Dog Training Basics

Archive for March 8th, 2009

Are you just plain fed up?  Does your pet go into a frenzy of destructive dog behavior whenever you leave him alone?  Is separation anxiety in dogs making your hope of having a happy, well-behaved dog into a nightmare of facing a mess every time you come home?

If so, you’re not alone.  This condition is the second most common reason that dog owners have for giving up a dog, or even having him to put sleep.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  

Here are five things you must know about dogs with separation anxiety.

What Is Canine Separation Anxiety?

Basically, your dog has a panic attack when you leave him alone, usually within a half hour of your leaving.  Your canine may show the following dog behavior problems:

• High-pitched yipping and whining, in hopes of getting you to come home
• Digging at doors and windows in an effort to escape
• Inappropriate urination or defecation, even if he’s housebroken
• Destroying furniture, clothing, or whatever else he can get into

Your dog isn’t doing these things to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared.

Why Does My Dog Have This Problem?

Nobody knows for sure why some dogs with separation anxiety develop this condition, and others don’t.  Some breeds, including Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales are more likely to develop canine separation anxiety.  

Being gone a lot often contributes to the problem.  Dogs are social animals who need lots of interaction with their owners to be happy.f you know your dog will be alone most of the time, you may want to take him to a doggy day care, or have somebody come in to walk him during the day.  

Avoid Making A Big Fuss When You Get Home

Does your dog greet you when you get home by jumping around and barking, almost to the point of being out of control?  Do you encourage this behavior by petting him, and lavishing attention on him when he’s acting crazy?  

You’re making a big mistake if you do.  It’s flattering to have your dog so happy to see you, but giving him attention when he acts like this only reinforces the idea that your daily homecoming is the highest point of his day.Your dog may be estactic when you get home, but he’s in the pits of despair the next day when you leave again.

Keep your comings and goings low-key.  Yes, he should be happy to see you, but not excessively so.

Are You The Alpha Male Or Is Your Dog?

Many dog owners make the mistake of trying to treat their dog as an equal.You need to realize that dogs are pack animals, and there’s always a pack leader.  If you aren’t the alpha dog, there’s a leadership vacuum that your dog will step up to fill.  

If your canine thinks he’s the pack leader, he may suffer separation anxiety in dogs if you leave.  This is because in the wild, the pack leader can leave the pack and come back.  However, the other dogs (the followers) don’t have this option of leaving their pack leader.  

Your dog sees you leaving, and this upsets him because he believes he’s responsible for you as his pack member.  This is another reason you need to be the pack leader, not your dog.

The Right Training Is Key

Dogs don’t think the way we do.  They run on instinct much of the time.  Learning how your canine thinks is very important to avoid dog behavior problems.

A good dog training course that teaches you how your dog thinks is worth its weight in gold.Instead of inadvertently training your dog to do the wrong things, you’ll be able to quickly and easily train him, once he understands what you want him to do.  

Your goal now is to take charge of your canine, and work with him to end separation anxiety in dogs.

If you’re dealing with the problem of separation anxiety in dogs, visit No More Bad Dogs to learn more about a dog training resource that will help to solve your problem.

Does your puppy’s barking drive you or your neighbors mad? May be you are at the end of your tether and do not know what to do. The first mistake that people make is to think that they can stop their puppy from barking completely. It is important to understand that barking is normal behavior. This is how your puppy communicates It is only when the barking is excessive and inappropriate that you should take action.

When puppies bark it is for a reason so before any action is taken you should find out why. Puppies can bark because they are lonely, bored, anxious, frustrated or frightened. They could also simply be hungry, need to pee or want to go outside.

However, if your puppy continues barking excessively and inappropriately you should say “quiet” or “enough” in a stern voice. If this command does not work then you need to give your puppy a correction by pulling them away from what they are barking at. It may be a good idea to give a quick tug on the collar.

When your puppy stops barking, it is important to give praise, such as”well done” and “good” in order for puppy to understand this is a correct behavior.

If your puppy is outside and is barking to come in, but you are not ready to let them in, then use a command such as “quiet” or “enough” in a stern voice through the door. Puppies can hear through the door. Remember not to open the door until you are ready to let them in.

If this does not work then you could kick the bottom of the door from the inside. This makes a loud noise which can startle your puppy. This seems to work quite well.

You could also lean out a window and spray water from a bottle or hose. This gives your puppy a reason to stop. If you do this action consistently, your puppy will eventually get a negative reinforcement for barking.

Do remember to give praise when your puppy stops barking. You must be consistent in praising positive behavior and giving a negative reinforcement for unwanted behavior.

It is important to understand the reasons why puppies bark in order for you to take the best action!

Visit the Training Puppy Tips website for more detailed information on stopping your puppy barking. You can use the same techniques for stopping your puppy growling.