Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Simple Ways Towards Making Long-Term Changes In Your Dog's Behavior

By Andy Kam


If you want a well-behaved dog, there is a lot that relies on the dog's personality. However, nearly any dog can learn, at least a bit of manners. Depending on the dog's personality and desire to learn, you may need to work a little harder or try some different methods to get the results you desire.

Security

Does your dog like to run at the sign of an open door? If so, you need to exercise preventative measures. You may want to install a security gate that will block him. Then you need to start training your dog to sit and stay by the front door. Once your dog can successfully do this, have him practice sitting there when the door is ajar. After he gets good at this, allow him to sit at the door with it open and off of his leash.

Does your dog like to run at the sign of an open door? If so, you need to exercise preventative measures. You may want to install a security gate that will block him. Then you need to start training your dog to sit and stay by the front door. Once your dog can successfully do this, have him practice sitting there when the door is ajar. After he gets good at this, allow him to sit at the door with it open and off of his leash.

Security

Your dog wants someone to be in charge. If it isn't you, your dog may try to take the job. Dogs want leaders who provide stability and security. Be a good leader by being consistent, competent, firm, gentle, kind, and a good provider. Your dog will be happy to follow you!

Choose a consistent command or sound to use when training your dog not to bark. Make sure everyone in the household knows the command or sound to use and applies it consistently. Dogs learn better with consistency and when everyone in the dog's household gives a consistent message, unwanted barking can be eliminated faster.

If your dog has a problem with play biting or excitement nipping, try giving him the cold shoulder. Mouthing dogs are only reacting to their excitement, so cutting off attention will give him the signal that this is an inappropriate way to show that he is happy. With consistency across members of the household, excitement mouthing can be a thing of the past.

When you go out with your dog, be courteous. When passing other dogs on the sidewalk, make sure that your dog cannot make contact with the other dog without both owners agreeing to it. This is a great way to avoid unintentional aggression between dogs, since you never know what an unfamiliar dog is like.

If possible, begin training your dog when they are young. A skill that is taught early on is often learned faster and easier than a skill that is introduced at a later age. In addition, older dogs have often picked up quite a few negative behaviors over the course of their life; these behaviors must be undone before the training process can begin.

Never punish your dog, or discipline him, after the fact. If you find that he urinated on the carpet earlier in the day, punishing him now won't help. Dogs cannot reason and have very short term memories, so they will not associate the earlier accident with the punishment at hand.

Your dog will benefit from a solid exercise routine. Hyperactive dogs are often full of energy they have not spent elsewhere. Exercising your dog prior to training sessions will increase his attention span. Better yet, he'll be calmer at home and less likely to react poorly to external stimulus.

Applying the advice given here will help your dog to be the best behaved pet that he can be. Remember, one of the most important parts of dog training is patience. Pair your patience with some creativity and more often than not, you really can teach an old dog new tricks.




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