Dog Training Basics

Archive for December, 2009

If you want to stop dog from chewing on items he should be leaving alone,then think about why he is chewing.

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Anyone has to think this through as chewing can seriously harm a dog if it isn’t controlled.

Primarily it can be dangerous, particularly if he chooses an electrical wire for example. His mouth, throat or digestive sytem could be damaged. Something that contains fiberglass for example, may not feel sharp, but would fill his mouth and throat with glass splinters. And of course, he could chew on something toxic. And of course, your belongings can be damaged in the process.

Despite how dangerous it can be to chew on these things, it seems to be irresistible to dogs. Why is that? There are a number of causes for chewing, and for inappropriate chewing in particular. All canines chew, instinctively, as a way to keep their jaws strong; of course, they themselves don’t know why they chew, only that it’s fun. Your understanding of this instinctive need is the key to successful training.

The most prevalent reason for undesirable chewing is this: Your dog has the instinct to chew, but he just doesn’t understand what he is and isn’t allowed to chew on. If you have considered all the factors and concluded that it is just his instinct then provide him with dog chews as alternatives. Give him praise when he chews one of his toys and if he chooses something that is not acceptable then take if off him in no uncertain terms. He will eventually understand what he should and what he should not chew.

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There are certain factors that make chewing worse, however, and they’ll require extra attention.

Just as human children teeth, and experience discomfort, so do puppies. Especially as his adult teeth begin to grow, a puppy’s jaws will ache and his gums will itch. Chewing soothes him both by exercising his jaw, and by taking his mind off the uncomfortable feelings. To help him feel better,and save your shoes from being gnawed on,buy him a puppy-teething toy. They can be filled with water and frozen, and are designed both to entertain your pup and make his mouth hurt less.

Anxiety caused by boredom or being left alone for long periods can also lead to your dog chewing. If he’s left by himself for a long time, or if you often confine him to a small space without any company or entertainment, your dog will naturally become anxious. To distract himself, he’ll find something to chew on. You can solve this by spending as much time with him as you can, and when you have to leave him alone, make sure he has plenty of toys he likes, and bones to chew. A dog-walker can help when you have to leave him unattended for long periods, too.

To stop dog from chewing, think about why he might be doing it.Give him something else to chew on and over time demonstrate what he can and cannot chew.He will learn.

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Many Havanese owners are aware that their dog outshines other dog breeds for being among the smartest, and for not thinking twice about showing before the family and friends just how talented they are! Indeed, Hav dog owners the world over have come to see that teaching the dog some commands is as simple as getting them to follow a simple action or routine.

Let’s take “shake hands” for example. Most people actually only hold the dog’s paw, and say to it “shake” over and over again. Then the day comes when the dog is asked to shake hands, and it actually does! So all this shows that the dog also needs time, sometimes several weeks worth, in order to allow the dog to gradually absorb training information.

Another havanese training technique that appears more methodical is to hold a treat in the fist in front of the dog. Then the dog will try to check out your hand using their nose and mouth, but wait for the dog to eventually start pawing at your hand. Praise the dog effusively if they paw. Some re-training, on the other hand, may be needed in case some dogs are not used to using their paws when sitting.

Still another way to do it is to put one’s hand down, palm up, then with the same hand to nudge the knee of the dog so that they lift their paw. When the dog lifts its paw, the owner needs to slide his/her hand under the paw and praise effusively.

If you want to try out a clicker training method, you will also need to get a tupperware cover. Place the treat on the floor and let the dog see you cover it with the cover. Now, the dog is expected to paw at the cover so it could see the treat. Click, and give the treat when they touch the tupperware. Repeat from the start up to covering the treat with the tupperware, but this time place your hand on the cover. When the dog’s paw touches your hand, click and give treat. Last of all, your hand becomes the cue, and this time there is no treat or tupperware. Then insert the word “Paw” (or “shake hands”) when the dog touches your hand. Click and treat to punctuate this havanese training.