How To Train A Dog...
Establish The Rules Of The House
And The Sooner You Do The Less Problems You Will Encounter In The Future With Your Dog
If you have no idea how to train a dog or you are at your wits end with trying to train your dog, fear not! Every dog has the ability to" learn new tricks " no matter the age. You just need to understand your dog to help it understand you. Whether you seek effective puppy house training methods or basic dog obedience training, training your dog will probably be easier than you think.
Puppies
Puppy training should always focus on socialization, socialization, socialization and the prevention of unwanted behaviours. The biting of the ankles, barking, jumping, chasing and nipping that may be cute in your puppy will not be cute when he grows into an adult, no matter the breed. Rather than focusing on puppy training obedience, you should concentrate on puppy socialization and the prevention of problem behaviours through rewarding desirable behaviours, keeping in mind not to reinforce unwanted behaviours through play or petting at the wrong time. Good management and a good understanding of how your dog thinks, can help to stop unwanted behaviour without the need for punishment (more on this later!)
How To Train A Dog Step 1: Reward Desirable Behaviour
It is a human tendency to focus on what we don't like, often to a fault. The crux of effective dog training, whether you are house training your dog or teaching obedience behaviors, is to never miss an opportunity to reward your dog for doing the right thing. Dog owners generally like dogs to sit politely, lie down, go settle on a mat or in a crate, or be quiet - remember to click and treat your dog for these behaviors to increase the likelihood that your dog will offer the in the future.
Depending on the situation, the right thing may vary. For dogs that are excited and jump to greet visitors, the right thing may be "four on the floor." Click and treat your dog for all four paws on the floor when a new person approaches or enters the house. If your dog is usually barky when she sees another dog, click her for eye contact or for looking at another dog without barking.
Concentrate on what you want your dog to do instead of what you want your dog to stop doing. For problem behaviors like barking, nipping, jumping, or growling, think of what you would prefer the dog do instead and develop a training plan to get there. If you need help, find a qualified trainer in your area to assist you.
How To Train A Dog Step 2: Dealing With Unwanted Behaviour
Extinction: Extinction involves the principal of "non-punishment, non-reinforcement," essentially, ignoring the behavior. A lot of dogs offer unwanted behaviors because they've "paid off" before - dogs pull on leash because it gets their owners to move forward/faster on walks, dogs bark for attention, jump to greet, etc. Often, ignoring the behavior is the best bet - wait the dog out and then reinforce when he offers an alternative behaviour (sits instead of jumping, for example). Extinction requires some patience, especially if the behavior has "paid off" for quite some time.
Watch out for extinction bursts. If the dog is used to getting your attention through barking, and suddenly you ignore the barking, the barking may intensify before it goes away. A human example is a soda machine - if for 20 years your dollar got you a soda and suddenly, no soda comes out, you may put in a few dollars before you start kicking the soda machine in frustration. Then, you give up and try the soda machine on the next floor, which is operating correctly. You must be prepared to ride out the extinction burst or the unwanted behavior may return, stronger than before.
Management: Does your dog counter surf? Get the food off the counter! Dogs counter surf to get food. Managing the situation means crating or gating your dog when food is on the counter, and removing the temptation of engaging in the unwanted behavior by cleaning up when you are not there to supervise. Management is preventing your dog from rehearsing unwanted behaviors.
Training Alternative, Incompatible Behavior - A dog cannot jump or mount if he is settling on a mat. A dog cannot bark if he is fetching a buster cube that fills his mouth. A dog cannot be aggressive with another dog when he is focused on targeting his nose to your hand. If your dog is doing something you don't like, think of what you would like him to do instead and train that alternative, incompatible behavior to fluency!
Negative Punishment: In laymen's terms, negative punishment means a time out for the dog. Negative punishment is very effective for self-reinforcing behaviors - behaviors dogs do because they're "fun." Barking, jumping, resource guarding and nipping can be self reinforcing. For guidance on when to use negative punishment as opposed to extinction - Get in touch with a local Dog Psychologist or Clicker Trainer
This is but a simple introduction to training your dog. For more help, find a trainer near you. Remember, if the training isn't fun for you and your dog, you're not doing it right! A good trainer will produce dogs that love to work and people that love training their dogs. If either of these elements is missing, seek a new trainer today.
Dog Separation Anxiety and How to Deal with It
Separation Anxiety VS. Looking For Something To Do
Separation anxiety (S.A.) symptoms often resemble boredom behaviors, including chewing, dissecting, digging (if dogs are left outside), "accidents" in the house, and excessive vocalization. A close look at your lifestyle will determine if yours is a case of dog anxiety or dog boredom.
Some Dogs Struggle With Modern Lifestyles
According to Raymond and Lorna Coppinger, dogs evolved because humans have inadvertently or intentionally selected for "low flight distance" for millennia - those dogs that were most comfortable in close proximity to humans and their settlements were most likely to receive food from humans. Closeness to humans conferred a reproductive advantage for dogs through increased access to resources.
Traditionally, this arrangement worked well for dogs. Then and in many rural areas today, leashes or fences were few or non-existent. Dogs could roam off-leash, greeting other dogs, chasing squirrels, rabbits, deer, woodchucks, cats, and the occasional skunk or porcupine. Crashing happily through woods, fields, and streams, dogs exercised their bodies and all their senses. Many worked closely with their owners all day hunting, herding, carting, or guarding. These dogs would then return home exhausted, crash on the floor to happily receive belly rubs, and sleep until morning. Very few dogs living this type of lifestyle suffer from separation anxiety.
Ask Not What Your Dog Can Do For You, But What You Are Doing For Your Dog
How much exercise does your dog get? How much daily training? How often do you play with her? How long are you separated each day? How often does she socialize with other dogs appropriately?
Many dogs have deficits in socialization (with humans and dogs), mental stimulation (training, toys, play), and/or physical stimulation (running, swimming, walking, hiking, playing). Make sure to provide your dog with an opportunity to engage in all three daily. If dogs are not provided with this stimulation, boredom digging, chewing, barking, will likely ensue. Fulfilling basic needs remedies behavior problems related to boredom.
Puppy Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety can take root in puppyhood - now is the time for prevention. It is always better to prevent than untrain; so provide your puppy with "stuff to do" in your absence (stuffed Kongs, a visit from a puppy walker to play/walk), and always remember to make entries and exits to the home very low key (these are good tips for adult dogs as well!). Practice separation as a behavior, starting with a small duration and gradually building as your dog is successful.
If you must say goodbye to your dog, do it well before you plan on leaving (at least a half hour in advance) and get it out of the way - remember that this is for your benefit - not your dog's; dramatic goodbyes will only teach her that separation is cause for stress. Wait for calm behavior before greeting your dog upon your return home, and keep the greetings quiet, relaxed.
Identifying Separation Anxiety In Dogs
If your dog's basic needs are being met and you still suspect separation anxiety, look for the following symptoms: extreme destruction of property or self (tearing walls apart, bloodying paws trying to escape from a crate, breaking or cracking of teeth trying to escape the house or enter if left outside, anorexia/inability to drink fluids when left alone, inability to be separated from you (even briefly, in another room) while you're at home, and anxiety behavior related to one specific individual in the household (dog is not relieved by the presence of other household members in the absence of the attachment figure). If you note these symptoms in your dog, consult with a behavioural professional for guidance.
Dog Separation Anxiety Solutions
Dog separation anxiety treatment should include desensitization and counter-conditioning to the attachment figure's absence as well as the environmental cues which predict her absence (grabbing keys, putting coat/shoes on, sunglasses, starting the car, etc.). For extreme cases, it is best to bring a veterinary behaviourist into the rehabilitation team, as some S.A. dogs can benefit from conventional or alternative medical treatments. For dogs with hormonal or neurochemical imbalances, desensitization and counter-conditioning may need to be accompanied by medication or supplementation. For these dogs, neither medical nor behavioural treatment will be successful without the other.
Noise Anxiety From Traffic Thunderstorms Or Fireworks
What are the signs of noise phobia?
Different animals may display different signs of noise phobias which include:
Hiding
Urinating
Defecating
Chewing
Panting
Pacing
Trying to escape (digging, jumping through windows or going through walls, running away)
Drooling
Seeking the owner
Expressing anal glands
Not eating
Not listening to commands
Trembling or shaking
Dilated pupils
Vocalizing (barking)
Dogs are more likely to Bite if they are showing signs of fear, so please DON'T try to give your dog a comforting Hug. The owner's attitude can influence the severity of the fear. For instance, if owners themselves are nervous during storms, noise phobias in their pets may occur more often or become more severe. Similarly, if the owner attempts to comfort the animal, the animal interprets it as confirming there really is something to be afraid of. The petting or comforting is really reinforcement of an undesirable behaviour.
To help your dog to stop worrying about the noises, it would be better to try to distract your dog with something you know they like to do. Like playing fetch or running through everything your dog has learned whilst training. Call your dog to you, DO NOT GO TO YOUR DOG.They may not wish to do it at first, but don't give up. By being assertive and calm you will attract your dog to you and try to find a treat your dog really likes, so you can start to take their mind of the noise through distraction.
If you feel fear during a thunder storm, please do not try this if your dog has already run away to hide. Leave them hiding and seek professional help, because your dog will sense your fear and this will make them worse.
So to recap if your dog is showing signs of fear:
DO NOT SHOW ANXIETY YOURSELF
NEVER PET, HUG OR TRY TO COMFORT YOUR DOG AND WATCH YOU CHILDREN WITH YOUR DOG AT THIS TIME
DO NOT GO LOOKING FOR YOUR DOG, CALL THEM TO YOU
MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A REALLY TASTY TREAT FOR THEM WHICH WOULD HELP TO KEEP THEIR ATTENTION
PLAY FETCH, TUG ON THE ROPE, RUN THROUGH ALL YOUR DOG HAS LEARNED A FEW TIMES FOR COMFORT OR TRY TO TEACH A NEW ONE IF YOUR DOG SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD ATTENTION SPAN
DO NOT PET, HUG OR TRY TO COMFORT YOUR DOG DURING THIS TIME, AS YOU WILL PUT YOUR DOG BACK INTO THE SAME FRAME OF MIND THEY WERE IN BEFORE YOU STARTED
TRY TO MAKE IT FUN
Seek professional advice as soon as possible after this event
Dont Blame The Breeds, Blame The Act.
The Dangerous Dogs Act
And RIP to all the other 'Pit Bull Types' and the other so called dangerous dogs that this Dangerous Dogs Act caused the unecessary deaths of.
Domestic Dogs have been bred through the years to please humans. A dog would need to be trained that it was ok to bite another dog or human. Any other time, the domestic dog would bite through fear and would usually give a warning before doing so, like a growl or bark. Police and Security dogs need to be trained to act the way they do.
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