Doggy Mentor

Posts Tagged ‘dog behavior’

A key component in training your dog to bark less is understanding the reasons for the barking. Over time you will learn to understand what your dog is trying to communicate through barking. Sometimes your dog will bark for the right reasons, when it needs to go to the toilet or when something is wrong. Remember, barking can be good thing!. As a dog owner, you are responsible for teaching your dog about barking and making sure you don’t become one of those annoying neighbours. 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 products available today. Go to Dog Training Review now.

Maybe your dog is bored, lonely or anxious?

The most common cause of unwanted barking is a dog who feel lonely or anxious. Perhaps your dog spends every day, all day alone while you are at work? Your dog will need plenty (1-1.5 hours), of exercise to compensate for that. Try and fit in a long walk before or after work. If you find this difficult think about hiring someone to do the walking for you. Your dog will appreciate 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. If you have a few dog toys, try rotating them weekly to help your dog “rediscover” a toy.

A common cause of barking is a dog who spends too much time alone. . It is important that you spend a lot of time playing with your dog and showing it affection. Dogs need this to thrive. Dogs love to be included in family activities. Dogs who are loved are happy. A dog that gets plenty of attention is also less likely to exibit other unwanted behaviors and you won’t need to Stop Your Dog Digging.

Is your dog feeling playful?

Giving in to barking so that you will stop what you are doing and play, is the worst thing you could do. Reinforcing a bad habit will be the result, if you do. Mutual respect is key to your relationship with your dog and harassing you in this way demonstrates lack of respect. Your dog will continue to demand your attention in this way, if you do not ignore this behaviour. An effective way to do this is to turn your back to your dog, without responding and move away. 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. Don’t do it! Be firm. Don’t be suprised if the baking gets worse before it gets better. Lots of praise is required to reinforce the correct behaviour. Your dogs wants to please you so you’ll need to use positive reinforcement. After a short time of consistent work your dog will re-learn this behavior and stop barking to attract your attention.

Consistency is a requirement to effectively train your dog. All pack animals of which dogs are one, need to know who is in charge. A dog has to respect your leadership to be happy, well-adjusted and well-behaved. Remember, quiet does not always mean good. It is your clear direction that will teach your dog when it is appropriate to bark.

To discover more about keeping your barking dog quiet take a look at Dog Barking Problems.

Dog psychology is a fascinating subject and one we will explore today. When you understand why your dog thinks and behaves the way he does, it can go a long way to helping in the process of training your dog.

When we learn to understand why a dog behaves and acts the way that he does , then we are essentially learning dog psychology. The way the dog-a descendant of the wolf- has adapted to human social organization is truly fascinating.

Dogs have learned to live with and obey humans through successful training. When you and your dog build a trusting bond, there is a cooperation that is established: the dog behaves well and he will be rewarded.

To understand dog psychology we need to understand how wolves live. Wolves live in the wild in packs of two or more. They use a strictly defined dictatorship system of males and females.

The leader or “alpha leader” of this system is almost always the biggest male in the pack.All of the other wolves in the pack folllow the alpha leader eagerly and with the utmost respect.

Wolves were able to adapt domestically with man thousands of years ago because of the similar social organization and instinctive mental or pyschological structure. Wolves divide duties like feeding:one wolf tracks, one stands guard, and one makes the attack.The alpha leader allows the other members of the pack to finish his “leftovers” when he has fed first and is satisfied.

Your dog sees the family as a pack and all the members as part of the hierarchal system when he is introduced to your household.Your dog will be watching everyone closely until he can figure out who the alpha leader is and exactly where he fits into this new system.

He will be watching for clues such as the physical size of each family member as well as the tone of voice that each person speaks with. He will also notice how everyone interacts with one another throughout the day.

Someone in the household, either yourself or another responsible adult in the household, will have to establish themself as the alpha leader.The sooner this is established, the fewer behavioral problems you will see.

You need not only establish yourself or someone else as the alpha, but you must also have a clear understanding that your dog is at the bottom of your family’s hierarchal system.

Without a hierarchal system in place, your dog will create one and put himself in charge. This is when a lot of dogs can become overly dominant and destructive. Including your children-your dog should be subordinate to everyone in the household-and that should be obvious to your dog.

It is sometimes difficult for a dog to understand that he is lower ranked than children, because of their small size and their dependency on adults. Dogs can sometimes become very aggressive towards children for this reason and might even bite on occasion.

Your dog will realize he is subordinate to every other family member through disciplined training.To help you in this process you need good quality dog training resources.

Remember, training does take time and effort, but it is definately worth it!

All the best with the process of training your dog.

Darcy Austin is editor in chief of Dog Obedience University, a comprehensive resource on dog obedience training.

There is a lot work to looking after a dog or puppy and he or she will take up a lot of time, you must be prepared to clean up dog poo every day, until your dog is house trained, or when you take him for a walk.

Training a dog can be hard, especially if you aren’t used to dog training. Simple acts can produce the best and quickest results. You have to understand how a dog would live if he were living in a dog pack. There is always a leader of the pack the alpha male, and you will have to become the alpha, so your dog will know you are in charge and will obey and follow you.

Don’t let any of this put you off, a dog is a wonderful companion and will give you lots of love, with the added bonus if needed, of protecting you. Remember they need plenty of love, attention, and petting as well, so enjoy your best friend.

The following tips will help you look after your dog properly and have a good relationship

Dog problems

Dogs like to dig, they like to bury bones, not good if you are a keen gardener. Being social animals dogs tend to dig when they are lonely. Spending more time with him or her should help if this becomes a problem. Sometimes when they dig they eat the soil, this can be because they are lacking in vitamins and nutrients. Check you pet’s health with a vet and if there is nothing wrong, buy a good dog vitamin pill, and this should help keep that digging at bay.

Potty Training

The best way to deal with doggie potty trainig, is to reward your puppy when he or she gets it right. Never rub his nose in it when he has an accident or hit him, he will know from your face and tone of your voice that he has got it wrong. If the occasional accident does happen, remember it isn’t the end of the world and urine stains do wash out.

Discover the answers to your dog health and dog 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. Knowing why your dog is displaying certain behavior issues, and the steps to fix them is the purpose of this article.

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. However, if she doesn’t have a chew toy, your furniture, books, clothes, and other belongings will be vulnerable to damage. 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. They may be barking because other pets are close by. Many times, your dog just wants to attract your attention.

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 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. When your dog is rewarded when they beg, they will learn this behavior and deem it natural.

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.

Dogs cannot be bad; it is the handler who is poor. It’s irritating when walking down the sidewalk in your own neighborhood only to have a dog jump up on your clean clothes. When your front yard turns into a ready made toilet for your next door neighbor’s dog, it can be equally irritating. Just like the kid next door who has not been taught any manners, these dogs can be compared to them.

Why blame the animal (or the kids) when the adult who’s supposed to be in charge isn’t acting responsibly? It is wise decision to take the help of a dog trainer to learn the tricks of handling this pet without spoiling its personality. Either you contact your vet office or pet store to get to meet a trainer or seek online help from a dog training book or from online dog training tips and tackle your pet problem before it goes out of hand. Owners can learn how to manage their pets from this training.

There is a saying amongst trainers however that it is far easier to train dogs than the people that own them! When you want the dog to be leash trained, make them practice in a small area away from other distractions. Both owners and neighbors get angry when they hear barking which although irritating is quite normal behavior. When they bark, they are simply communicating with us; a reprimand him might give them the wrong signal and confuse them.

So why does a dog bark?
When a dog needs attention, something to eat or drink, it will resort to barking. A Dog barking can be good burglar alarm and training them to stop isn’t always a good idea. It is not a good idea having your puppy bark, even during play if you are likely too shout at him when he barks as an adult. You could learn from your trainer how to reinforce certain behaviors in a puppy, which you desire, by giving them the occasional gift for being good.

How do you make your new puppy stop the undesired behavior?
Well, simply learn to reward him when he does something which is ‘desired’ behavior. There are many behaviors which are part of the breed of the dog so it is important to remember that you can teach your pet to go against these. In case you are particular about teaching your pet some specific behavioral skills, you should choose one from the breed which would provide you with the type of traits you are searching for.

When does a dog become good?
Good dogs are developed by patience, persistence and kindness.

Training a dog takes patience and dedication. To achieve the desired results in rescued dog will take double the dedication and patience. However, the rewards will be worth the effort.

Spaying and neutering has been common practice for a few decades, unplanned births continue to occur. As a result of this there are just not enough homes for all of the puppies that are born. When we add the number of dogs that get lost or wander away, rescue missions and shelters everywhere are filled to capacity. Many of these dogs will never find homes in time and be euthanized.

Some of the lucky ones will get 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. But to the inexperienced dog owner it can be a mystery as to how best to proceed.

Dogs that are brought to shelters are generally not in the best condition. Horrible living conditions, abuse and neglect are often a part of their history. Sometimes these dogs can even be let go into the wild and they will have to fend for themselves.

In nature a dog is a pack animal. Wild dogs generally do poorly on their own. 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. You will not be able to start training your new dog if he is sick or in pain. Take the time to restore the dog’s health and bring it back to a healthy weight.

It may be a tall order, but whenever possible try to get the dog’s history. Knowledge of past abuse, general temperament, or medical history will help you as your train the dog.

Slow and steady is the order of the day when establishing trust with the dog. Try to avoid imposing yourself on the dog. The animal will begin to seek you out once they have learned to trust you. The use of treats is a good way to build trust. Try stepping back a bit after putting a treat on the floor. Do not stare directly at the dog. Once the dog takes the food make sure they get enthusiastic praise.

It is not uncommon for some rescue animals to initially seek out physical contact . Others may take a few days or weeks. But once you have got it you may want to attempt to gently lay the dog on its back and put your hands on its chest. You can expect that the dog will either resist if they tend to be aggressive or a fearful dog will accept. Neither behavior is good. In normal training, you would force the aggressive dog to take on a passive role. 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.

In the case of a rescued dog training can be slow and difficult. They are often older dogs, mixed, and with difficult temperaments which makes training more challenging. Don’t give up. You will be rewarded in the end.

Don’t feel sorry for the dog. This is counter-productive and will only hinder the training. Be patient, loving and understanding but don’t let the dog have the run of the house. By letting the dog know that you are in charge you are establishing yourself as the pack leader.

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 and provides information about dogs and puppies. Read about dog behavior problems and learn how to correct them. Visit the site to  discover proven puppy potty training methods and other tips and trick for you and your pooch.

dog behavior

There are some careers people are just born to do. There are other careers that may not cross a person’s mind unless it is brought to their attention. A certified dog trainer may be one of these careers. There is a great need by some who need help training their dog. Maybe they do not know how to handle their new pet’s dog aggression or they are losing the battle over puppy training. Either case, a certified trainer can help out by providing discipline, guidance and knowledge.

Becoming a certified dog trainer begins with a love of animals. It requires patience and a desire to interact with the animal. Dog obedience training takes knowledge and a compassionate nature in order for there to be success. Most people do not turn to a certified dog trainer until there is an obvious sign of dog aggression and then the battle begins. Dog training starts when the animal first comes home and continues throughout the life-time of the canine.

The training all begins with understanding the basic nature and structure of a dog. It is important to learn the different breeds in order to understand each dog’s particular traits and learning level. Some dog are more hyper than others and require a special sort of handling skills. The same goes for fetching or active breed lines that require special diets and more exercise.

Once the basics of dog behavior are down, then begin the specialized coursework designed to train a dog through a variety of methods. The instruction will teach how to use a variety of instruction in order to train the dog such as through a clicker or through positive reinforcement. Other steps include teaching safety to the owners as well as the dog. It is also important to learn how to deal with dogs that are more difficult to deal with due to a past history of violence or dog fighting.

Once the coursework is complete, the certified dog trainer is ready to begin. There are a variety of places to work such as pet supply stores, kennels or even opening up a business. One great example of a certified dog trainer is Cesar Millan who works with troubled dogs and their owners on his hit television show ‘The Dog Whisperer’ airing on cable.

A freelance trainer will not punch a clock or find them working day-in and day-out within the confines of an office building. There is the freedom of working outdoors and getting to play while being paid. If you decide to work for a company such as Pets Mart then you can get benefits as well. You may never be famous but you will be important to the people you help.

If you are interested in learning how to deal with aggression in dogs, then you should read this article. In particular, I am going to talk about why your dog may be acting aggressively, some of the different types of aggressive behavior your dog may display, and some useful tips on training an aggressive dog. When you have finished reading this guide, you’ll know why your dog is being aggressive and some of the steps you can take to curb this behavior.

First, I am going to talk about why your dog is aggressive. In most cases of dog aggression, there are reasons for these behavior.

For example – if you have had your dog since he was a puppy and maybe his parents were aggressive dogs. I recommend you always research the breed before purchasing because you do not want to bring a breed of dog in your home which is known to have aggressive traits.

Another reason why your dog is displaying aggressive dog behavior is because your dog feels threaten by another dog or person.

Next I am going to tell you about the different types of aggression and how to identify them. There are two main kinds of aggressive dog behavior.

Here’s how you can tell the difference between them.

The first type of aggression is what I call “everyday aggression”. This is aggression behavior that can happen everyday. This isn’t a major problem compared to some other potential scenarios, but you should still monitor this behavior to ensure it doesn’t become worse. The main indicators of this type of aggression are intense staring, growling and barking. You can take control of this behavior with some basic obedience training.

The second kind of aggressive behavior can be more of a problem, and you should try to fix this quickly, by seeking the help of a professional dog trainer. This form of aggression can become dangerous to you, your family and anyone your dog meets if it becomes uncontrollable.

The signs you should look out for are biting, snarling, snapping, nipping at legs or heels, displaying teeth and intense staring. If you don’t do anything about your dog’s aggressive behavior, it can lead on to more severe problems such as fighting and trying to bite people.

With aggressive behavior, I would recommend you seek professional who specialises in aggressive dog training to help correct this behavior.

There are books and CDs to help you with learning the “correct” basics of obedience training for “everyday aggression”. If you have a puppy, you should start training as soon as possible before it gets too late and becomes a habit, which can be hard to break.

Here are some tips for when it comes to training your dog or puppy.

1. Do not leave your dog unsupervised with children at any time in the training.
2. A bad way of dealing with this is to leave your dog tied up outside, because this will not help, and is likely to make the problem worse.
3. Do not abuse or tease your dog or let anyone else do it, as this too will make the behavior worse.

You need to learn the warning signs of aggression before the aggressive behavior appears as this will be much easier for you and your dog when it comes to dealing with this behavior.

In this guide we have discussed some of the main reasons behind aggressive dog behavior, some useful steps you can take when training your dog in basic obedience, and the two main kinds of aggressive behavior. You should now be able to know how to correct this behavior before it gets out of control.

A dog that is well trained and knows its place in the family is every dog owner’s goal but this isn’t always the case. Some dogs show aggression around people they don’t know or around animals but some will just jump on anyone nearby. Albeit those inclinations might be appropriate sometimes, most owners would prefer their dog was sociable with everyone they meet.
 
Is dog training something we really need? Most dog owners would share my opinion that it is very important. It seems pretty obvious that owners want a dog that knows how to behave, but lots of owners don’t have the time to spend on their own or the money to bring in a professional. Certain owners simply don’t want the nuisance of training their dog, whether they do it themselves or through someone else. The outcome is a dog that may scare others, including family members because it is disobedient. The best idea is to train your dog, ensuring its safety and the safety of others.
 
You can purchase fairly inexpensive equipment that can make training your dog much easier.  
 
Straining on the leash when walking is a dog’s way of letting you know it feels it is in charge and you are just following. These kinds of dogs will do anything they want while out walking: chase other dogs or cats, chase birds and pretty much ignore their owner. Owners of these types of dogs get pulled and dragged while the dog wanders in any direction it pleases. 
 
Today you can find walking harnesses, which will help because they are uncomfortable when a dog pulls on them. Without choking the dog, the harness puts pressure on the dog’s armpits when it pulls on its lead. The minute the dog quits pulling, the pressure ceases. The upside is that a dog will want to stay very close to its owner. The dog-walking experience immediately becomes more pleasant and the best part is these leashes require very little skill from the owner. 
 
When your dog is showing good behavior, a little extra attention is the best reward. But with bad behavior, what is the solution? 
 
What makes curbing bad behavior tough is the inability to communicate with your dog when it is misbehaving. Most owners say “No!” when their dog is caught in the act and it can work for some situations. 
 
Sending a clear message to dogs is easy to do with one fantastic training device. It is nothing more than a collection of Dog Training Discs. 
 
The discs are easy to use: when your dog is acting up, toss the disc to the ground and offer a strong “No!” The disturbance of the discs clanking together will surprise your dog and when combined with “No!”, will send a powerful message to your dog that it is misbehaving. Before long, the dog will associate the discs and the command “No!” In fact, your dog will soon respond to the command of “No!” as it would when it hears the discs hit the ground. 

Buy portable dog kennels to make training your dog easier. Discover all kinds of different types of dog kennels and dog beds.

Your dog’s behavior can improve immensely with these two tools and you won’t spend much in the process. See what you can do to set aside time to train your dog. A dog-training course or even a book may be a great resource for you.