Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘destructive dog behavior’

Has this ever happened to you?  You come home to find that your dog has been chewing on your favorite shoes–again!  If dog chewing problems are a headache for you, read on to discover the four big reasons for destructive chewing.   

A Bored Dog Is A Dog That Will Engage In Destructive Dog Behavior

Dogs tend to play rough.  They chew on things and pick them up in their mouths to shake them, thereby “killing” them.  Tearing their toys to shreds is all part of the game.  This is natural dog behavior.  The problem starts when it’s your things the dog is playing with, not his own.

A bored dog will usually find something to do if he’s left by himself with nothing to occupy him.  Unfortunately, his idea of fun often involves destroying things, especially if he’s a puppy or adolescent, and he doesn’t have anything else to do to use up all his energy. 

What’s the solution?  Get your dog plenty of exercise.  Play fetch with him.  Go for long walks, and give your dog plenty of time to sniff at interesting things.Many dog owners forget that walks are great training opportunities, too.  They’re much more than just bathroom breaks for your dog.

Make sure your dog has plenty of toys.  Rotate them so he always has something new to interest him.A great way to keep a dog happy and entertained for a long time is to give him a toy stuffed with food.

Separation Anxiety In Dogs

This problem often shows up with dogs who are too attached to their owners.  Your dog has a panic attack whenever you leave him by himself.  Dogs with separation anxiety often chew on things to comfort and soothe themselves when they’re alone.  It makes him feel better.

The important thing to remember is that your dog isn’t chewing on your belongings to get back at you for leaving him alone.  He’s doing it because he’s scared; punishing him will add to the problem.

Separation anxiety in dogs is a tough problem to solve, but with lots of time and patience, you can desensitize your dog so he doesn’t react so strongly to your leaving.

Your Dog Wants Your Attention…

And he will do anything to get it, even if the attention is bad.  A dog who doesn’t get much attention unless he misbehaves is a dog who’s being trained to misbehave. 

It’s a hard thing to understand, but dogs are reward-based.  The best way to get a dog to stop doing something is to ignore him when he does it.  If he gets your attention, whether it’s good or bad, he’s been rewarded for what he’s been doing.

Give your dog lots of positive attention.  Play with him, take him for walks, just spend time with him.  If your dog is getting lots of good attention from you when he behaves well, he won’t resort to destructive chewing to get your attention.

Fearful Dogs

Anxiety in dog is often a problem with canines who are scared of loud noises like thunder or fireworks.  He’ll attack doors, door frames, window coverings, screens, and walls, because he’s trying to escape from whatever is frightening him. 

When your dog reacts fearfully to things, don’t comfort him.  You’re rewarding his behavior with your attention, which will only serve to reinforce it.  Play with him and reward him when he responds to you, instead of whatever is scaring him. 

Your dog needs a safe place he can go if he’s scared.  This way he can retreat there when you’re absent.

To sum up, it’s important that you find and correct the reason for dog chewing problems.  A good dog training course is essential so that you can learn how to end destructive dog behavior without making the situation worse.

If you’re dealing with dog chewing problems, 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.

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.

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.