Behavior
Problems
We all love our dogs, there's no doubt
about that, but sometimes love gets
in the way of looking at our dogs' behavior honestly and objectively. When
we fail to recognize a problem, or worse, refuse to believe there is a
problem, we can actually make the problem worse!
Aggression ....
Also on this page you will find info on
Barking Fear of Noise Jumping Digging Chasing Cars and Come
You have to start some where in obedience training! Being consistent in your training is the *BEST LOVE* you can give your dog! If the dog isn't allowed to do something today. Then the dog can't do it tomorrow either!. As dog owners people need to take an active role in the raising of their dogs. People often make excuses for their dogs for all kinds of reasons. Some people don't understand what normal canine behavior should be.
Do dogs ever grow out of their behavior problems?
Very seldom. As the dog gets bigger, so does the problem! Bad behavior that was
considered cute or tolerable in a small puppy is usually intolerable or even
dangerous in a fully grown dog.
Make sure your dog, *Knows its name*. Use it with every command. The name should be an attention getter. Say the dogs name they should look at you waiting for the command to follow. You would be surprised at how many dogs are called something other than their name!!
Many trainers believe (and I believe this to be true also) that there is no freebies for dogs. In other words, "Your dog doesn't get attention for free. You don't get your meal for free, etc.".
The three most important things to teach your dog is the *Come* *Sit* and *NO*.
NO: Means to stop what your doing. This is an important word for your dog. I only use the word No when I really need my dog to stop what it is doing. (examlpe) dog is chasing a cat. I say No dog stops. I praise teh dog for doing what it was told. this can go for running in the street or going after the lawn mower etc.
SIT: The simplest thing to have a dog do as "payment" is the "SIT". Ultimately, this isn't a big payment, just a calm show of respect for you, as the owner and leader So, practice "SIT" short, fun sits to start. Then practice longer sits, or sits not so close to you *ON* the leash helps you to reinforce the command if the dog doesn't sit. Above all, "SIT" should always be praised and your dog must know that, in any unfamiliar situation, "SIT" will always make you happy. That is how you start to get respect and obedience from one simple command - "SIT"!
COME: Every single obedience command follows 3 simple steps. First we teach the dog the meaning of the command. Second, we teach the dog that once. They know a command and then refuses to do what's asked they get corrected for it. Third, we teach the dog that they must perform the command under distraction or they are corrected. A dog should never be corrected for not "coming" if it does not know the meaning of the word "come."
The come game is fairly simple, you must make sure you use
voice, hand, and food reward until the behavior is established, then begin a
variable ratio schedule of reinforcement.
Make sure the dog is coming all the way in to you and that *YOU* are not
reaching out for the dog, grabbing at the dog or bending over the dog! At first,
it is best to start out in a more relaxed position, such as Kneeling or sitting
on the floor/ground.
Always play the game with the dog on short/long line, in the house or in a
fenced in area.
Play for 5 to 8 minutes at a time, starting with low time and building stamina.
*Be very careful not to exhaust a young puppy.*
If the dog does not respond to a call give a slight tug on the leash/long line.
That does NOT include standing there and repeating the command! When the dog get
to you praise and the treat. Make sure you praise the dog with your hands and
voice as you give the treat. This way it’s easier to slowly stop the treats.
Remember you always have your hands and voice. (Well let hope so) LOL
Very important you play this game with
every one in your family!
You and another person or persons go to the area where you will play the game.
Make sure the dog knows you have treats small pieces that are quickly eaten, and
also make sure it is something the dog likes allot. I use chicken, liver, etc.
One person holds the dog by the collar, gets in a kneeling position and the
other person goes 10 to 15 feet away and kneels/sits. The dog does not have to
sit and stay. The "holder" holds the dog quietly and the caller says the dog's
name FIRST (happily) and then "come" If dog doesn't move then give a slight tug
on the lead. Hold the treat just in front of you. SMILE. As soon as the dog
starts to come, praise happily. Be very excited!!!!
As soon as the dog GETS TO YOU
(don’t reach for it), hold the treat at the dog's nose with one hand, touch and
praise the dog with the other hand and voice! And immediately give the treat.
When the dog has eaten the treat, nod to the other person and they do the same
thing you just did! Go back and forth this way for a few minutes, quit when the
dog is getting tired or seems to be losing interest. Leave him wanting more if
possible. Keep treats around the house and be ready to treat him if he responds
to a call. NEVER call if you are not ready to follow through this just teaches
him that you are inconsistent and he has a choice. If the dog is in another part
of the house and you call and he comes, treat and praise. If he doesn't, go find
him *don't be upset. Just get your leash
and collar and play the come game for a few minutes.
*Do this ONLY after the dog is reliable on the come command.* As the dog gets
good at coming make it more challenging for them. Make a different game out of
it, by having someone hold him while you run quickly to a hiding place. Telling
him to come. Have the person holding the
dog-go running with the dog encouraging him to find you.
At least this is the kind of training I do with my guys. And they can't wait to
get to me no matter where they are in the yard. I say *come* and they run as
fast as their legs can carry them.
Remember say the dogs name first
then come.
When I teach my dogs to speak. I first teach them in any
position. But after they have the concept. I start in a sit. Then go on to the
down then on to the stand. If they bark when not asked to I put my fingers to my
lips Shhh and turn away from them. I wait about 30 sec. Then we start again
until they will bark in any position and Shhh when told to. It doesn't happen
over night. But you will gain control over their barking!
Digging: For many dogs, digging is one of their favorite things to do in life! The first step to finding a solution to digging is to make sure your dog is not looking for mice, rabbits etc, in the dirt. Dogs are social animals. Is your dog out in the yard all day, every day? Dogs are pack animals and have a high pack-drive. They have a strong need to be included in the family. Going outside to feed and visit your dog for 15 minutes or so a day is not including him in the family. And there for they will become destructive, bored etc.
There are dogs that dig one hole and just keep re-digging it and there are those that dig many holes. If there is more than one hole, fill them with the same dirt, packing it down tightly with a shovel, but do not put dirt in his favorite. Fill it with water and add bitter apple to it and keep filling it at every opportunity. Most dogs do not like that and get discouraged.
You can also discourage your dog from digging by filling the hole with their own stools. Make sure before you do this your dog does not eat dog stools! It sounds disgusting but it does work!
An effective method of correcting a dog when he digs holes is
to catch him in the act and squirt him with a garden hose. He must be taken by
surprise or the correction will be unsuccessful. And it is only a squirt don not
keep spraying him as it will then become a game.
Place dampened newspaper at the bottom of the hole. Generously
sprinkle alum, cayenne pepper, all over the paper. When the dog returns to
continue digging, he is bound to taste or whiff the unpleasant substances. He
may get them on his paws and lick them. The taste or scent should deter him from
continuing his project. You will have to do this in every hole he digs.
Jumping: Most dogs jump up on people because they are happy and excited to see them! We instill this in the dog at a very young age. When we see a puppy the first thing we do is get down and let the puppy come into our arms. We cuddle them and let them lick our face. As they get older we let them jump on our legs we reach down pick them up and give them the attention they want. So we are in fact teaching them to jump on us. END THE PROBLEM. Teach your dog with a different method of greeting you and others. Teach your dog to sit-stay. He cannot sit-stay and jump up at the same time. When he is sitting you can then kneel down and give him a warm hug and kiss and a treat. Practice is VERY important. If your dog is excitedly jumping up when you return home and this only happens once a day, then he is only getting one practice in a day. If he jumps up on your company and you only have visitors once or twice a week, then he is only getting very few practice session a week. In order to perfect the proper greeting routine, your dog needs much more practice than that. You can speed up the training by setting the dog up. Come and go a lot as to teach the dog they must sit. When your friends come over, have them do the same. Each time, ask your dog to sit-stay before opening the door. At first his excitement will make it difficult for him to concentrate but after you've repeated this process time and time again he will calm down and be able to concentrate. Before asking your dog to sit-stay in this distracting and exciting situation, be sure he has a reliable sit-stay in normal, non-stressful situations. In other words you really need to work on the sit-stay.
Chasing Cars: this is a natural instinct in some dogs. Especially the herding breeds. They want to get every thing in the yard all together. This is what they were bred to do. But as you know this can be very dangerous to the dog. You will need to channel the dog’s energy on some thing else. Play a good game of fetch with your dog. Don’t allow them to chase car, bikes, etc. We have found the best way to stop your dog from chasing cars is to have some one drive you past your house. You are laying down in the back seat or the back of a truck. When the dog comes barreling out at the car/truck the person driving hits the brakes you come out of there like a mad person. Screaming and hollering NO get home. Or whatever words you want to use. After a while you will need to get into a different car/truck and do it again. The dog is going to learn that no matter what car/truck comes by the darn fool is in there and is going to yell at me. They will learn its much better to stay home then to be in trouble from you. You also have to have a family member waiting outside at home for the dog. The person waiting for the dog. Waits until the dog is in the yard hopefully up by the house. They are going to lavish the praise on the dog. The dog will learn it’s very comfortable to stay home!
