play rough with the designer toys that they have. Ask your vet for any tips on what kind of designer toys should you buy your dog.
You could also check the store staff or surf through the Internet for additional information on toys.
Designer toys are fun, alright but you have to also look for other concerns such as the toys safety for your dog.
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Dec 23, 2009 | | Dogs