Dog Training Basics

Archive for March, 2009

If separation anxiety in dogs is a problem for your pet, there are many things you can do to help.  There are also many things you can do to make the problem worse.  Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts for dealing with dogs with separation anxiety.  We’ll look at the “don’ts” first, and then finish up with the “do’s.”

Here Are Things You Shouldn’t Do When Dealing With Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The most important thing you need to know is that you should never punish your dog when he’s acting out because he’s scared.  This will only make him even more anxious.  Plus, unless you catch him in the act of destructive dog behavior, he won’t know what he’s being punished for.

You need to rethink how you interact with your dog. The problem of separation anxiety in dogs is often related to dominance issues.  A dog who thinks he’s the pack leader will be anxious when his followers leave.  This is because in the wild, although the leader can leave the pack for a while, the other members of the pack can’t leave the leader.

To assert your position as pack leader, try these suggestions.  Instead of giving your dog attention every time he asks for it, you should be the one initiating contact with him.  Feed him after you eat, because pack members eat only after the alpha dog has eaten.Ensure he is either walking next to you or behind you when you go for a walk with him.  Don’t allow him to pull on his leash ahead of you, because the pack leader always goes first. 

Discourage your dog from becoming too attached to you.Don’t let him lie down or sit down within three feet of you.You may need to keep him at a distance by rearranging the furniture or putting somethng on the floor to block him. 

Don’t let your dog sleep on your bed.  Ideally, he shouldn’t even be in the same room.  Start out by making him sleep at the foot of the bed, and then get him a dog bed to sleep in.  Eventually move his bed out of your bedroom.

If there are other people in the household, take turns feeding the dog and taking him for walks.  This way your dog won’t become too dependent on one person.

Here Are Things You Should Be Doing To Help A Dog With Canine Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to find out that your dog knows you’re leaving a lot sooner than you think he does.  You may go take a shower, comb your hair, put on your work clothes.  Your canine friend certainly notices these things, and he associates your doing them with your leaving. 

Your goal here is to desensitize your dog to these cues that you’re leaving.  Do these same things, but then stay home.  Get your car keys, and put on your coat.  Then sit back down.  This is a slow process, and you’ll have to do it many times over several weeks, but eventually your dog won’t get upset when you do them.

Do make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise.Take him for a long vigorous walk twice a day, in the morning before you leave, and again in the evening.  This will use up excess energy, and help him to remain calmer in your absence.

Keep your exits and entrances low-key.  Ignore your dog for twenty minutes before you leave, and again for twenty minutes when you come home.Don’t encourage him by praising or petting him when he gets worked up when you come home.  You want him to learn to accept your comings and goings in a matter-of-fact manner. 

Do invest in a good dog training course.  You’ll want to choose one that focuses on teaching you how a dog’s mind works.  If you don’t understand  how your dog thinks, it’s very easy to give him the wrong idea when trying to train him.

Don’t make the mistake of inadvertently teaching your dog the wrong things.   A good dog training course is the easiest way to solve the problem of 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 course that will help to solve your problem.

Have you ever wondered why separation anxiety in dogs is a problem for some canines, but not for others?  If you’re dealing with destructive dog behavior, you may be wondering if it’s because your dog is bored, or if it’s because you have one of the four to eight percent of dogs with separation anxiety.

Although a bored dog and a dog with canine separation anxiety may both engage in destructive dog behavior, the difference lies in when the behavior begins.Dogs with separation anxiety go into a panic when their owners leave them alone.The problem dog behavior begins within a half hour, or less, of your leaving.  A bored dog, on the other hand, will be happy for a couple of hours, but then start destroying things to amuse himself.

Are Some Dogs More At Risk For Canine Separation Anxiety Than Others?

Separation anxiety is when a pet panics when he’s left by himself.  All puppies show some signs of separation anxiety.  But most of them outgrow it as they mature.  

Long-nosed breeds of dogs, like herding and guarding dogs, seem more prone to this condition.  It’s also seen more often in spaniels and setters.One vet made the obthat dogs with this problem are usually thinner and more prone to digestive upsets.  

Separation anxiety in dogs happens in both males and females.  It doesn’t seem to matter whether they’ve been spayed or neutered or not.  It usually starts when the dog is between five months and two years of age, although older dogs can be affected as well, usually suddenly.  Sometimes a dog owner thinks their older dog is becoming senile, but the problem is really separation anxiety instead.

Other Risk Factors For Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Sometimes puppies that were rejected by their mothers, or who were taken away from their mothers too soon, will develop separation anxiety.  Although dogs that have been bounced from one home to another may develop it, a history of abuse doesn’t seem to make a dog prone to it.  

Sometimes dogs in close-knit families who suddenly lose a family member to illness, death, or divorce develop this problem.  If a favorite person leaves to go to college, or a new baby suddenly takes up a lots of the favorite person’s time, it can have an impact on a dog.  

The problem of separation anxiety often runs in the family in humans, and this is true of dogs, too.  A dog with a parent or litter mate who has separation anxiety is at a higher risk of developing it than a dog that doesn’t.  

Sometimes the problem lies with the dog owner.  It can be flattering to have a dog that follows you around, not letting you out of his sight for a second.  It’s tempting to give your dog lots of attention when you get home and he’s so happy to see you that he bounces around, barking and giddy with joy, for several minutes.  

However, while your dog should be happy to see you when you come home, his happy dance really shouldn’t last for more than 30 seconds to a minute.  Anything longer indicates that your dog has a problem, and it’s not good to encourage it.

How Can Dogs With Separation Anxiety Be Helped?

Your vet does have drug treatments available for dogs with severe cases of canine separation anxiety, but it’s best to try dog behavior modification techniques first.

You can take steps to desensitize your dog to your leaving.Even though this is a long process that can’t be rushed, you can be very successful with it.  A good dog training course can be extremely helpful, especially one that teaches you how your dog thinks.

Go ahead and invest in a dog training course that teaches you how your dog’s mind works.  This is the best way to avoid inadvertently training him to do exactly what you don’t want him to do.

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

Don’t you just hate it when your dog barks non-stop while you’re gone?The reason dogs chew up clothing and furniture, and even claw doors and windows when they’re alone is often due to separation anxiety in dogs.   By using dog separation anxiety training, you can often solve this problem. 

You have two goals with this training.  The first is to make your dog less dependent on you, and the second is to teach him that being by himself isn’t a bad thing.

Basics Of Dog Separation Anxiety Training

It’s important that your dog know his place in the family pecking order.  The dog should be at the bottom of the family heap, not the top.  Even if your dog sees you as the pack leader, it’s important that he doesn’t rank himself socially above the other members of the family.  Everyone in your home should be involved in dog training so that your dog understands that he needs to obey everyone in the house, not just you.

Your dog shouldn’t get too attached to you.  We’ve all seen the 90-pound dogs who always want to curl up in someone’s lap.  It’s funny at first, but it gets old fast.  It’s best to train your dog to sit or stay about three feet from you.He should learn that he doesn’t have to be in constant contact with you to be happy.

Don’t let your dog sleep in the bed with you.  If he’s already doing this, first train him to sleep at the foot of your bed.  Then encourage him to sleep in his own doggie bed, with the eventual goal of moving his bed out of your bedroom.Your want him to become a happier, more independent dog.

Make sure your dog gets lots of exercise to burn up the extra energy he has.  A long walk in the morning and again in the evening goes a long way toward keeping your dog on an even keel emotionally.

This sounds harsh, but don’t make a big scene when you come home.  Encouraging your dog to jump around, barking in excitement when you return, is only reinforcing the idea that he can’t be happy unless you’re there.Don’t pay any attention to your dog for twenty minutes or so before you leave, or after you return.

Teaching Dogs With Separation Anxiety To Be Happy When They’re Alone

Work on teaching your dog the basic “sit,”, “relax,” and “stay” commands.  He needs to know these basic commands so you can work on these steps.

Find a reason to leave the room if you’re watching tv.  Use the “sit-stay” command, and then leave.  At first come right back, and reward your dog with a tasty treat if he stayed and didn’t follow you.Gradually increase the amount of time that you’re gone.  Do this many times a day, so that your dog learns that when you leave, you do come back.  He also learns that if he sits and waits patiently for you, he gets rewarded. 

Choose a room in your house where your dog can’t destroy anything.  Put your dog in there with a few favorite toys that he only gets when he’s by himself.  Stay with him a little while, and then leave without any fuss, and close the door behind you.  Come back before he gets upset, and reward him with a food treat.  Repeat this as often during the day as you can, gradually increasing the amount of time you’re gone. When you’re done with the training session, be sure to put these toys away.

What your dog is learning now is that he gets fun toys when you’re gone, and a treat when you return.This is teaching him that being alone isn’t so bad after all.

Your next step? To take what you’ve just learned and apply it.  You’ll want to look for a good dog training course, so you can avoid making mistakes as you use dog separation anxiety training to solve your dog behavior problems.

Learn more about dog separation anxiety training, by visiting No More Bad Dogs to find an effective dog training course that uses these principles.

No one wants his carpet stained with dog urine. Yet the answer isn’t always to leave the dog outside 24/7. After all, some dogs are purchased as indoor pets. If the dog is going to be indoors, then, it will be important to train the dog to do his business in the proper place, either outdoors or in a designated area. These rules are designed to make an indoor dog welcome in the house. Get these dog training tips to accelerate your success.

The speed at which your dog learns this important pattern will depend on several things. First it will depend on the intelligence of the dog. Check online for a list of the smartest and most easily trained dogs. If your dog isn’t on it, he can probably still be trained. It will just take a little longer. Second, it will depend on the maturity of the dog. An older dog may have better bladder control, but a really old dog is hard to teach new tricks. Third, it will depend on your consistency with the training. You have to keep at it consistently until your dog won’t want to go in the wrong place. This article centers on a consistent method.

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could sit and reason with Phydeaux? “Look, neither of us wants you to relieve yourself in the house. So if you have to go, just wag your tail or stand by the door and I’ll get the message, OK?” Since that won’t work, you must try to convey the same message through your voice tone, words, praise, gestures, and rewards.

Dogs usually need to relieve themselves within twenty minutes of eating a meal. Therefore, do not feed him until you can take him out after he eats. If you want the dog to do his business outside, you must either send him out or take him outside to do it. At first, it is good to take him so that you can reinforce the good behavior when it occurs.

Success with housebreaking a dog will be achieved through consistent praise for doing what you want, and showing disapproval when he doesn’t. At first the dog doesn’t know what you want. So when he messes, be patient and instruct. As the dog gets the message, disapproval can be more overt when the dog doesn’t do what he knows he should.

Let’s say you got a new puppy that is eight weeks old. Day one is the time to start training him. Be patient because he not only must learn your commands but also how to control his bladder (Be sure to take a pooper scooper with you, just in case.) Talk to the dog. Say, “OK, time to do your business.” When he does, exaggerate how wonderful this is, just as you would a child’s first steps. Take along a favorite treat that he gets only when he does what you want. Follow this pattern after every meal and before bed for at least a month or two.

In the mean time, you may want to restrict the dog to a floor that is easy to clean. His reward for graduating will be freedom to enter the rest of the house. Be alert to any signal the dog gives that he wants to go out. If he does his business then, praise and reward him again. Be sure he has the opportunity to go out when he needs to so that self-control is reasonable to expect.

Once he goes, don’t take him back in the house right away if he likes to be out. This may be interpreted as punishment. Instead, keep making a big deal out of his success.

Building a relationship is most important. Your dog will want to please you anyway. But the greater your relationship, the more he will want to do what you like, including doing bathroom duty in the right place.

Get user reports on dog training books, learn more dog training tips, and share your opinion at http://www.dogtrainingbible.net/

Sit Stay Fetch (Daniel Stevens SitStayFetch) Testimonial from New Zealand

On the purchase of the Sit Stay Fetch download you will be preview to a lot of dog training and obedience guides in addition to the main download which is the eBook. This eBook downloads directly to your computer for easy use. The eBook is readable from your computer screen or you make print out the eBook if that is your preference.

>> View Official SitStayFetch Report

Daniel Stevens (the SitStayFetch Author) wrote this book to be a simple guide and system for anyone to learn (even complete beginers) how to train their dogs properly or change behavior problems. He is also a professional dog trainer.

The SitStayFetch Daniel Stevens guide is a treasure throve of information to assist dog owner’s in correcting more than 25 behavior/obedience problems with their dogs. These include: peeing and dog house training, dog barking, aggression to dogs and fighting, biting and jumping among others. Included in this book is a step by step system of training your dog properly.

The Sit Stay Fetch eBook has included in its contents many pictures which assist the reader to easily visualize the necessary training methods and techniques. It is also filled with tips on the training of your dog to command prompts or word commands of any type. There is a guarantee of 2 months for Sit Stay Fetch in addition to the inclusion of 4 bonuses.

Company Information

Sit Stay Fetch dog training in coalition with the Kingdom of Pets has come together and compiled a lot of information from trainers, behaviorists and vets to provide information for pet owners to the proper training of their pets and the correction of behavior problems so that both pets and owners are happy.

Sit Stay Fetch Dog obedience training is provided in the eBook created for use by pet owners. The information is put together for use by pet owners and is easily available for online downloads with info not limited to training but also general pet care.

>> View Official SitStayFetch Report

Product Specifications

Sitstayfetch.com has online the SitStayFetch eBook which is downloadable to your computer. This is a book that is electronic and which you can access anytime from your computer after download. The resource covers all the normal problems faced by pet owners in the training of their pets and the steps and techniques to correct these problems and end up with a well behaved and trained dog.

The eBook file is approximately 450Kb in size. SitStayFetch is over 250 pages long and in full color.

Besides the main e-book there are 7 bonus ebooks that you get with your order:

• The House Training Book
• The Dog Grooming Book
• The Security Training Book
• The Alpha Dog Book
• A Quick Guide to Dog Aggression
• 180 Gourmet Recipes
• Dog Community Forum (for questions/answers and networking with other dog owners)
• Top 20 Consultations

Sit Stay Fetch reviews have been astounding with raves coming in for the audio book version. This version is downloadable as well and allows the user to burn the audio file and listen to it on a CD player or a computer. They are able to listen while driving or even while out on a walk with portable CD devices or even MP3 Players.

With the order you also get one free consultation with the Sit Stay Fetch team, which you can use to deal with any specific behavior problem that you may have. These questions are posted on the Forum and answered by the Consultation team so that other forum users can also benefit from the advice given.

Review Conclusion

There are many Dog Training programs and courses on the Internet, and we have reviewed most of them, however this one really does stand out as one of the best (at least top 2%). It really does have a rounded Dog Training package, and tackles the major obedience problems that people have – considering the resources and information contained within.

View a complete industry report on: SitStayFetch.

Is your canine friend showing signs of separation anxiety in dogs?  This type of destructive dog behavior can make life an absolute nightmare for a dog owner.  In fact, it’s the second most common reason that dogs are either given away or even put to sleep.  

It’s possible to avoid these bad outcomes by identifying this condition, and learning what to do about it.

Signs Of Separation Anxiety In Dogs

Dogs with separation anxiety may show different levels of bad behavior.  A dog with a mild case may pace around, pant, and over-groom himself.  

A dog with a more severe case may bark frantically for hours, driving the neighbors crazy.  He may display destructive dog behavior, tearing up whatever he can get a hold of.  Your dog may urinate or defecate inappropriately in the house.  He may go so far as to mutilate himself by chewing on his own tail, yanking out fur, and licking himself until he bleeds.

If you dread coming home because you don’t know what kind of mess is awaiting you, it’s time to take action to solve this problem.

Is Separation Anxiety Really The Problem, Or Is It Simply A Bored Dog?

Is your dog is bored, or does he really have a separation anxiety problem?  Here’s how you can tell:

• Destructive dog behavior occurs only when you leave him alone.If he’s demolishing your house just for fun, he’ll do it anytime, not just when he’s alone.
• Your dog is “hyperattached” to you.He wants you to hold him when he’s not following you around the house.  This is flattering for the owner, but it’s not healthy for your dog to be this attached to you.
• He’s learned what you do when you leave, and he starts getting distressed before you go.
• He begins destructive behavior within 30 minutes of your leaving home.
• He tries to destroy barriers, like a door.  A dog may go after the door he last saw you go out of.
• Your dog barks in repeated, high-pitched yips.  This is reminiscent of a puppy’s distress call when he or she is separated from mom.

Your dog may not do all of these things, but if your dog is showing some of these behaviors, this shows his problem is not boredom.

Tips For Helping Dogs With Separation Anxiety

You may be surprised to learn that separation anxiety in canines is related to dominance issues.  In a wild dog pack, the leader can leave.  The others, however, never go away from the leader on their own.  

If your dog thinks he’s the alpha dog, or pack leader, he’ll get very upset if you leave him, since you’re not supposed to do that.His job is to watch over his pack members, so if you leave, he thinks something might happen to you.  Many times, once you establish yourself as the pack leader, the separation anxiety goes away.

Your dog needs lots of exercise to use up all that energy he has.  You should take your dog for a brisk walk twice a day.  You need to understand that your dog instinctively knows that the pack leader goes first.  He should be walking next to you or behind you, so that he’s following you, the pack leader.  Allowing him to pull ahead of you on his leash is telling him that he’s the alpha male, not you.  

So there you have it; now you can see how easy it is to inadvertently train your dog to do exactly what you don’t want him to do.  You can avoid this by finding a dog training course that focuses on teaching you how dogs think.  Once you understand how your dog’s mind works, separation anxiety in dogs is much easier to deal with.

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.

Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know how important it is to socialize your dog?  Do you even know what socializing your dog is?Discover how this important part of dog training will help to prevent aggression in dogs from developing later on.

What Does Socializing Your Dog Mean?

Actually, it’s pretty simple.  What you’re doing is getting your dog accustomed to strangers, both human and animal.  It also includes taking your dog lots of places so that he’s used to different environments. 

This process can be so much fun that most people don’t take it seriously.  But if your dog hasn’t been socialized properly, he may become timid and fearful.  A pup who’s scared is more likely to develop some dog behavior problems that are very hard to get rid of. Aggression toward strangers can lead to biting people, while aggression toward other animals leads to fights with other dogs.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

If your pooch is not exposed to lots of different people when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks, he may develop fear aggression in dogs as he gets older.  This is characterized by him displaying suspicion and mistrust around people he doesn’t know. 

A dog that shows a lot of fear around strangers when he’s very young has a good chance of becoming fear aggressive as he gets older.  If your pup backs away from strangers while barking at them, this is a tip-off for you that this condition could be his problem.  In this case, you really need to concentrate on getting your dog used to other people.

Aggression Towards Other Animals

If your dog is not friendly towards other dogs, he probably doesn’t know how to interact with other canines.  This is because he never learned the proper social skills as a puppy. 

Sometimes a dog owner unknowingly causes aggression between strange dogs.  If you tighten the leash and pull your dog closer every time you see a strange canine, you’re communicating your unease to your dog.  If this happens repeatedly, your dog learns to get tense whenever another dog gets close.  He wants the other dog to stay at a distance, so your dog growls and barks at the stranger to accomplish this.

Plus, tightening the leash tells your dog that he can’t run away.  The only option he has left is to fight.  Pulling back on his leash also forces him to lean forward on his front feet.  The other dog may think he’s being threatened, and the result can be a dog fight.

Socializing Your Dog Prevents Aggressive Dog Behavior

You can see that neglecting to socialize your dog at a young age can lead to many dog behavior problems as he gets older.To prevent your pup from developing fear aggression in dogs when he’s around strangers, you’ll want to expose him to a lot of different people. 

Even more important is to make sure your young puppy has plenty of opportunity to interact with other pups.  This is how he learns to be a dog, and how to behave around other dogs.

You may inadvertently be training your dog to be aggressive towards other dogs by your own behavior. 

Now that you have this information, you can take steps to socialize your dog properly to prevent aggressive dog behavior.

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.

Are you just plain fed up?  Does feeding your dog turn into a nightmare of aggressive dog behavior if anyone in the household comes near him while he’s eating?  If your pooch is displaying food aggression in dogs, this serious dog behavior problem needs to be stopped before your dog attacks you or someone in your family.

Dog Food Aggression Is Instinctive Behavior For Canines

In the wild, a dog is protective of his food, his mate, and his territory.  Aggressive behavior in dogs is necessary for their survival.  The most aggressive dog is the pack leader, or alpha male, and he enforces his position by being the dominant dog in the pack. 

But the pack leader in your home shouldn’t be your dog.  If he is, you’re in for trouble, because he thinks he’s the alpha male, and like he would in the wild, he’ll enforce his position by using aggressive dog behavior.  This is a dominance issue that won’t go away on its own.  You must take steps to deal with his aggressive behavior before it reaches a dangerous level.

Causes of Food Aggression In Dogs

Many dog owners think that a puppy who aggressivly guards his food is cute.  Don’t do it!  This is a serious training mistake many dog owners make.  Instead of encouraging this kind of canine possession aggression, you need to nip this problem in the bud.

Your dog’s understanding of exactly who leads the pack is confused.  If you don’t take the role of the alpha male (even if you’re female), there’s a leadership vacuum, to your dog’s way of thinking.  If you don’t step into the role, he will.  And he won’t be nice about enforcing his position in your household.

Because he thinks he’s the pack leader, he believes he can take whatever he wants from anyone in the pack who ranks lower than him.  The reality is that the family dog should be at the bottom of the heap, not the top.  Anyone in the household should be able to take anything away from him, even his food.  Of course, you’re not really going to do this, but he needs to know where he stands in your household pack. 

Dog Food Aggression Training

With a puppy, you’ll make it clear that having people or other animals around when he’s eating is OK.  Do this right from the beginning, and you’ll probably never have a problem with this type of aggressive dog behavior.  Anyone in the family should be able to safely stand right next to him at any time while he’s eating.  If this isn’t the case, you need to take control of his food.

It’s always a good idea to feed your dog after you and your family have finished eating.  Your dog will instinctively understand that the alpha dog always eats first.This reinforces in your dog’s mind exactly where he is in the famly heirarchy.

Require that your dog sit and stay quietly while you’re fixing his food.  If he whines and jumps around and demands food, don’t give in.  He needs to earn his food by behaving in a non-aggressive manner. 

Never let your dog “win” his food by growling at you.  This only rewards his bad dog behavior.

If food aggression in dogs is already a serious problem in your household, a dog behavior course may be your next step.  Look for a course that includes a consultation with an experienced dog trainer, and that has a forum where you can get advice from other dog owners.

Now that you know what to do, don’t delay in taking steps to control dog food aggression.