Unless they are trained not to do so, most dogs will form the natural habit of begging for both attention and food. Some dog owners except this behavior and think it's cute, but most people get annoyed very quickly when their dog starts to beg every time he wants love, attention, and especially when he smells something tasty cooking in the house.
What is wrong with begging you might ask?
For starters, begging is another form of demanding and it gives your dog an aspect of control within the family "pack". I describe your family as a pack because that is exactly how your dog sees it. Anyways, while it seems adorable when Sparky rolls over on his back expecting a belly rub every time you enter the room, or just sits all teary-eyed staring straight at your plate of food when you're eating dinner, this behavior has the possibility to gain momentum and become aggressive.
Just how aggressive can a dog possibly become ?
If you do not think that your dog could ever possibly bite your hand because he expects you to give him food every time he begs, think again. For years a friend of mine would hand feed his puppy pieces of food at any time of the day he was eating. If it were breakfast, his dog would get a two pieces of bacon. At lunch time my friend would hand feed his dog a few bites of his sandwich. The same went for dinner.
After some time, his dog matured and grew bigger, and my friend did not realize that he was reinforcing a dominant leadership role into his dog every time he gave in to begging. Once he decided to change this behavior with his dog, he learned quickly just how dangerous the situation was. At one of his meals, my friend absolutely refused to feed his dog anything and the begging and crying turned into aggression and barking. Then without notice, his dog leaped up onto his plate and snapped at the food, taking a little bit of my friends flesh with it.
Begging can be eliminated with proper training
The above example may seem a bit extreme and you still probably could never imagine you're adorable dog biting you in the attempt to get food that he was expecting. However, the problem is real and you must start early in your puppy's life with instilling the rules when it comes to begging.
During your meals, you need to train your dog to sit and stay in a specific area when the family is eating. This may take some time but eventually he will remain in a sit position until after your dinner is over and then of course you should praise his actions by offering him up a nice hot meal that he can eat in his own food bowl, and only after everybody else is finished eating.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Dog Behavior - The Pack Mentality
Dogs have a natural instinct towards being "pack" animals . Just like their ancestors in which they came from, the wolf, dogs think in terms of partnerships and teamwork when it comes to certain activities. Similar to the way a sports team will work together in order to accomplish the combined goal of winning, your dog looks towards you and the rest of the family as his "team" and counts on you all to help him survive, learn the rules of the house, and condition his behavior.
And like a winning team, there are certain characteristics that must be adhered to and provided by all members of the family, including your dog. Such examples of winning characteristics are disciplined structure, operation among everyone in your dog, and most important, respect between your dog's "pack". Without these items, there would be chaos and very little way in which your dog can recognize who is in charge and leading his team.
Dogs and puppies need this understanding of leadership and who is to play that role in order to be happy and feel a sense of belonging. Regardless of who is considered the leader in your family, it doesn't matter to your dog, so long as there is one then your pet will be happy and feel a sense of security.
For those family households that have more than one member living inside the home, your dog will recognize a specific hierarchy that develops in time. For example, in my home I have my wife and my daughter that all coexist with the family pet. My dog recognizes his role as the bottom of the leadership chain, and he is quite happy with that. He understands that all of us play a more dominant role in the "pack" than he does. Because there is structure and he is trained to know who is in charge, even though there are multiple members of the family, his sense of security and well-being is guaranteed.
Most dog behavior problems stem from lack of rules and discipline in the house
At this point you have learned that all dogs need to have rules and boundaries firmly set in the household in order for them to be happy. It is the same way with children. Without mommy or daddy to set the rules and enforce those rules, kids typically end up with with an enormous amount of personal behavior problems.
If your dog does not recognize the family as a team and has no sense of who is in charge, his behavior problems can be a nightmare. It is your job to start creating a social order in your house immediately. You must learn to communicate with your dog by reading his body language and picking up on his sense of who's in charge.
And the job will be a lot easier if you can get all members of your family on the same playing field. They must all agree with how your dog should be treated. This will help tremendously so that your time is not wasted as you work hard to create a pack within the family, which will help your dog become a happy, well-trained family pet .
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And like a winning team, there are certain characteristics that must be adhered to and provided by all members of the family, including your dog. Such examples of winning characteristics are disciplined structure, operation among everyone in your dog, and most important, respect between your dog's "pack". Without these items, there would be chaos and very little way in which your dog can recognize who is in charge and leading his team.
Dogs and puppies need this understanding of leadership and who is to play that role in order to be happy and feel a sense of belonging. Regardless of who is considered the leader in your family, it doesn't matter to your dog, so long as there is one then your pet will be happy and feel a sense of security.
For those family households that have more than one member living inside the home, your dog will recognize a specific hierarchy that develops in time. For example, in my home I have my wife and my daughter that all coexist with the family pet. My dog recognizes his role as the bottom of the leadership chain, and he is quite happy with that. He understands that all of us play a more dominant role in the "pack" than he does. Because there is structure and he is trained to know who is in charge, even though there are multiple members of the family, his sense of security and well-being is guaranteed.
Most dog behavior problems stem from lack of rules and discipline in the house
At this point you have learned that all dogs need to have rules and boundaries firmly set in the household in order for them to be happy. It is the same way with children. Without mommy or daddy to set the rules and enforce those rules, kids typically end up with with an enormous amount of personal behavior problems.
If your dog does not recognize the family as a team and has no sense of who is in charge, his behavior problems can be a nightmare. It is your job to start creating a social order in your house immediately. You must learn to communicate with your dog by reading his body language and picking up on his sense of who's in charge.
And the job will be a lot easier if you can get all members of your family on the same playing field. They must all agree with how your dog should be treated. This will help tremendously so that your time is not wasted as you work hard to create a pack within the family, which will help your dog become a happy, well-trained family pet .
8 Mavis Avenue
Peakhurst
NSW 2210
Australia
Peakhurst
NSW 2210
Australia
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Control Your Dog's Digging
Digging – Control Your Dog's Digging
Puppies love to dig! It's in their blood and it is quite often their favorite pastime. This is especially true for young puppies that stem from the sporting group, the terrier group, and the Nordic group.
Digging is also a dog's way of relieving stress and "letting it all out" so to speak. If a puppy is experiencing anxiety levels due to a new baby in the house, a recent move, strange people, or lack of attention, then he is going to dig in order to help himself feel better.
Fortunately there are ways in which you can help diminish your puppy's digging behavior so that it is less destructive to your belongings while at the same time giving him a place to dig without being punished for it.
Below are a set of instructions that will help you train your dog not to dig and claw in areas that you do not want him to, as well as creating a place of his own where he is free to dig at his heart's content
1. The first thing you need to do is find one area that your puppy is allowed to dig in as much as he wants to. This could be somewhere in your house, in a nearby park, or better yet, in your backyard if you have the luxury of owning the property.
2. Make it fun for your puppy to dig by burying some of his toys and bones underneath the dirt. Now play with your dog and start digging with him so you can both play the game of looking for his toys while digging. It becomes a lot of fun to watch your puppy dig along with you in search of his hidden treasure.
3. Every day, go back to your dog's digging area and instruct him to start digging by giving him a command. This command could be as simple as "Sparky, Go Dig!" After a while he will immediately begin clawing at the dirt in wild anticipation for the fun that lay ahead.
4. If you see your puppy digging in any area other than his digging spot, be sure to correct him with a firm "NO!" And then guide him to his proper digging location. This is the same protocol that you would use when housebreaking a puppy after he makes a mess in the house. Eventually, your dog will seek out his digging area when he feels the urge to dig away.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Attention Seeking Barking
Barking Problems – How To Handle A Puppy That Barks For Attention
For any new dog owner, handling all of the loud barking of a new puppy can be quite an unnerving experience. Most new dog owners are not prepared for the intense amount of barking and yelping that young puppies start doing the minute they arrive in their new home. Although it is totally natural, some puppies do not give their owners the luxury of quieting down, especially at night.
One of the biggest phases that a puppy will go through is the fear of being alone. And I'm not talking about being alone in the sense of you leaving the house. Some puppies will go absolutely nuts even when you only leave the room for a split second. They just can't bear to be alone because they are used to having their mommy or littermates around non-stop.
When faced with this situation, what you do? If you run to your puppy to sooth and caress him every time he cries, then you are only feeding the behavior and creating a spoiled dog. On the other hand, if you ignore him and let him bark his brains out, the rest of the family (especially your spouse) will become very annoyed with you for letting the barking go on.
It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, however, we do have some tips to help you deal with your puppy barking situation:
1. The first step is to try to ignore your puppy's barking if at all possible without yelling at him. Yelling will either scare him from wanting to come near you or will further add to his anxiety levels that and he will continue barking.
2. There is a product called a “teaching lead” which will enable your puppy to be around you at all times in the house. Use these types of tools so that your puppy can be around you while he is getting used to his independence.
3. When you leave the house, try to refrain from long and drawn out departures. Although it's understandable to want to pet your puppy and talk sweet to her before leaving the house, it only creates more stress because she will start to associate your behavior with you leaving her side. The same advice goes when you arrive home. Avoid big and exciting welcomes after walking through the door.
4. Try using a simple training aid to get your puppy to quiet down immediately when she is barking. A water bottle that sends a quick burst of streaming spray is a perfect idea. Or you could use a small tin can filled with a few pennies in it. When you go to leave her side and she starts barking, simply throw that can in her area. It will create a startling noise while at the same time diverting her attention.
For any new dog owner, handling all of the loud barking of a new puppy can be quite an unnerving experience. Most new dog owners are not prepared for the intense amount of barking and yelping that young puppies start doing the minute they arrive in their new home. Although it is totally natural, some puppies do not give their owners the luxury of quieting down, especially at night.
One of the biggest phases that a puppy will go through is the fear of being alone. And I'm not talking about being alone in the sense of you leaving the house. Some puppies will go absolutely nuts even when you only leave the room for a split second. They just can't bear to be alone because they are used to having their mommy or littermates around non-stop.
When faced with this situation, what you do? If you run to your puppy to sooth and caress him every time he cries, then you are only feeding the behavior and creating a spoiled dog. On the other hand, if you ignore him and let him bark his brains out, the rest of the family (especially your spouse) will become very annoyed with you for letting the barking go on.
It's like being stuck between a rock and a hard place, however, we do have some tips to help you deal with your puppy barking situation:
1. The first step is to try to ignore your puppy's barking if at all possible without yelling at him. Yelling will either scare him from wanting to come near you or will further add to his anxiety levels that and he will continue barking.
2. There is a product called a “teaching lead” which will enable your puppy to be around you at all times in the house. Use these types of tools so that your puppy can be around you while he is getting used to his independence.
3. When you leave the house, try to refrain from long and drawn out departures. Although it's understandable to want to pet your puppy and talk sweet to her before leaving the house, it only creates more stress because she will start to associate your behavior with you leaving her side. The same advice goes when you arrive home. Avoid big and exciting welcomes after walking through the door.
4. Try using a simple training aid to get your puppy to quiet down immediately when she is barking. A water bottle that sends a quick burst of streaming spray is a perfect idea. Or you could use a small tin can filled with a few pennies in it. When you go to leave her side and she starts barking, simply throw that can in her area. It will create a startling noise while at the same time diverting her attention.
Monday, October 08, 2007
How to Stop Your Dog From Barking
Barking Problems – Driving With A Barking Dog Can Drive You Crazy!
Being stuck in the car during a long drive while your dog is barking nonstop is enough to make anyone crazy. Every moving thing that your dog sees past the window, including cars, people, even still objects like houses, are enough to make your dog respond in a territorial matter which results in excess of barking.
When one object disappears out of your dog's view, another one reappears, and on and on it goes...
Most of us get so annoyed that we result to yelling at our dog in order to get him to quiet down. Unfortunately, this tactic only adds more excitement to your dog's high levels of anxiety. By yelling at him, your dog's mind confirms that you feel the same way and now you have nothing but a loud circus going on while you're trying to concentrate on the road.
The good news is that with a little training and some patience, you can slowly diminish your dogs incessant barking when you are out for a drive. Here are a few tips to guide you along the way:
1. To begin with, if you want your dog to be more relaxed and laid back, try being a role model. Play some soft music and stay calm and collected whenever your dog gets excited. Slowly caress his head and talk to him soothingly while he is barking. You'll be surprised at just how quickly your dog or puppy will turn his head toward you to enjoy more of the attention, and of course, without the barking!
2. For a more drastic training technique, there is nothing wrong with carrying a small water bottle in which you can squirt your dog every time he starts to bark loudly. Most puppies and dogs absolutely hate getting a quick burst of water squirted on them. Typically, they will immediately stop whatever it is that they are doing. And be sure to give a firm command at the same time you spray your pet. Eventually, you can replace the water bottle with this command because your dog will associate it with the same shocking experience of being squirted with water.
3. Try using a crate. A very simple solution is to use a crate that your dog can sit in whenever you need to drive somewhere with him. The crate should be visually limited so that your dog does not get stimulated by all of the action he can see out of the window. This in itself is enough to keep your dog from barking excessively. Of course this may be difficult if you have a large dog. However, using a crate is a perfect way to keep small to medium-sized dogs quiet while you're on the road.
Being stuck in the car during a long drive while your dog is barking nonstop is enough to make anyone crazy. Every moving thing that your dog sees past the window, including cars, people, even still objects like houses, are enough to make your dog respond in a territorial matter which results in excess of barking.
When one object disappears out of your dog's view, another one reappears, and on and on it goes...
Most of us get so annoyed that we result to yelling at our dog in order to get him to quiet down. Unfortunately, this tactic only adds more excitement to your dog's high levels of anxiety. By yelling at him, your dog's mind confirms that you feel the same way and now you have nothing but a loud circus going on while you're trying to concentrate on the road.
The good news is that with a little training and some patience, you can slowly diminish your dogs incessant barking when you are out for a drive. Here are a few tips to guide you along the way:
1. To begin with, if you want your dog to be more relaxed and laid back, try being a role model. Play some soft music and stay calm and collected whenever your dog gets excited. Slowly caress his head and talk to him soothingly while he is barking. You'll be surprised at just how quickly your dog or puppy will turn his head toward you to enjoy more of the attention, and of course, without the barking!
2. For a more drastic training technique, there is nothing wrong with carrying a small water bottle in which you can squirt your dog every time he starts to bark loudly. Most puppies and dogs absolutely hate getting a quick burst of water squirted on them. Typically, they will immediately stop whatever it is that they are doing. And be sure to give a firm command at the same time you spray your pet. Eventually, you can replace the water bottle with this command because your dog will associate it with the same shocking experience of being squirted with water.
3. Try using a crate. A very simple solution is to use a crate that your dog can sit in whenever you need to drive somewhere with him. The crate should be visually limited so that your dog does not get stimulated by all of the action he can see out of the window. This in itself is enough to keep your dog from barking excessively. Of course this may be difficult if you have a large dog. However, using a crate is a perfect way to keep small to medium-sized dogs quiet while you're on the road.
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Dog Aggression
All dogs have one form of aggression or another and to some degree, it is perfectly natural. However, since our pets are domesticated then there is a certain level of calmness that we should expect from them. The most common aggression behavioral problem that dogs display is called "territorial aggression". To sum up the definition of territorial aggression , it simply describes a dog that goes absolutely crazy whenever a stranger approaches their home.
What encourages a dog to display such aggressiveness?
As we stated earlier, it is natural for your dog to want to defend his home and make it known that the area is his territory. However, the following scenarios may cause your dog's aggression over his territory to escalate:
1. Aggression is reinforced in a dog whenever, for example, a delivery person approaches the house and then after dropping off a package he leaves the territory. Your dog actually thinks that he drove the stranger away and this in itself creates more aggression.
2. When riding in a car, a dog with extreme territorial aggression tends to bark incessantly at every person he sees and every moving thing outside the window. He is saying to them "stay away, this is my territory!" And of course nobody is going to approach the car so your dog actually thinks he is "winning". Therefore, the dog will bark even more, to celebrate his victory.
3. Another very common reason why a dog may increase his levels of barking and aggression is whenever he is acting up and barking at the door (for whatever reason) and the owner starts to yell at him in order to shut him up. Most dog owners do not realize that yelling at their dog is doing nothing but creating more aggression. A dog will think that you are "supporting" his aggression towards the approaching stranger or delivery person.
4. A fourth reason why a dog may have heightened levels of territorial aggression is whenever he is isolated or locked up when there are guests and strangers inside the house. When you first think about it, it seems very reasonable to take your barking dog and lock him up in a room or crate whenever you have guests. However, during this time, your dog can smell the "intruders" and since he can do nothing about it, is aggression levels can rise dramatically, causing stress and anxiety, which of course leads to more dog behavioral problems .
What encourages a dog to display such aggressiveness?
As we stated earlier, it is natural for your dog to want to defend his home and make it known that the area is his territory. However, the following scenarios may cause your dog's aggression over his territory to escalate:
1. Aggression is reinforced in a dog whenever, for example, a delivery person approaches the house and then after dropping off a package he leaves the territory. Your dog actually thinks that he drove the stranger away and this in itself creates more aggression.
2. When riding in a car, a dog with extreme territorial aggression tends to bark incessantly at every person he sees and every moving thing outside the window. He is saying to them "stay away, this is my territory!" And of course nobody is going to approach the car so your dog actually thinks he is "winning". Therefore, the dog will bark even more, to celebrate his victory.
3. Another very common reason why a dog may increase his levels of barking and aggression is whenever he is acting up and barking at the door (for whatever reason) and the owner starts to yell at him in order to shut him up. Most dog owners do not realize that yelling at their dog is doing nothing but creating more aggression. A dog will think that you are "supporting" his aggression towards the approaching stranger or delivery person.
4. A fourth reason why a dog may have heightened levels of territorial aggression is whenever he is isolated or locked up when there are guests and strangers inside the house. When you first think about it, it seems very reasonable to take your barking dog and lock him up in a room or crate whenever you have guests. However, during this time, your dog can smell the "intruders" and since he can do nothing about it, is aggression levels can rise dramatically, causing stress and anxiety, which of course leads to more dog behavioral problems .
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