Dog Behaviour & Training - Tips & Tricks

3 Common Dog Training Mistakes

2007-03-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

3 Common Dog Training Mistakes

If you are in the process of training your dog you know that it can be a frustrating task. Will they ever get it? People often make many mistakes during the training process that can greatly extend the necessary time to train your animal. Read this article and learn three of the most common dog training mistakes.

The first mistake that people make is giving up on the dog. It takes time to train your animal and you will not get resuls overnight. The trick is to stay consistent and be constantly reinforcing the training. If after a few days the dog still doesn't get it do not give up. It might take some time but eventually they will get it.

The second common mistake made when dog training is using negative reinforcement. You should reward good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior. If you punish without rewarding you will end up with a dog who cowers all of the time. Do you want your animal to love you or be afraid of you? If your dog exhibits bad behavior, instead of punishing them, show them the right behavior and then reward them for it.

The last mistake that I will mention in this article is expecting too much from your dog. Remember they are just dogs. Do not expect them to pick up everything overnight and do not expect to be able to teach them every trick in the book. Just have patience and try to be reasonable in your expectations.

Training an animal is never easy. As long as you try to avoid making these common mistakes your training experience should go relatively smoothly. If you find that you do not have the skill or patience to train your animal consider hiring a professional. You might be glad you did in the long run. Good luck.

About the Author
Learn about dog boarding training at the authors website on dog boarding and training.www.bestdogboarding.com

House Breaking and Training for Dogs, Puppies.

2006-12-14T11:41:00.000-08:00

Learn How to Potty Train Your Puppy. by Jo Withey

The first problem people encounter when their new puppy arrives is the question of a 'leaking' dog. This normally horrifies them and when potty training a puppy many people put newspaper down on the floor for him to use.

This will be your biggest mistake. He will become so used to toileting on the newspaper, making it necessary to retrain him to go outside. So start the right way.

The best way is to put him outside directly after he has eaten his meal. He should feel the need to toilet at this time. When you put him outside, give the command 'Be clean'.

Put him outside at regular intervals during the day so that he can pee, again with the command to 'Be clean'. When he does perform, immediately praise him, tell him he is a good boy. Do this every time and he will soon learn that he is pleasing you.

Last thing at night immediately before you retire yourself, put him outside. Some puppies become so keen to please that they will even call in the hours just before you, yourself are ready to get up, trying to tell you that they need to 'Be clean'.

If he does pee or poo in his cage overnight, just ignore it. No dog will want to be dirty on their own bedding. Just remove, wash and replace. He will soon learn to go through the night and be clean.

Always put him outside in the morning as soon as you get up. Most times he will be 'desperate'. Therefore the best place to site his cage is as near to the back door and as far away from your bedroom as possible.

Some puppies are quicker than others to learn - just like children. Many learn within the space of a week what is required of them.

A handy tip when washing dog bedding in your washing machine, is to put a shot of pleasant smelling disinfectant in the fabric conditioner compartment for the final rinse. If you have a 'hairy' dog it is advisable to run the machine through a short rinse programme before using the machine again for your personal washing.

About the author:

Jo Withey trades on eBay under the user name nowyoucantoo and has an eBay store at http://stores.ebay.co.uk/The-Money-go-round Her web can be found at www.bumbles-ebooks.com

Why Is My Dog Barking?

2006-12-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

Why Is My Dog Barking? by Tom Selwyn

When we communicate with the world we open our mouths and speak, either verbally or through body language. Our canine friends do exactly the same thing but they bark instead of speak. Dogs bark for a variety of reasons. If you want to solve or stop a barking problem you need to understand why he or she has developed this behavioural problem.

Here are 2 reasons why your dog may be barking;

"WOOF" Mummy or Daddy I'm bored

"How can my dog be bored, he's got toys, a huge backyard. He can't be bored" As we know there are hundreds of different breeds of dogs all around the world and each one bred to fulfill a specific role in our society.

Some of these roles include guarding, hunting, working dogs or purely as faithful companions for humans. Many of us today lead very busy lives so our dogs very rarely have the opportunity to display there talents. Dogs that were bred to work on the land are happiest when they have a job to do. The breeds that this especially applies to are Border Collies, Kelpies and Cattle dogs who have bundles of energy and are highly intelligent.

When a dog is left alone in a backyard for extended periods of time and not fulfilling their roles for what they were bred to do, boredom, frustration and their natural instinct to reunite with their "pack" (human owners) becomes so overwhelming.

Being alone all day in a concrete court yard or a garden cannot satisfy a dogs energy levels so we need to devote as much time as possible within reason to let them know that they are part of the pack and a valued member.

Another good reason to avoid a bored dog is that this behavior can also lead to he / she becoming destructive, chewing and digging craters in your lovely garden.

"WOOF" I'm trying to tell you I'm having anxiety issues.

"When I get home my dog follows me everywhere barking and whining. I can't even go to the toilet" Dogs are pack animals that enjoy socialising, hunting and feel a greater level of safety when with their pack. When we humans take on a dog as a pet we become part of their pack, so when we are with them they feel more secure and will bark to communicate with the missing members of their group.

Dogs can become very attached to their human counterparts especially when they spend the majority of their day in close contact. When left alone for long periods they fret and often bark calling for the missing member of the group. This is known as separation anxiety. This type of stress on your dog may lead to inappropriate toilet behaviours (eg. pooing and peeing in your home) and total destruction of your lovely garden bed.

Anxiety can be a very serious condition in dogs which can led to them becoming fearful of objects or people. Barking at the local postman (threatening in the dogs mind) barking has been triggered from fear or anxiety. It is extremely important to work the problem out as early as possible so that it doesn't become progressively worse.

My advice in this article is general and since animals, like humans are each different and unique individuals you may want to contact your local vet for professional advice or a animal behaviourist, so your best friend and you get the help you need.

All the best from the team at phoopups. Keep those tails wagging.

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About the Author
For high quality dog accessories and information visit the home of phoopups were dogs are a way of life http://www.phoopups.com.au you can also join the phoopups members only club and enjoy the many benefits.

8 Tips to Help Prevent "Pica": A Dog Compulsive Disorder

2006-12-10T20:11:00.000-08:00

8 Tips to Help Prevent "Pica": A Dog Compulsive Disorder by Daniel Irwin

With some dogs, meals aren't the only source of oral intake they have. Wool and other fibers, non-digestible plant material, rubber, plastic, wood, and even their own hair are just some of the things a dog may choose to ingest. This problem - the drive to consume material that is not generally considered food - is called "pica" and is what animal behaviorists call a compulsive disorder.

In a human, a compulsive disorder may be repetitive, such as frequent hand washing or pulling one's hair out. In dogs, these disorders can include excessive licking and spinning in circles. Compulsive disorders are repetitive, nonfunctional, nonbeneficial behaviors. Although the exact cause of compulsive disorders is unknown, animal behaviorists feel that they are often caused by stress brought on by environmental conflicts such as competition with other pets, changes in the home, constant punishment, or confinement to small areas such as cages or crates.

Lack of socialization or too much attention, as well as a nutritional imbalance, may bring about a compulsive behavior as well. A dog with a compulsive disorder loses control over his ability to initiate and stop these negative, repetitive actions. Often the compulsive behaviors are oral in nature, causing the dog to eat things he shouldn't.

Controlling Your Dog's Disorder

1. The first step in treating a compulsive disorder is to identify the cause and eliminate it. For example, if your dog is crated for a large portion of the day, allow him outside the confined space to help get him on the road to recovery.

2. Don't reinforce the behavior by paying attention to him while he is engaged in it. Providing good quality time on a set schedule is preferable and more effective than petting, stroking, or verbally consoling your dog in the midst of repetitive activity.

3. Do not reinforce the behavior by punishing your dog for the compulsive behavior or for other inappropriate activities. It may make the problem worse.

4. Spray household objects your dog likes to chew with cayenne pepper, essential oils in citrus, cinnamon, or eucalyptus scents, spray deodorant, or perfume that is not your own.

5. Spray favorite chewables with a pet repellent to deter your dog from sticking non-food objects in his mouth.

6. Keep dangerous objects such as yarn or string out of your dog's reach to prevent him from chewing and swallowing them.

7. If your dog is chewing his hair, he may have an allergy. Discuss the problem with your veterinarian before embarking on a behavior modification program.

8. As a last resort to solve a compulsive eating disorder, discuss drug therapy with your veterinarian. Drugs that increase serotonin levels, like Prozac and some antidepressants are used for treating compulsive disorders, including compulsive eating.

Compulsive disorders are not just a problem for adults; dogs can suffer from them as well. If your dog suffers from "pica," or the drive to consume nonfood material, then following the steps outlined above will help you and your dog deal with this problem. If you are unsure whether your dog suffers from "pica," or simply need help in dealing with this compulsive disorder, then you should consult with your veterinarian.
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About the Author
Dan Irwin has been 'in love' with the Golden Retriever breed for nearly twenty years now. For a limited time, receive a free copy of "101 Ways to Spoil Your Dog for Under $10" when you sign up for his free golden retriever newsletter. http://www.AllGolde