Helpful Hints to Help Dog Behavior Training
Saturday, March 7th, 2009Before deciding whether or not you should get a puppy or young dog, you must realize there are several aspects of dog training behavior to be addressed in order to have a dog you can enjoy and love. Of course house breaking is a major issue, but there is also leash training, bark and bite control, stopping the whining, dealing with urination when the dog becomes excited, and even crate training.
When it comes to house training you need to be able to follow your dog’s cues, take your time, and understand that a dog is learning bladder control just as humans do when potty training. To start house breaking, leave a large area of newspaper in one area of the house. Take the puppy to the papers whenever you notice them sniffing, and if they have an accident, show them and then take them to the paper. Gradually reduce the amount of paper to make the area smaller, and start taking the puppy outside at regular intervals of time to get the puppy used to the idea of going to the door.
For leash training, you’ll want to quickly let the dog know that you are in control of the leash, or the puppy will try to take advantage of the situation. When he or she goes to a place you do not want them to go, make sure to gently pull on the leash and speak the command of your choice. It is important that your dog is leash trained with you in control for outdoor and socialization purposes.
Bark and bite control is essential to the dog and its owner living in harmony. The neighbors would not enjoy a loud dog barking all the time and dogs must learn not to bite everything or everyone they see. Allowing the dog to spend time with other dogs is key in preventing this as the litter mates and pack will show the animal that these behaviors are not the way to act.
When a dog whines, it is perhaps one of the most annoying sounds for a human. Teaching a dog to control this will help for a better, happier, coexistence as the dog ages. It is a problem that needs to be addressed quickly and handled firmly. Trust the dog to be alone and quiet for short periods of time and reward this before leaving him or her alone for any extended period of time. This is because the whining generally is a result of being away from the family.
To stop issues with excitement urination, you’ll want to stop the dog from being overly excited in the first place by continually exposing him or her to things that excite them until they no longer excite them to that point. If you do not and become angry, it will turn into submissive urination, just another issue you’ll have to deal with.
Though some people are against crate training, it does not have to take the negative spin that most people put it under. The crate should be a place the dog enjoys; it should be a home away from home full of things he or she loves and can keep occupied with. It never be a place for punishment.
Having a puppy or any dog that needs behavior training can be very stressful and requires a great deal of commitment and attention. Remember to stay calm and enjoy the puppy rather than to let it bother you. You’ll have a lifelong companion that way.