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Facts You Need to Know For Dog Training

By Michael Baldwin

There are many facts which you need to know while training your dog. These would be helpful in removing some prejudices which can restrict effective training of your dog. Certain myths are prevalent in our society regarding dog training which might result in some problems. People do not understand the feelings of the dogs and punish them leisurely at small mistakes. Moreover, most of us don't understand the importance of dog training which can result in some unexpected situations.

1. Feelings of dogs: Most of us do not care about the feelings of the dogs. We feel that if animals can't speak, they can't have any feelings. But this can't be farther from the truth. We need to provide them proper love and care as well.

2. Training of older dogs: It is a tradition to train the dogs while they are young puppies. No stress is given on training of older dogs. It is true that such dogs have undergone a lot of changes but they need to be trained as well. In case they have suffered from any hearing loss, use of sign language can be done to make them understand your point. Older dogs would not be as mobile and flexible as the younger ones, but if you train them in certain basic activities, they can turn out to be quite useful.

3. Only one person should be in charge of the training the dog. He or she can in turn introduce the dog with other members of the family. In this way, you can prevent development of confusion in the dog regarding whose instructions need to be followed. The age old proverb of 'Too many cooks can spoil the party' holds true in this regard.

4. You can ensure that the energy of the dog is given a proper channel so that it can be utilized in a positive manner. Such exercises can be organized for him. This can help to avoid your dog becoming overweight. This can be detrimental to his health as it can lead to health problems. Besides, your dog would remain more active and playful with regular exercise. Another indirect advantage of his exercise is that it would make you occupied as well. If you organize this activity smartly, your dog would like it as well and he would look forward to it everyday.

The Secret To Training Dogs to be Happy, Well Adjusted And Well Behaved
 

 Dogs are fantastic additions to our lives.  They’re happy to see us when we come home.  They sit on our laps or snuggle with us in bed when we’re not feeling well.  They’re entertaining, they’re confidantes, and they really are our best friends.  It’s reasonable that you want your dog to have everything that he wants, it’s also reasonable that you want your dog to behave well both inside and outside of the home.  It’s reasonable that you want to know the best and most effective information on training dogs.

 The truth to keep in mind when you’re training dogs is that your dog prefers some sort of structure.  They prefer that you’re the boss and that you provide a series of rules and expectations for them.  It makes them feel safe, secure and it helps them to trust you.

 This bond that you create with your dog when you train them can only happen if you train them with positive reinforcement tools rather than negative reinforcement tools like choke collars, electronic fences or collars, and even yelling.  Training dogs with positive reinforcement creates a bond with your dog that just cannot be replicated any other way.  The best and most effective tool you can use train dogs positively is to use ‘clicker training.’

Clicker training dogs is an animal training method based on behavioral psychology that relies on marking desirable behavior and rewarding it.  Or to put it more simply, it’s a training method that uses a tool, a clicker, that tells your dog the instant it has performed a correct or desirable behavior.

 A clicker, combined with positive reinforcement like verbal praise and tasty treats, is an effective, safe, and humane way to teach your dog any tricks or behaviors that you want them to do.

 Here’s how it works.  You, the trainer, click the very instant your dog performs a behavior that you want them to perform. You can actually train your dog to clicker train by training him to do a behavior that he enjoys performing like fetching a ball.

 Throw the ball, your dog chases the ball, picks it up and brings it to you to throw again, the instant he drops the ball in your lap, you click and reward.  Very soon, your dog will begin to associate the sound of the click with his reward, something it likes.  Since it wishes to repeat that pleasurable experience, it will repeat the action it was doing when it heard the click.

 Clicker training dogs can be used to train behaviors that you want like sit, stay, and walking on a leash but it can also be used to train away unwanted behaviors like going to the bathroom inside, begging, barking and that ever annoying “let’s wrap the leash around your legs” game.           

 Dogs are naturally loving and are great companions, if treated correctly. They are, however, still animals, and have basic needs and protective instincts that must be met. If they are not, they may become aggressive. Here are a few common ways to change how aggressive your dog is, and with the right dog training, you'll never have to worry about it again.

 Hands down, the most common mistake is hitting your pet. This instills fear in the animal, and it is not appropriate, under any circumstance. The only effect you will have on the dog is the opposite effect: they will know that aggressive behavior is something you endorse, and will act accordingly. Instead, be assertive. Always let them know you are the boss, but do NOT cross that line.

 Encourage your dog to engage in playful activities such as frisbee or catch. Instead of playing games like tug of war, which can send the wrong signal, engage in a playful, non-aggressive game. Later, when the dog is fully indoctrinated into what is and is not acceptable behavior, you can start to play games like tug of war and wrestle with them.

 By understanding your dog's nature, and their needs, you will start to establish a better connection with your dog. Once you do this, you will start to realize the true reasons why your dog does what they do. Aggressiveness is something that is a natural part of them, but only in certain circumstances. Be sure those circumstances don't exist, and you won't get aggressive behavior!

Automated Cat Repellents Stop Bad Kitty Behavior

If your cat likes to scratch furniture or other items around your house, you know that getting your cat to stop can be a challenge. When training your cat to stop a destructive behavior, it is a good idea to use a deterrent to help reinforce good behavior. An automated cat repellent can be very helpful when trying to get your cat to doing bad behavior, even when you are not around and without having to take the time to train your cat.

An automated cat repellent like SSSCAT Automated Cat Repellent by Multipet is ideal for helping to deter your cat from doing a bad behavior. This automatic cat repellent is so easy to use and may be set up any where in your home. As soon as it senses movement, it releases a brisk spray that startles your cat and encourages your cat to move away. This spray is safe for use around your cat and will not stain your carpet or leave a bad scent in the room. With the use of this automated cat repellent, your cat will learn quickly without training.

Another great automated cat repellent is the PetSafe Pawz Away Spray Deterrent. This automated cat repellent is also designed to give your cat a quick spray that makes your cat want to run away quickly and can sense movement up to three feet away. Place this automated cat repellent in a place that your cat likes to cause damage and your cat will learn quickly to stop that behavior without you having to get mad or having to train your cat. The spray is non scented and safe for use around your cat.

If your cat has a bad behavior that you want to stop, an automated cat repellent is ideal for deterring your cat without the hassle of training your cat.

"Warning: Your Dog Training May Actually Be Hurting Your Dog."
 

 Any book or trainer who says that you should be using a shock collar, should be yelling at, or even hitting your dog, is using old, outdated, ineffective, and not to mention inhumane methods to train your dog. It doesn't have to be that way...

    * Shock, Spike, and Choke Collars hurt your dog! They violate the trust your dog has in you, and they should not be used, no matter what any "trainer" says.
    * Yelling at your dog does nothing but intimidates your dog and makes them learn to "tune you out". Most training courses I've seen recommend that you sternly yell at your dog to get your point across. Do NOT do this!
    * And the absolute worst: I've seen some books recommend the occasional "swat" or spanking of your dog... this is 100% unacceptable, as it does nothing but makes your dog hurt and ruins your relationship!

5 Dog Training Tips That Wont Scare Your Dog to Death
 

 For many, owners and so called experts alike, the key to training a dog is to dominate it through fear.  The use of choke collars, electric shock, and yelling and hitting are their main tools.  I see several very critical problems with this type of training.  Negative reinforcement breeds fear and fear breeds aggressive and unpredictable behaviors.  Training dogs shouldn’t be scary for them, it should be fun. While negative reinforcement behaviors may work, they are not predictable.  For the best dog training results you want to make sure that the behaviors are predictable and repeatable.  Negative reinforcement doesn’t encourage your dog to be a loyal and loving pet.  Training dogs for the sake of obedience is fine but don’t you want a dog that loves you too? Punishment is not an event marker, meaning that your dog knows that he’s been punished but he may not be able to associate the punishment with the wrong behavior.  If he doesn’t know what he did wrong, he’ll repeat the behavior.

So how do you train your dog without terrifying him?

Dog Training Tip #1. Keep your training sessions short. Your dog’s attention span is pretty short.  If you keep the lessons to five minutes a piece, he’ll not only enjoy the sessions much more, he’ll retain more.  In fact, most dogs will pick up the new skill or trick on three short sessions.

Dog Training Tip #2.  Fix bad behavior by rewarding good behavior. Reward your dog or puppy for relieving itself outside.  Reward your dog when he greets visitors properly, don’t punish when he jumps on them.  Reward your dog when he heels and walks on a leash properly, don’t punish when he pulls on the leash or wraps it around your legs.

Dog Training Tip #3.  Reward your pet when he’s performing the correct behavior not after it is completed.
This is important to help your dog catch onto your rules quickly.  If he goes to the bathroom outside and you reward him when he comes back in the house, he thinks he’s getting a reward for coming in the house – not because he went to the bathroom outside.  Of course, you probably don’t want to run over to him with a treat while he’s going to the bathroom but you can say ‘Good Boy’ while he’s going and you can give him a treat right after he finishes.

Dog Training Tip #4. Don’t wait for perfect behavior. Reward your dog for small improvements in skills or behavior.  For example you want your dog to have good table manners and lay on the rug by the door during mealtime you can begin by rewarding him when he doesn’t beg.  Once he has that behavior down you can then reward him for staying on the rug or lying down nearby.  Eventually you’ll be rewarding him for your goal behavior of staying on the rug during mealtimes without you asking him to.

Dog Training Tip #5. Clicker train your dog. Clicker training is a great way to communicate with your pet. It's easier to learn than standard command-based training because your dog is able to instantly know when he’s done something right.  It’s a wonderful, positive way to train your dog quickly and easily.  No pain, no yelling, no fear.

Is Your Dog Afraid of Thunderstorms?

Picture this: As the skies darken overhead, an otherwise amiable dog is panting and pacing around the house with his tail tucked between his legs. When the first crash of thunder hits, he bolts into the bathroom and curls up tightly in the tub, where he remains, panting and trembling, until the storm passes. Sound familiar? Does your dog behave this way during storms? Not to worry, pet parents, the ASPCA has some advice for helping your pooch overcome his fear.

Any dog can develop a fear of thunderstorms, but herding breeds seem more susceptible to developing noise phobias. Age is another risk factor: Dogs who are afraid of thunderstorms can become more distressed with each successive season, so it’s smart to start working with your dog as soon as you notice his fearful behavior. If your adult dog has suddenly become afraid of storms, please start with a visit to your vet. A sick dog may become more sensitive to sounds, and no amount of behavior modification will help if your dog’s fear is medically based.

Try the following strategies to reduce your dog’s anxiety during storms. For dogs with mild thunderstorm phobia, these tricks may get rid of the problem entirely.

Let your dog take refuge inside. Storms aren’t as loud and scary with four walls around you! Bringing your dog into the house also ensures that he won’t try to escape from the yard.

Having some human company often calms panicked dogs. If your calm, quiet touch brings him comfort or if he comes to you for security, it’s perfectly fine to pet and reassure him.

Try turning on some calming music, a TV or radio, or a fan to muffle storm noises. Shutting the drapes may help if lightning also frightens your dog.

More active distractions may help, too. See if your dog will eat from a food-filled toy, such as a stuffed Kong, scatter treats in the house for him to find, or try playing tug or fetch with his favorite toy.

If your dog’s quality of life is seriously impaired by thunderstorms, consider speaking with a vet about anti-anxiety medication. Medication can enhance the effectiveness of other efforts to help your dog cope with his fear. A technique called desensitization and counter conditioning can also help. This technique involves gradually increasing the volume of an audio recording of a thunderstorm to help your dog become accustomed to it, while at the same time associating the sound of thunder with good things, like treats and toys. Additionally, there are a number of products on the market that may help your dog remain calm during storms, including close-fitting body wraps, noise-reducing headphones and herbal remedies.

Help is just around the corner! Please visit the ASPCA’s Virtual Behaviorist for more advice and useful resources.    

                                             These products listed below may help with the anxiety your pet faces.

Obedience Training for Dogs

 Many people can’t imagine life without dogs. We admire and adore them for their loyalty, unconditional affection, playful exuberance and zest for life. Nevertheless, dogs and people are very different animals. Although officially “man’s best friend,” dogs have some innocent but irksome tendencies-like jumping up to greet, barking, digging and chewing-that can make it downright difficult to live with them! To make the most of your relationship with your dog, you need to teach her some important skills that will help her live harmoniously in a human household.

Learning how to train your dog will improve your life and hers, enhance the bond between you, and ensure her safety-and it can be a lot of fun. Dogs are usually eager to learn, and the key to success is good communication. Your dog needs to understand how you’d like her to behave and why it’s in her best interest to comply with your wishes.

How Should You Do It?

 If you ask around, you’ll get all kinds of advice about training your dog. Some people will tell you that the key is to use a “firm hand”-to make sure your dog doesn’t think she can get away with naughty behavior. Some people argue that you should only use rewards in dog training and avoid punishing your dog in any way. Some people insist that all you have to do is “be the alpha dog,” assert your status as the dominant leader of your “pack.” It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the glut of differing opinions out there.

Regardless of which method and techniques you use, effective dog training boils down to one thing-controlling the consequences of your dog’s behavior. If you want to influence the way your dog behaves, you need to:

    1. Reward behaviors you like.
    2. Make sure behaviors you don’t like aren’t rewarded.


Understand How Your Dog Learns

 One of the most frequent complaints of pet parents is that their dogs “just won’t listen.” But put yourself in your dog’s shoes for a moment. If someone was constantly chattering away in a foreign language that you’d never heard before, how long would you pay attention? Probably not for very long-because you simply wouldn’t be able to understand what the foreign speaker was trying to communicate.

To communicate clearly and consistently with your dog, you need to understand how she learns. Dogs learn through the immediate consequences of their behavior. The nature of those consequences determines how they’ll behave in the future. Dogs, like other animals (people included), work to get good things and avoid bad things in life. If a behavior results in something rewarding-like food, a good belly rub, playtime with dog buddies or a game of fetch with her pet parent-your dog will do that behavior more often. On the other hand, if a behavior results in an unpleasant consequence-like being ignored or losing things she finds rewarding-she’ll do that behavior less often.

If You Like the Behavior, Reward It

 Some training methods use punishment, like leash corrections and scolding, to discourage dogs from doing everything except what you want them to do. Other methods cut right to the chase and focus on teaching dogs what you do want them to do. While both tactics can work, the latter is usually the more effective approach, and it’s also much more enjoyable for you and your dog. For example, you can easily use treats, games and praise to teach your dog to sit when people approach during walks in the neighborhood. If your dog is sitting, she won’t be dragging you toward the people, jumping up when they get close enough, mouthing on their arms and legs, and so on. That’s pretty efficient training-no pain or intimidation needed. Alternatively, you could grab your dog’s leash and jerk her to the ground every time she jumps up to greet people, and you’d most likely get the same effect in the end-no more jumping up. But consider the possible fallout:

    Your dog might decide that people are scary since she gets hurt whenever she tries to greet them-and she might try to drive them away by growling or barking the next time they approach.
    Your dog might decide that YOU are scary since you hurt her whenever she tries to greet people.

If you can teach your dog polite manners without hurting or frightening her, why not do it? Rather than punishing her for all the things you don’t want her to do, concentrate on teaching your dog what you do want her to do. When your dog does something you like, convince her to do it again by rewarding her with something she loves. You’ll get the job done without damaging the relationship between you and your best friend.

If You Don’t Like the Behavior, Take Rewards Away

 The most important part of training your dog is teaching her that it pays to do things you like. But your dog also needs to learn that it doesn’t pay to do things you don’t like. Fortunately, discouraging unwanted behavior doesn’t have to involve pain or intimidation. You just need to make sure that behavior you dislike doesn’t get rewarded. Most of the time, dog motivations aren’t mysterious. They simply do what works! Dogs jump up on people, for example, because people pay attention to them as a result. They can learn not to jump up if we ignore them when they jump up instead. It can be as simple as turning away or staring at the sky when your dog jumps up to greet or play with you. As soon as she sits, you can give her the attention she craves. If you stick to this plan, your dog will learn two things at once. Doing something you like (sitting) reliably works to earn what she wants (attention), and doing things you don’t like (jumping up) always results in the loss of what she wants.

Control Consequences Effectively

As you teach your dog what you do and don’t want her to do, keep the following guidelines in mind:

 Consequences must be immediate Dogs live in the present. Unlike us, they can’t make connections between events and experiences that are separated in time. For your dog to connect something she does with the consequences of that behavior, the consequences must be immediate. If you want to discourage your dog from doing something, you have to catch her with her paw in the proverbial cookie jar. For example, if your dog gets too rough during play and mouths your arm, try saying “OUCH!” right at the moment you feel her teeth touch your skin. Then abruptly end playtime. The message is immediate and clear: Mouthing on people results in no more fun. Rewards for good behavior must come right after that behavior has happened, too. Say a child in a classroom answers a teacher’s question correctly, gets up from his desk, sharpens his pencil and then punches another kid in the arm on the way back to his seat. Then the teacher says, “Good job, Billy!” and offers him a piece of candy. What did Billy get the candy for? Timing is crucial. So be prepared to reward your dog with treats, praise, petting and play the instant she does something you like.
    Consequences must be consistent When training your dog, you-and everyone else who interacts with her-should respond the same way to things she does every time she does them. For example, if you sometimes pet your dog when she jumps up to greet you but sometimes yell at her instead, she’s bound to get confused. How can she know when it’s okay to jump up and when it’s not?

Be a Good Leader

 Some people believe that the only way to transform a disobedient dog into a well-behaved one is to dominate her and show her who’s boss. However, the “alpha dog” concept in dog training is based more on myth than on animal science. More importantly, it leads misguided pet parents to use training techniques that aren’t safe, like the “alpha roll.” Dogs who are forcibly rolled onto their backs and held down can become frightened and confused, and they’re sometimes driven to bite in self defense.

Keep in mind that ditching the “alpha dog” concept doesn’t mean you have to let your dog do anything she likes. It’s fine to be the boss and make the rules-but you can do that without unnecessary conflict. Be a benevolent boss, not a bully. Good leadership isn’t about dominance and power struggles. It’s about controlling your dog’s behavior by controlling her access to things she wants. YOU have the opposable thumbs that open cans of dog food, turn doorknobs and throw tennis balls! Use them to your best advantage. If your dog wants to go out, ask her to sit before you open the door. When she wants dinner, ask her to lie down to earn it. Does she want to go for a walk? If she’s jumping up on you with excitement, wait calmly until she sits. Then clip on the leash and take your walk. Your dog will happily work for everything she loves in life. She can learn to do what you want in order to earn what she wants.

Training New Skills

 It’s easy to reward good behavior if you focus on teaching your dog to do specific things you like. Dogs can learn an impressive array of obedience skills and entertaining tricks. Deciding what you’d like your dog to learn will depend on your interests and lifestyle. If you want your dog to behave politely, you can focus on skills like sit, down, wait at doors, leave it, come when called and stay. If you want to enhance your enjoyment of outings with your dog, you can train her to walk politely on leash, without pulling. If you have a high-energy dog and would like outlets for her exuberance, you can teach her how to play fetch, play tug-of-war or participate in dog sports, such as agility, rally obedience, freestyle and flyball. If you’d like to impress your friends or just spend some quality time with your dog, you can take her to clicker training or trick-training classes. The possibilities are endless! Please see the following articles to find out more about what you and your dog can learn to do together: Clicker Training Your Pet, Teaching Your Dog Not to Jump Up on People, Teaching Your Dog to Come When Called, Teaching Your Dog Not to Pull on Leash, Teaching Your Dog to Play Tug-of-War, and Teaching Your Dog to Play Fetch.

Training Tips

 After you decide on some new skills you’d like to teach your dog, you’ll be ready to start training. To maximize her learning potential and make sure you both enjoy the training experience, keep the following basic tips in mind:

    When teaching new skills, keep training sessions short and sweet Like kids, dogs don’t have long attention spans. There’s no hard-and-fast rule, but an ideal average training session should last 15 minutes or less. Within that session, you can work on one skill or switch between a few different skills. To keep things interesting, try doing 5 to 15 repetitions of one behavior and then doing 5 to 15 repetitions of another behavior. You can also practice new skills and keep old ones polished by doing single repetitions at convenient times throughout the day. For example, before giving your dog a tasty new chew bone, ask her to sit or lie down to earn it.
    Quit while you’re ahead End training sessions on a good note, with a skill you know your dog can do well, and be sure to stop before either one of you gets tired, bored or frustrated.
    For dogs, English is a second language Dogs aren’t born understanding English. They can learn the significance of specific words, like “sit” and “walk” and “treat,” but when humans bury those familiar words in complex sentences, dogs sometimes have difficulty understanding. They can also get confused when people use different words for the same thing. For example, some people will confuse their dogs by saying, “Fluffy, down!” one day and “Sit down, Fluffy!” another day. Then they wonder why Fluffy doesn’t respond the same way every time. When teaching your dog a cue or command, decide on just one word or phrase, and make sure you and your family use it clearly and consistently.
    Take baby steps Dogs, just like people, learn best when new tasks are broken down into small steps. For example, you can’t go out and line dance unless you learn all of the individual steps first! When teaching your dog a new skill, begin with an easy first step and increase difficulty gradually. If you’re training your dog to stay, start by asking her to stay for just 3 seconds. After some practice, try increasing the duration of her stay to 8 seconds. When your dog has mastered an 8-second stay, make things a little harder by increasing the time to 15 seconds. Over the next week or two, continue to gradually increase the duration of the stay from 15 seconds to 30 seconds to a minute to a few minutes, etc. By training systematically and increasing difficulty slowly, you’ll help your dog learn faster in the long run.
    Work on only one part of a skill at a time Many of the skills we want our dogs to learn are complex. For instance, if you want to train a solid sit-stay, you’ll need to work on teaching your dog that she should stay in a sitting position until you release her (duration), she should stay while you move away from her (distance), and she should stay while distracting things are going on around her (distraction). You’ll probably both get frustrated if you try to teach her all of these things at the same time. Instead, start with just one part of the skill and, when your dog has mastered that, add another part. For example, you can work on duration first. When your dog can sit-stay for a few minutes in a quiet place with no distractions while you stand right next to her, start training her to stay while you move away from her. While you focus on that new part of the skill, go back to asking your dog to stay for just a few seconds again. When your dog can stay while you move around the room, slowly build up the duration of the stay again. Then you can add the next part-training in a more distracting environment. Again, when you make the skill harder by adding distraction, make the other parts-duration and distance-easier for a little while. If you work on all the parts of a complex skill separately before putting them together, you’ll set your dog up to succeed.
    If you run into trouble, go back a few steps If you’re training your dog to do something new and you stop making progress, you may have increased the difficulty of the skill too quickly. Similarly, if you’re practicing a behavior your dog hasn’t performed in a while and she seems a little rusty, she may need some help remembering what you want her to do. If you run into training challenges like these, just refresh your dog’s memory by making the skill a little easier for a few repetitions. Go back to a step that you know your dog can successfully perform, and practice that for a while before trying to increase difficulty again.
    Practice everywhere, with everyone If you learn that two plus two equals four in a classroom, you’ll take that information with you wherever you go. Dogs, however, learn very specifically and don’t automatically apply their knowledge in different situations and places as well as people do. If you teach your dog to sit on cue in your kitchen, you’ll have a beautifully kitchen-trained dog. But she might not understand what you mean when you ask her to sit in other locations. If you want your dog to perform new skills everywhere, you’ll need to practice them in multiple places-your home, your yard, out on walks, at friends’ houses, at the park and anywhere else you take your dog.
    Use real rewards Be sure to reward your dog with things she truly finds rewarding. Some dogs will happily work for dry kibble when training in your living room but ignore it if you’re training in the park. Because the park’s a more distracting environment, paying attention there is a harder job for your dog. Pay her accordingly by using a reward worth working for, like small pieces of chicken or cheese, or a chance to run off-leash at the dog park with her buddies. Also keep in mind that what your dog considers rewarding at any given time may change. If she’s just eaten a big meal, a scratch behind the ears or a game of tug might be most rewarding. If she hasn’t eaten in a while, she’ll probably work enthusiastically for tasty treats.
    Be patient Training your dog will take time and effort-but it can be a great deal of fun for you and for her. And your hard work will pay off. With patience and persistence, you and your dog can accomplish great things.

An Ounce of Prevention

 If your toddler was repeatedly sticking her fingers into open electrical outlets, what would you do? Would you sit her down and try to explain why that’s not a good idea? Would you smack her every time she did it? Nope, you’d probably buy some outlet covers. Voilà! Problem solved. Prevention is sometimes the best solution. When training a dog, the easiest way to deal with a behavior problem might be to simply prevent the undesired behavior from happening. If your dog raids the kitchen trash can, you could spend weeks training a perfect down-stay in another room-or you could move the trash can to a place where your dog can’t get to it. Prevention is also important if you’re trying to train your dog to do one thing instead of another. For example, if you want to house train your dog, she’ll learn fastest if you use a crate to prevent her from making mistakes inside while you focus on training her to eliminate outside.

Let Your Dog Be a Dog

 Many behavior problems can be prevented by providing “legal,” acceptable ways for your dog to express her natural impulses. There are some things that dogs just need to do. So rather than trying to get your dog to stop doing things like chewing, mouthing and roughhousing altogether, channel these urges in the right direction. Increased physical activity and mental enrichment are excellent complements to training. Please see our articles, Enriching Your Dog’s Life, Exercise for Dogs and How to Stuff a KONG® Toy, to learn more.
Finding Help and More Information

 If you’d like to learn how to train your dog or if your dog has a behavior problem you’d like to resolve, don’t hesitate get help from a qualified professional trainer or behaviorist. To learn more about locating the right expert for you and your dog, please see our article, Finding Professional Help. Many Certified Pet Dog Trainers (CPDTs) and Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists (CAABs or ACAABs) offer telephone consultations, in-home private consultations and training sessions, and group classes.

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