Drop a Little About Your Pet

Posts Tagged ‘dog training’

Every family would like to have an animal or pet in their house at some point of time. Generally people feel that cats and dogs only make great pets. However, there are other people who think that unusual pets are great. Although dogs, cats, gerbils, fish, rabbits etc. are the most common pets that you would find, some families would prefer to bring home exotic pets. If you know well about such unusual or exotic pets, they can be different and exciting and can be a good addition to your house. Else sometimes it could end in disaster.

You will perhaps require more expensive food and housing if you have a more exotic pet and also you should get educated more about such exotic pets as to whether they would be suitable to your family environment. Therefore, it is important to do a lot of research on such exotic pets well in advance before choosing an exotic pet. You can also find a lot of information available on the Internet to know whether a particular exotic animal or pet can be suitable. Also you can visit a few pet shops and get advice about the type of exotic pets and the needed arrangements for them.

Though exotic pets are great, they can create problems to eco-systems when unchecked. As food would be abundant, it could eat everything available and can also start reproducing heavily as there would be no predators and no enemies. There are many examples from lizards and snakes to ferrets and other such large animals of prey. It is even said that the sewerage system in New York was found to have alligators and animal control people and city workers captured many such creatures in the past. Therefore it is important that people who wish to get such exotic pets are responsible for the actions and consequences. It can be a fun to have a tiger cub in the early stages and there is a real problem afterwards with such animals. Therefore people should consider all the facts and know well before getting some types of exotic pets.

The new addition of exotic pet may upset your existing pets sometimes and you may not know how they will get along with each other. For keeping them well away, you may need certain alternative measures. Most exotic pets have unusual feeding habits and hence you need to ensure that you know the type of food they eat and also how to get that food. Also you have to know the appropriate type of housing required for the animal and the things needed to add to their aquarium or cage to make it comfortable for the new exotic pet. Also check whether a veterinarian is available in your locality to give health care for your pet.

Some exotic pets can also carry potential illnesses or diseases that could bring harm to the children or elderly people in your home. Also know that there are certain species that are illegal to keep as pets in homes. Therefore before you take such exotic pet home, know about the local laws. Nevertheless these are certain things that are to be considered and it does not mean that you not go for an exotic pet. They can be an excellent choice sometimes when you get exotic pets that are easy to handle and care for.

Although dogs are quite vocal animals, their main form of communication either with humans or their own species is through non-verbal signals or what we more popularly call body language.

Non-verbal messages can be both overt and very subtle; think of the enumerable non-verbal messages you send and receive during the course of an interaction with another human being. In fact human behaviour experts suggest that over 80% of our communication with each other is ‘understood’, by us interpreting the non-verbal behaviours during a conversation.

Our dogs are no different, in fact they are far more capable of interpreting non-verbal communications, in both relation to humans and their own kind. Dogs are body language experts; to give an example, take the dogs who are especially trained to warn their owners of imminent epileptic seizures, these dogs can respond to the most subtle of bodily cues, so subtle, even the person who is about to have the seizure is unaware of.

How can understanding your dogs body language benefit you as a dog owner then? Understanding the non-verbal signals your dog displays both with humans and his own kind will will benefit you in a great number of ways. For example, understanding the unique way in which dogs communicate will help give you a deeper appreciation of the species and their unique abilities. The communication exchanges between you and your dog will ‘flow’ better , as you begin to better understand your dogs needs. With practice you will begin to assess your dogs emotional states much easier. Training your dog will be much easier also,as you will be able to assess the level of your dogs motivation and responses to various training situations.

Let us look now at the different ways dogs use their bodies to communicate both with humans and their own kind.

The happy dog

The behaviour of a happy dog is obvious to most dog owners. In this situation the dog seems light on it’s paws, his tail will wag erratically and he will move foreword to greet you if encouraged to do so.

The confident dog

Here the dogs stands tall, his ears held high with a wagging tail. If meeting a person or dog, he will stand head on and make eye contact.

The playful dog

A dog who displays playfulness is another set of behaviours that are commonly recognises by dog owners. In this situation, the dog will lower the front part of its body towards the floor, and at the same time keeping his back end erect. He will give eye contact and possibly bark in a bid to get your attention, or he may run around in circles and adopt the ‘playbow’ again, in an effort to get you to play with him.

The submissive dog

Submissiveness can be displayed in a number of ways through bodily signs, such as a lowered tail, ears pinned back, with lowered head. The dog will avert direct eye contact and if called may come but zigzag his way towards you. Some dogs may may display a facial expression almost like a grin, that is often accompanied by a nodding head.This action is a way of the dog attempting appease you, as he may be unsure as to your reaction towards him. In extreme cases, the dog will role over on its back,tuck his tail between his legs and may even urinate.

The anxious dog

A dog who shows anxiety, just appears totally ill at ease. His head may be carried low with ears back. His tail will be partially or full tucked between his legs and he may whimper, especially if further exposed to the stimulus he fears. His anxiety may make him over react to certain sights and sounds, for example a dog who is extremely anxious around loud traffic may hit the ground when a car passes by, or try to flee.

The fearful dog

A fearful dog displays both fearful and anxious behaviours, but to an exaggerated degree. His body posture will be almost crouched, his head held low, ears back and tail tucked between his legs. If he continues to feel fear, he may growl or show his teeth, which is a sure sign he may well attack if stressed further.

The dominant dog

A dominant dog acts in a similar manner to a dog who is very confident, so the two sets of behaviours can be confused. Essentially a dog who so displaying dominant behaviours will have his tail held high, with ears erect. He will face either the other dog head on and make direct eye contact. The dominant dog of the two may try to put his head above the other dogs neck area and this may be accompanied with low growling. If the other dog submits there will be no problem, however, if the other other dog resists, the interaction could well develop into a fight.

If the situation involves a human, the dominant dog will display the same type of behaviour. If you ever find yourself in the presence of such a dog, the best advice is not to try to dominate him, for example making eye contact, as this could be taken as a direct threat by the dog, and dominance could turn to aggression. The best way to deal with such a confrontation is to avoid eye contact with the dog and back slowly away from him. Dogs rarely bite without warning, and in reality most dogs don’t bite.

The aggressive dog

A dog who displays aggressive behaviour can also be obvious. Here the dogs body posture has an air of ‘I mean business’ about it. Dominant aggressive behaviour is different from nervous aggressive behaviour in that with nervous aggressive behaviour, the dogs seems to want to back away, as opposed to dominant aggressive behaviour were the dog in question will stand his ground. The fur on his back may be displayed, with ears pinned back. He will make direct eye contact, although his eyes may be narrowed. His tail will be straight and may even wag slowly. He may also show his teeth, along with a lot of ferocious barking.

If you find yourself in a situation with such a dog, don’t run or turn your back on him. Stay calm and back away slowly. Don’t make eye contact with such a dog, but at the same time don’t turn your back on him either, as this could give him an opportunity to strike. If you think that the dog may attack, do not run from him, as to do so would almost certainly cause him to chase and bite. Find something to put between you and the dog, say for example a piece of furniture, and back confidently and slowly away.

Almost everyone own a video camera these days, therefore, if you would like to learn more about how your dog uses his body language to communicate, take your camera with you when you take him to the local park and film his interactions. Later, play them back and you will be amazed at what you will learn.

Dog aggression is a fairly common problem that many owners will face at one time in their dog’s life or another. It is actually so common that there are hundreds upon hundreds of studies associated with aggression. Questions such as “Why does aggression occur,” “Why are some breeds more aggressive,” and “How can I use aggressive dog training to curb aggression in my dog,” are asked on a regular basis. Before you actually begin aggressive dog training, it is important to understand the type of aggression that your dog may be experiencing. Believe it or not, there are actually several types of aggression and each one will need to be handled in a slightly different manner. The types of aggression are: · Dog Aggression: this can be seen in many different breeds and it is actually aggression that a dog shows to other dogs. · Fear Aggression: Many people may not see fear as an aggressive behavior but if a dog begins to bite, bark, growl or bare his teeth when he is frightened than it has moved from simple fear to fear aggression. · Dominate Aggression: This is a very serious type of aggression since the dog has many traits that you would see in a “bully.” One of the biggest problems with dominate aggression is that it is not always seen as aggression, just an alpha personality doing what it does best, until the dog attacks someone or something. Another problem is that dominate aggression is very unpredictable. · Possessive Aggression: To get a clear idea of this, watch your dog while he is eating and is interrupted by someone. If he is fine and continues to eat or even allows you to put your hand in the dish then there is no real aggression there; however, if he growls or bites then you know that he is being possessive about things he preserves as his. While this may seem appropriate, a dog should never be possessive. · Pain Aggression: This is aggression that is shown when a dog is in pain. · Maternal Aggression: Seen only in female dogs, this is an aggression that is seen when a female is raising a litter of puppies. · Territorial Aggression: There are several breeds of dogs that are prone to territorial aggression where they see an area such as the house, the yard, the neighborhood or all of the above as his. When other animals or people enter his territory, he reacts in an aggressive manner. As you can see, there are a large number of aggressions and many dogs will experience one or the other at certain times in their life. While some forms of aggression are very serious and require aggressive dog training, some of them aren’t and really only require some patience by the owner to overcome. In the case of pain aggression, it is important to find out why your dog is being aggressive. If he is hurt, take him to the vet to have the problem looked after. When the dog heals, the aggression should go away on its own but if it doesn’t, you can move into training methods for it. In addition, maternal aggression can be avoided simply by spaying your dog but if she does whelp a litter, the maternal aggression should diminish as the puppies are weaned and placed in new homes. In many cases, the easiest way to use aggressive dog training is to socialize your puppy and dog correctly. Many people see socialization as a process that is done when their puppy is young but socialization should be done throughout your dog’s life. Exposing him to other dogs, people, places and stimulations will help curb many different areas of aggression such as dog aggression. Remember that when you do socialize your dog, especially if he has some aggression problems, that you do so in a controlled manner. Make sure all the dogs are on leashes and introduce him to one dog at a time. Never allow your dog to be surrounded by a group of dogs since this can frighten him and trigger his aggressive response. If at any time your dog starts to indicate aggression, simply correct him by removing him a few feet away from the other dog and then praising him when he calms down. Another way to make aggressive dog training easy is to place firm rules in your house from the moment your dog arrives home. This means that he is not allowed on the furniture and that he understands that the home is yours. To battle dominance aggression, it is important to put yourself and everyone else in the role of dominate. Your dog should never eat before the family and he should never be allowed to find food for himself. When he does eat, take the time to place your hands in the dog’s food dish and feed him by hand. This teaches him that anyone is allowed in his dish and it will help curb some possessive aggression. Make sure that everyone in the house does this as well and never let the dog go around your hand to eat directly from the bowl. In many cases, aggressive dog training needs to start with owners. To make it easy, you need to look at how you are training your dog, how he is being socialized and what negative behaviors are being reinforced. For instance, if you nurture fright responses such as growling by coddling the dog whenever he is scared, then he will quickly learn that growling is the proper response to being scared, which may develop into fear aggression. Ignore some behaviors and correct others with a firm “no,” which is an important command with aggressive dog training. When you are using aggressive dog training, it is important that you do not correct your dog in a harsh manner. Although it may not seem like you are being abusive to your dog, a small slap can cause a large amount of damage and if a dog is already aggressive, it will just reinforce the aggressive behavior. After you have corrected how you train your dog, it is time to start aggressive dog training and it is very easy; simply break out the basics of training. Many times, basic training on a regular basis can really help with many forms of aggression and many different types of negative behaviors. To battle territorial aggression, start by inviting people over to your home and correcting your dog when he begins barking with a loud noise to interrupt the behavior and then a firm “no.” When your dog stops barking, praise him and treat. Increase the frequency that different guests visit as your dog becomes accustomed to people being in his space. If your dog is aggressive during walks, it is time to take aggressive dog training out on a walk. Start by taking different routes every time you take a walk. Since the route is different, your dog is less likely to imprint a route as being his. When he meets people or other animals on the street, correct his negative behavior with a firm “no” and praise him when he doesn’t react. As the aggressive dog training is advanced, gradually begin taking him to higher traffic areas until he can walk in a busy place without reacting in an aggressive manner. Although aggressive dog training is fairly easy, it does take some time and it is very important to watch your dog’s stress levels and to take your time with training. Remember, your dog didn’t become aggressive over night and you can’t expect the aggressive dog training to work overnight either, so take your time and enjoy every success your dog has.

One of the most common questions dog owners are forced to address is how to train a dog not to bark.

Dogs love to bark. It’s a perfectly natural thing for your dog to do, just as it’s normal for
us humans to speak.

It’s when our dogs bark excessively that it becomes a problem for all concerned – including
our neighbours.

Considering this, our goal isn’t to to stop our dogs from barking, but rather how to control the excessive barking.

There are of course situations when we want our dogs to bark (and I guess there are also times when I like my chatty aunty to speak!;)

Training our dogs to stop or at least reduce their barking habit can be a very difficult task.

The first step in modifying this problem is to determine the reason why your dog is barking
in the first place. Once you’ve identified the cause or trigger, you can then plan your
training solution.

Why Do Dogs Bark?

- To express their needs (being bossy).

- Some dogs are bred to bark (some terriers and hounds).

- They are staking out their territory.

- To alert other members of their pack (that’s you and your family) of impending danger.

- When playing, just through sheer excitement.

- Barking at other animals. Depending on where you are in the world, it could be squirrels
or any other small animal.

- If they are isolated.

- Some dogs bark excessively when seperated from their pack (you and your family).

- If they are trapped behind some type of barrier like a fence or window.

- Just for fun!

- To express dominance (puppies normally test you out at some stage with a display of
dominance barking).

- They bark because their owners have inadvertently rewarded excessive barking in the past
(this is crucial to understand).

- Through boredom or a lack of physical and mental stimulation.

- May feel stressed or uncomfortable for some reason. Things like feeling threatened or if
they don’t have an appropriate place to sleep can cause excessive barking problems.

- Dogs that haven’t been properly socialized often become nuisance barkers.

- May be looking for a response or some attention from their pack.

Another thing to keep in mind is that even though it may appear to you that your dog is
barking at nothing, this is not necessarily the case. This is due to the fact that your dog
has a much more acute sense of hearing, smell and sight than us humans. Your dogs excessive barking is probably being triggered by something.

How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Ok, now we’ve sorted out the reason for your dogs barking problem, we can put some training
techniques in place to control it.

The most important piece of advice to remember when trying to modify any dog behavioral
problem, is to clearly communicate to your dog what is acceptable behavior and what is not.

One of the biggest mistakes us dog owners make is to inadvertently reward our dogs excessive barking. We actually encourage and reinforce the barking problem when we commit these three dog training sins:

- Yell and scream at the dog, this just gives them the attention they were crying out for.

- Let them inside. If your dog is barking his head off outside, then you let him in, this
just rewards the barking.

- If your dog is barking and you react by giving him a comforting cuddle or a treat of some sort, you are definately encouraging your dog to bark again. By doing this you are communicating to your dog that you are happy with him. You should be making it clear that his excessive barking is inappropriate.

Right, lets get stuck into some proven techniques to stop your dog from barking. I’ve listed
the most common reasons why your dog may be barking, and some suggested solutions you can try.

Dog Goes Crazy Every Time The Phone Rings

This is a very common and annoying time for dogs to bark excessively. Try these training
techniques:

- Never yell at your dog.

- Get your dog used to the phone ringing, don’t make it such a big deal. Ring your home number from your cell phone or get a friend to keep calling you. When the phone rings just sit there, don’t say or do a thing. Repeat this process over a few days, your dog will probably continue to bark for a while but will give up before long.

- If you give your dog basic obedience training, behavioral problems such as excessive barking are easily controlled. Your dog looks up to you as their pack leader and is eager to please you in any situation. Teaching the Quiet! or Stop! obedience training command will soon correct nuisance barking problems.

- You may have some success by changing the tone and volume of your ring tone.

Dog Barks When You Are Not Home

I’m not going to pretend this type of barking will be easy for you to control, because in
reality it is often a difficult and lengthy process.

Always remember that dogs are social creatures, when they are seperated from their pack (you) they can become stressed and frustrated. This type of excessive barking is often caused by seperation anxiety.

- Firstly I’d say just use your common sense and get these dog ownership basics right. Keep your dog well exercised (physical and mental) and provide fresh water, chewing toys and a nice comfortable place to sleep. You can also try to block your dogs view of the street or other distractions. Basically, make sure your dog is happy.

- If you know your dog has been barking while you have been away, you must ignore him for a while when you return home. I understand this is difficult for lots of owners, but otherwise your dog believes that his barking is the reason you came back home to him. Just go about your business for a little while when you get home, ignoring your dog. When your dog has settled down, you then initiate contact with him.

- This next method takes time and patience, but can be a very effective way to stop your
dog from barking. It’s based on that important rule applicable to all training situations.
Praise or reward when your dog does something good, create a negative association when he does something bad. Leave the house as you normally would, but just hide somewhere nearby. When your dog starts to bark spray him with water or throw a tin can full of coins or rocks in his direction (this is the negative association). Try to keep out of your dogs sight while doing this if possible. Go and hide again, if he is quiet for a while, go in and reward his good behavior with some praise and maybe a treat. This process may need to be repeated over and over until you have broken the excessive barking habit.

- The above techniques have proven to be successful with my own dogs, but if they don’t
work for you, maybe you could try a Citronella Collar. Again this method uses the power of negative association. Every time your dog barks, a fine mist of citronella is sprayed into the air. Most dogs hate the smell, and soon realise if they don’t bark, the smell isn’t there to bother them. If you have more than one dog this method is not a suitable solution.

Dog Barks For Attention Or To Demand Something

This is one excessive barking problem that can be corrected very quickly.

- If you establish yourself as the pack leader or alpha dog in your owner-dog relationship, this type of barking problem won’t occur. You’ll also form a strong bond with your dog based on trust and respect.

- Another effective method you can try to stop this attention barking is simply ignoring your dog. Your dog will probably become frustrated and bark alot initially, but once he realizes that it is not getting him anywhere, he will stop. This training method can be hard on the ears for a while!

Dog Barks At Passers By

Workers like the Postman and Delivery Driver’s are constantly being barked at throughout their day.

Your dog perceives these type of people as intruders or a threat to their territory. The dog then barks and every time he barks he is rewarded, as the intruder goes away. Your dog is then very pleased that he has averted this threat, which leads him to do it again and again. His behavior is reinforced and therefore this can be a difficult problem to turn around.

- If possible, you could try to block your dogs vision or access to the area where these
people pass by.

- Dog obedience training is the best solution to this type of excessive barking. Once you have your dog properly obedience trained, you will be able to communicate to him that this is unacceptable behavior.

- If your dog consistently barks at a particular person, you may need this person to help
modify your dogs behavior. Just say your dog gets really agitated each time the postman
arrives. Have a chat to your postman and give him some of your dogs very favorite treats. Each time he delivers to your house, he can also deliver a tasty treat to your dog. In your dogs mind the postman goes from being a threat, to a welcome guest.

How To Train A Dog Not To Bark

In extreme cases of excessive barking, where all else has failed, some people advocate
debarking surgery. I’ve never needed to go down this path with any of my dogs, and don’t think I ever would. But if you have come to the end of the line and think you have run out of options, you could discuss debarking surgery with your Veterinarian.

Good luck in trying to control your dog’s excessive barking. If you consistently apply the above training techniques and add a little patience, you should have your dog under control before long.

Most Common Problems Pet Owners Face

Pets enrich our lives in an almost endless number of ways. Whether greeting us at the door, keeping us company when we are down or simply entertaining us, having a pet in your life is a great way to improve the quality of your life. For all that they add for our lives, we owe it to them to do all we can for them in return. One of the ways to ensure your pet enjoys a long, happy life is to understand the common problems pet owners face.

Inappropriate EliminationInappropriate elimination refers to the unseemly practice of dogs urinating, defecating, or both inside the house. The first step is to find out why your dog is having accidents inside the home. Dogs do not naturally soil their dens, so why the home?

Young PetsPuppies and kittens less than nine weeks old are too young to know any better, but for adult dogs there’s often no excuse. Some offenders were never properly housebroken in the first place and that’s usually the owners fault. Others were housebroken but, for some reason, have suddenly started having accidents inside the house again after years of appropriate behavior.

Medical ConditionsMedical conditions that increase thirst and urination, or in which the bladder or gastrointestinal tract are irritated, may contribute to the house-soiling problems in pets. It is important to have your veterinarian perform a thorough physical examination to rule out underlying medical conditions as a cause of inappropriate elimination behavior. This is particularly relevant if your dog has had a sudden breakdown of its house training.

Territory MarkingDogs and cats, like many other species, use urine and feces as a method of communication. Territory markings are a mark that signals possessions and territoriality. Marking typically involves the spraying of small amounts of urine in strategic locations around the house. Unneutered male are regular urine markers, but some neutered males and even spayed females mark their territory with urine, too. Neutering and spaying your pet corrects this problem in about most of the cases, but many pets persist in marking for months or years after the surgery. It is crucial to spay and neuter while they are still young and have not picked up the habit.

The behavioral approach to treating territorial urine-marking in neutered males and females involves increasing your leadership status and thoroughly cleaning urine-marked sites with an odor neutralizer. If the slightest trace of odor remains, your pet is likely go back to that same area to eliminate again. If this measure fails to address the problem, treatment with medication may be the only solution.

Separation AnxietyYour pet eliminate when you are away from home. In all likelihood anxiety is triggering the behavior. Dogs with separation anxiety typically have a dysfunctional history, follow their owners around the home, look distressed when about to be left alone, whine or bark immediately after their owner leaves, fail to eat in their owners’ absence, and greet them exuberantly when they return home.Anxiety-based problems are now treatable, thanks to modern medicines and a better understanding of the root cause of these problems. Drugs like buspirone (Buspar®) and fluoxetine (Prozac®) have revolutionized the treatment of anxiety-based inappropriate elimination problems.

Litter Box ProblemsThis is a behavior problem in which the cat chooses not to use the litter box for any one of a variety of reasons, electing to use an alternative area for elimination. Affected cats simply avoid shun the litter box and select a quiet, carpeted spot behind a chair or in the closet.There are many reasons why your cat may dislike his litter box:•Too few boxes•Inappropriately positioned boxes (high traffic area) •Inconvenient location•Hooded box (most cats don’t like hoods)•Box too dirty (rarely scooped)•Box cleaned with harsh smelling chemicals (such as bleach)•plastic liners•Plastic underlay (not always appreciated by the cat)•Wrong type of litter•Litter not deep enough•Animosity between cats in the house (guarding of litter boxes)•Difficulty getting into/out of the box, especially in elderly

Destructive BehaviorsAs most of us know, our pets can wreak havoc. While dogs use their teeth, cats use their claws. Before attempting punish you pet for their behavior, consider the signs or symptom of the matter.

Scratching is Good for CatsScratching provides your cat with a form of physical therapy for the muscles and tendons of his paws. While he is scratching, his claws are getting practice extending and retracting. The front legs and shoulders are getting some stretching and strengthening exercise, too.

Knowing why your kitty likes to scratch your expensive couch might make it easier to understand. However, you don’t have to live with that behavior. By gentle and consistent correction and by providing alternative scratching areas, you can persuade your cat to scratch where you want him to.

There are several Deterrents are things that discourage your cat from scratching where he isn’t supposed to scratch.•Covering a piece of furniture with heavy plastic may alter the texture so your cat doesn’t enjoy scratching there.•You can spray moth repellent that contain naphthol. You’ll have to spray periodically because the odor fades.•Feliway may work. The spray contains a pheromone that deters your cat from scratching. •”Soft Paws”™ (or Soft Claws) are plastic nail caps that can be super-glued to a cat’s claws following a preliminary nail trim. The caps have to be replaced every month, or you can replace each one as it falls off. They usually keep the furniture from being damaged.•Keep your cat’s nails well trimmed will ensure that you cats don’t inflict injury on other and themselves. You must use a sharp pair of nail trimmers made specifically for cats – don’t use human trimmers.•Having a Scratching Post preferably near scratching sites that your cat has selected for himself. Gradually you can move it to another place that you like.

Dogs Love to ChewWhether it is a bone or you dress shoes, a canine with a penchant for chewing can transform your valuable coffee table into rubble in a matter of hours. Because reasons for chewing are so diverse, it should be considered a sign or symptom of the motivation. Before attempting to change your dog’s chewing behavior, it’s first important to understand just why she’s laying into your stuff.

Curiosity Propelled ChewingDogs learn about their environment by mouthing and gnawing on objects. Typically the targets are random, and may include shoes, books or bedposts. Investigational or “play-related” destructiveness of this kind is a normal behavior for a growing dog.

Puppies seem to escalate such chewing behavior around teething time. The most expedient solution to play-related destructiveness is a dog bed. Ideally, your puppy should be acclimated to a bed from the first day in her new home. Also helpful for house-training, have the bed be in a small area to limits your pup’s access to valuable items while allowing her to rest and chew at her leisure on appropriate items provided by you.

When your puppy must be left alone for long hours, a bed’s too confining and among other things, may force your pup to stand or lie in her own urine or feces. Instead, when you have to leave your pup for a few hours, it is better to restrict your pup to a larger area, such as a kitchen, by means of a baby gate. Even then, introduce freedom only slowly and just for short periods. Well-designed “food-for-work” toys, which can be filled with treats, can keep your dog busy for hours.

Anxiety-Related ChewingNormal chewing is dog-years apart from the anxiety-based chewing of anxiety ridden dogs. Separation anxiety-related destructiveness happens when your dog is alone. The dog gets severely upset when “abandoned” by their owners each morning. In frenzied efforts to escape the house or find its owner, a dog of this persuasion will dig and chew at doorways, windowsills and curtains. The dog may also search for shoes, pillows, purses and other personal items to chew on to alleviate the anxiety. If your dog suffers from anxiety, it can cause dramatic damage to your house. Your dog may also develop fears of thunder, fireworks, wind, and a variety of other noises.

Anxiety-related chewing is treated indirectly by addressing the anxiety itself; if you suspect this to be your dog’s reason for chewing, ask your veterinarian for help in addressing the problem. Most typically, a temporary anti-anxiety medication will be prescribed – along with a behavior-modification program – to help your dog feel less stressed and react more calmly when left alone or when exposed to storms.

Training my Out-of-Control dogDogs like humans have a mind of their own and sometime it feels like they get too out-of control. Here are some tips to take control back:•Use a head collar. Out-of-control dogs almost all universally respond to a head collar, or head halter, a humane and simple tool for training.•A leash is valuable – even indoors. Dogs that jump, leap and run out of reach should be kept on leash before a problem actually occurs. He will quickly learn to behave appropriately if his good behavior is rewarded while his “bad” behavior is ignored or corrected each and every time. •Increase your dog’s exercise. All dogs enjoy and appreciate regular exercise. Some dogs, however, require particularly vigorous exercise, such as running, swimming or regular and extended games of fetch. Whatever your dog’s exercise regime, consider increasing both its duration and quality. •Consider professional help. If the problem seems too difficult to change without help, ask your veterinarian for assistance or for a referral to a behavioral specialist. Although most overactive dogs are normal and will respond to behavior modification, a minority may be suffering from true, physiological hyperactivity, which may require medication in addition to a training program.

Reward good behaviorWe love our pets that’s no surprise, but what is surprising is that one of the big mistakes people make is focusing on punishing their pets for bad behavior rather than focusing on rewarding them for what we consider good behavior. A perfect example of this is letting a pup eliminate behind the couch when you are in the other room. The dog is unlikely thinking they are in trouble for eliminating in the house. They probably think you don’t like to see them eliminate, so they learn to hide behind the couch to do so. Like children, pet also need a clear set of rules and boundaries to help them stay safe and ensure that he or she is with you for their whole life. By rewarding your pet with treats or praises for going to their designated area to eliminate gives them the expectation that it is permitted only in that area. Punishing your pet will damage your relationship with your pet. They may end up fearing you make them more likely to eliminate when they see you enter the room. Instead, focus on managing them (using supervision and confinement, such as keeping them on a leash or in a pet-proofed room or crate) to set them up for success and rewarding for good behavior.

Spaying or Neutering petsSome people still think that spay or neuter their pets is like mentally destroy them. Aside from the fact that there is a serious pet overpopulation problem, Spaying and neutering your pet means it is less likely to wander away to look for a mate and in doing so potentially get lost, hurt, hurt others, or contract diseases. Overall, spaying and neutering will greatly increase the length and quality of your pet’s life.For males, neutering eliminates the chance of developing testicular cancer and may reduce problems with aggression and decreasing inappropriate urination issues. For females, spaying decreases the chance of developing breast cancer if done before the first heat cycle. It also eliminates the chance of developing pyometra (a potentially fatal infection of the uterus), decreases or eliminates mood swings associated with heat cycles and eliminates spotting.

For quite a long time now, dogs have been considered an important member of the human family. The time and effort that we spend caring for our dogs have always translated into lifelong loyalties and friendships forged between us and our furry friends. No wonder the dog has been called “man’s best friend”.

Owning a dog can be a rewarding and happy experience for the entire family. Deciding to own a dog should be an important decision, a matter that cannot be taken superficially, simply because a dog is not just a furry being, an amusing present, or a fun diversion.

Basic dog obedience training is certainly a necessity for all dogs. Basic dog obedience training is more than just telling a dog to do what we want him to do. It is a way of teaching a dog to behave properly or in a way we deem proper under certain specific conditions or circumstances.

Proper dog obedience training is definitely not a “do-it-quick” thing. It is a continuous, life-long process – a work in constant progress. It should continue for the lifetime of a dog. Dog obedience training – whether basic or advanced – has never become more important than today when a lot of dog owners bring their pet dogs to so many places where they go.

Proper dog obedience training should begin when a dog is still a puppy. The first four months of a dog’s life are very important in his training. This is the specific period when he learns behaviors that he will practice in his lifetime. This is the right time to teach your dog basic commands such as sit and fetch.

It is to be noted that dog obedience training methods or procedures are not created equal. There are various training types, approaches and methodologies which have come to be developed through the years that deal with dog obedience training.

But positive dog obedience training is quickly becoming the preferred method of dog training. This method of training is possible for just about every young dog.

Obedience training should be fun and rewarding for both you and your dog. A dog who has undertaken good training is confident and friendly and can be given greater social freedom than a dog who has not been trained at all. A trained dog will dutifully do basic commands issued by his owner.

Dog obedience training is more than just training your dog, it involves teaching the dog owner too. Going through dog obedience training is something every dog owner should do. It should be a worthwhile experience for both the dog and the dog owner.

And because training is all about communication, it is important that dog owners need to learn to communicate with their dog. Talk to your dog. Tell your dog you love him every day. Even if you don’t say “I love you” to your furry friend, look him square in the eyes and say something – anything.

We all like to be recognized and accepted as a family member. Dogs understand human language more than we think they do. Get your dog’s attention just as you would a person: call him by his name and look right at him when talking to him.

One of the basic obedience training points relevant in this regard is teaching your dog to sit on command. Training your dog to sit is probably the first thing you will train your dog to do.

To start the training: say “sit” while gently pressing his rump down and holding a treat above your dog’s head. When a dog is forced to look upward, he will automatically sit on his hind legs.

When you want your dog to sit, hold a treat a bit above his head and say “sit”. As the dog sits, say sit again and then immediately give him the treat. Your dog should drop into a sitting position in order to reach the food.

Another favorite basic command that we like to teach our dogs is fetch. Teaching your dog to fetch promotes bonding and is a great way to give your dog some exercise.

To do this, first throw a ball – but not too far, though – and give the command “fetch”. As the dog inevitably starts to run towards it, yell “fetch” again. If there is no ball available for you to use, you can use any object that your dog loves to play with the most, as this would make him want to fetch it.

Be reminded not to play fetch with heavy objects or sticks as this could injure your dog somehow or damage his teeth.

The most basic of dog obedience training is to get your dog to sit and fetch. As I said at the start of this article, proper dog obedience training is not a “do-it-quick” thing: it is a continuous, life-long process – a work in constant progress.

Dog obedience training is also a very physical activity, so getting tired and exhausted is all part of it. And doing it is never without any risk of injury, especially concerning more aggressive dog breeds.

Having said that, dog obedience training is certainly a must for all dogs. One major mistake many pet owners make is to assume that training a dog will be over in a short span of time. That, of course, is a gross misconception. Training your dog continues throughout your dog’s life.

Dog obedience training is definitely a breeze with the proper attitude of the dog owner and under proper conditions. Start training your dog today and make his life and yours a lot more better in the future.

Have you ever wondered what “exactly” could be the reason why does your dog bark, pull on the leash, lunge, growl, attack, shiver, whimper, shy away or is dying to play when faced with other dogs that he is not familiar with?
Here are all the reasons:
• You don’t have the right timing, right technique, or the right training tool that can get your dog under your complete control. If a certain tool stops working or doesn’t even seem to faze your dog anymore, try another one. Use what works!
• You never thought socializing your dog with other dogs was really important or even possible. So you kept putting it off and now you finally admit that this has become a serious issue!
• You have been avoiding any dog you came across by changing routes on your walks, or by walking your dog really late at night or super early in the morning.
• Your training foundation is weak or even worse, you have no foundation. Meaning, your dog doesn’t even listen to you that well in private or in your home. So why would he all of sudden behave like a perfect angel around dogs that he doesn’t know or doesn’t feel comfortable with?
• Your dog USED to be friendly around dogs, but you slacked off on being involved on dog activities, daily walks, etc. And now, all of sudden your dog doesn’t know exactly how to behave around dogs he hasn’t met before.
• Your dog, or perhaps the other dog, isn’t spayed/neutered and they are dying to get it on and prove themselves. Jealousy also causes dogs to act aggressive toward one another.
• Your dog whimpers to trick you into thinking that all it wants to do is play, and when you get close to the other dog, all of sudden it charges for the kill. Very sneaky!
• You keep on patting your dog in an attempt to calm her down and by saying, “It’s OK. It’s okaaaaaaay. Nooooo…seeeee…. It’s a nice doggie.” But this doesn’t send the right message. In fact by doing so, you are “encouraging” your dog to keep on acting aggressively. This might work on some humans, but it never works on dogs. So do not pat or keep on massaging your dog while she is constantly lunging and growling at other dogs. This translates to: “Go ahead. Kill ‘em.” Even if you say “NO” in between, you are still not being crystal clear with your message.
• You misread your dog’s or other dogs’ body language. Sometimes when owners hold the leash tightly, this makes the dogs seem bigger, more tense, nervous, dominant and sometimes even a bit aggressive. Often you notice an owner’s dog is completely relaxed, yet the owner acts scared and desperately tries to pull the dog close to her. This makes the dog appear taller, more tense, with his head up and chest out, which reads a very confrontational gesture to other dogs. So please don’t wrap the leash around your hand three times by anticipating a dogfight.
• Your dog always lunges and attacks other dogs and doesn’t really know how to behave. Like a barbarian, it’s totally natural to him to act like a maniac. Basically your dog is thinking, “It doesn’t really matter if the other dog is small, big, black, white, friendly or aggressive. I always lose it when I see other dogs. It’s fun and it keeps me alive. I have that spice in me. Rrrrrruf!”
• You have a poor attitude and might even be prejudiced or scared of certain breeds. And guess what? Dogs never miss this and will try to protect you or at least try to scare the other dog. Maybe you hate certain breeds and your dog or the other dogs sense it from your energy, body language, or the fact that you totally changed direction, walked on the other side of the street, or picked up your small dog, hiding him from the rest of the world.
• Your dog never lost a dog fight in his entire life and always managed to scare, bully and lunge at dogs and actually get away with it. He probably sees himself as undefeated. The bigger the other dog, the more of a challenge; the bigger the fight, the better the pay per view.
• Your dog has been attacked by a dog in the past and got injured badly which resulted in him losing trust and confidence in you. You see, when you couldn’t protect your dog from another dog attacking it, your poor dog had to find a way to protect himself. So now it anticipates another dog attack. This is why now he acts tough to scare the other dogs away. Can you blame him?
• Certain dogs provoke your dog more than others. See if you can find any pattern. Is your dog getting aggressive more toward males, females, puppies, adults, small dogs, black dogs, white dogs, fluffy dogs with floppy ears, pointy eared dogs, or even dogs that are not neutered. How about their owners? See if you notice any pattern with them. Some dogs love a challenge and prefer to fight the biggest dogs they can find. Some can’t stand the small dogs’ bark, and the fact that they are more spoiled than bigger dogs, and probably see them as Costco’s appetizers.
• You’ve been letting your dog constantly mark on walks and thought it was normal and harmless. Now when your dog sees another dog in your neighborhood, he gets upset and tries to defend his territory. Just as your dog is overprotective of your house and your yard, he now thinks he owns the entire neighborhood just because he peed in every corner and every bush around it. How dare another dog walk in his hood!
• Something or even someone has irritated your dog, and now he decides to let it out on another dog. Be honest. Don’t YOU pick on someone or at your loved ones when you aren’t in a good mood? There you go. Your dog has learned it from you!
• Your dog is dying to play and interact with the other dog, but doesn’t really know HOW. So he gets mad at you, mad at the other dog, at the leash, at your training tool and at the world! This could be a dog that once he manages to get loose, will lick the other dog to death to show his affection. Most dogs when they want to play, just pull on the leash, whimper, wag their tail happily, or maybe bark and whine in excitement. Not your dog. And it’s really hard to know for sure exactly what he’ll do, when he finally manages to get to the other dog. Will he play or go for the kill? And who’s brave enough to find out?
• Your dog gets aggressive only when he is leashed. This might be another form of fear or frustration an attempt to keep the other dogs away. Or your dog notices that when he acts this way, you and the other dog owner walking another dog automatically pull back and don’t let them get close to each other. Your dog knows that he can’t do much while being leashed and his movements are limited. Therefore, it’s much safer to act like a maniac. Basically each bark and growl translates to: “Let me go. Let me go, Mommy. I can take him. Let me show you what I can do. Let me put him on the news for you.”
• Your dog is using your “other” dog as a shield/back up and knows it gives her more power when they attack as a pack. These dogs may walk politely one-on-one, but never as a team.
Conclusion: One of the biggest mistakes dog owners make is that they automatically assume that if their pooch loves some dogs, that it will remain dog-friendly with all breeds of dogs for the rest of his life. The truth is, some will, but most WON’T. You must be able to get your dog’s full attention around friendly dogs, aggressive dogs, hyper dogs, small dogs, big dogs, fluffy dogs, and male or female dogs.
It’s like a serial killer. They rarely go on a killing spree of their friends or relatives. It’s always the poor complete strangers.