Archive for the ‘Dog Training’ Category

Dog Training Hand Signals-Teaching Hand Signals to Your Dog

August 28, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

Besides using verbal commands while obedience training your dog, you should also learn the dog training hand signals. If your dog has been trained with the hand signals, he can still do as you command, even when he is not able to hear you. If you teach your dog his hand signals, you can still make your dog come on command from quite a long distance. This is how hunting dogs or agility dogs are controlled in the field by their handlers. Whatever the handlers need their dog to do can be done through the hand signals even without using verbal commands.

You can teach your dog the hand signals right along with the regular obedience training lessons. Any good dog training program will explain the different standard hand signals and how they are used for training your dog at home. You can even use hand signals of your own invention as long as your are consistent in using the same movement each time.

Dogs learn the hand signal concept very quickly because they naturally tune in very closely to another dog’s body language as part of the way they communicate with each other. So, if you are just starting with your dog’s obedience training, introduce the dog training hand signals right now. Of course, even if your dog is already trained to follow verbal commands, it is not too late to introduce the hand signals to him now. Get started by using the hand signals to teach the basic steps-sit, down and stay. These basic exercises are easy to teach and is a good place to starting the hand signal training. After your dog learns these first 3 signals, he is ready to keep going when taught the remainder of his dog obedience lessons.

* To teach the hand signal for sit, bend your arm upwards from the elbow to head level in a quick movement while at the same time saying sit. By repeating the hand signal each time you command your dog to sit, he will soon learn to associate the hand signal with the vocal command.

* For teaching the down hand signal hold your arm out level with the floor and then lower it down towards the floor. At the same time you give your dog the down command use this hand signal. The hand signal gets him to follow your hand down to the floor.

* Teaching the hand signal for stay is done by using the policeman’s hand sign to stay-holding your arm outstretched towards your dog with the palm facing him. Hold your hand out like this at the same moment you command your dog to stay.

If you haven’t already started using dog training hand signals when obedience training your dog, you can get started now. It is a good feeling to know you can control your dog even if he cannot hear you for some reason.

3 Essential Tips To Successful House Train Older Dogs

August 28, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

House training older dogs is a more delicate process than with younger dogs. If you are looking to adopt an older dog that was not previously exposed to any house training at a young age, it is going to bring along its bad habits such as chewing, excessive barking, making holes in the yard or marking the territory.

Furthermore, you will also experience more difficulties in house training older dogs as they tend to respond and progress much slower to most training methods and commands than younger dogs.

Here are 3 useful tips that can help you in house training older dogs successfully.

* First and foremost, a complete check-up at the vet is necessary in order to eliminate any existing health problems or complications such as urinary tract or flea infections. Older dogs may also experience some form of diarrhea if there is a sudden change from their previous dietary habits. Do not punish him for these “mistakes”. Instead be patient and allow your dog a week to adapt to the changes gradually. If conditions did not improve, consult your vet.

* Always establish a routine schedule for eating and drinking for your dog. This helps you to easily monitor your dog’s toilet habits and decide when to bring your pet out for a walk every time he or she finishes its meals. Most adult dogs tend to eliminate 30 – 45 minutes after eating or drinking. Learn the signs and watch out for clues of circling and sniffing the floor.

* Older dogs have shorter attention spans therefore more repetitions are needed during the house training process to reinforce the desired habits. Never use violence on them if they make a mess in the house. Scolding the dog is pointless unless you actually see it eliminating indoors. Use a firm voice command “No” and guide the dog to its designated spot. Praise or reward your dog when it relieves itself outdoors.

Therefore, house training an older dog successfully depend a lot on your consistency, discipline and perseverance. Treating the dog with patience and understanding, using the appropriate house training methods are the main ingredients to developing a well behaved adult dog with good toilet habits.

Dog Species, Breeding, Training and Dog obedience

August 28, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

dog Species, Breeding, training and Dog obedience

The variety of dogs in shapes and sizes make dog the most diverse mammal species of all, numbering over 350 distinct types from the Chihuahua to the Great Dane. Basic dog obedience therefore seems to be attributed to types of dogs, but basic dog training seems to be inadequate for house training the different species of dogs using almost the same method by different dog grooming and training programs.

To now realise that dogs evolved from the grey wolf instead of several wild canines, as Darwin had thought, has not yet removed the mystery of how it is possible for the grey wolf’s DNA to generate so much diversity, which people nevertheless see as one and try to train with the same dog training techniques for dog obedience directed towards training a dog at home.

However, a research collaboration between Uppsala University in Sweden and the Trinity College Dublin, Ireland suggests that the variety of dogs stem from mutations in the canine genome (Genome Research DOI: 1101/gr.51117706). Could this have anything to do with dog obedience? If so shouldn’t dog trainers be well advised to devise suitable training programs for different species of dogs?

Mathew Webster of Trinity College Dublin says that when about 15, 000 years ago the grey wolves were domesticated, the pressure of natural selection was relaxed. He goes on further to say:

“Our findings highlight the importance of mutation in driving evolution. With weaker natural selection, you can get a lot more changes in proteins that can be important in the future of the species. Some mutations can have a greater impact because they influence the expression of lots of interacting genes.” Again dog obedience problems might stem from these findings, giving vent to the fact that not all dogs have dog chewing problems, nor are all dogs engaged in digging dog holes. Dog behaviour training therefore is not a classic science per say.

The dilemma of dog owners, who would like to train their dogs at home for dog obedience, is the fact that breeders are known to play on the opportunity offered by genome mutation to artificially select dogs’ characteristics such as barking in the presence of intruders, pit bull’s aggression etc. in creating dogs, while dog training schools and dog trainers adopt general dog training techniques that treats all dogs as just dogs.

A cursory look at most dog training programs will show that their techniques are almost the same for training all dogs. So the big question is whether it is appropriate to try to train all dogs using the same dog training techniques to obtain dog obedience from disobedient dogs considering the above findings?




Female Dog Spaying

August 14, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

Getting a dog spayed brings up a lot of controversy. Some say that dogs should have their first season while others believe that the sooner Female Dogs are Spayed the better.

Personally I believe that Dogs should be Spayed as soon as your Vet says that your Dog is old enough. Without being Spayed there is a very high risk of your Dog becoming pregnant. It is just so difficult to keep an eye on your Dog at all times for weeks. Female Dogs that are in Season will do anything to escape from the house to mate. Their natural instincts take over and you may well find yourself with up to twelve Puppies a few months later!

Female Dog Spaying is a very serious operation. You must provide good care for her for a few weeks afterwards. No running around for at least the first week. The stitches could easily split causing major problems. Keep an Elizabethan Collar on her so she cannot lick or gnaw the stitches.

Don’t be too concerned if there is a little bit of sickness after the operation. This is normal for a lot of Dogs. If it continues then speak to your Vet.

You may also be concerned about lumps around the incision. Again this is normal after the operation. It can get quite large for a few days. Keep an eye on it. If it gets too big then speak to the Vet.

The main thing is to keep the Dog quiet for a few days. No harsh activity for a few weeks and ensure that the Dog cannot get to the stitches.

The author runs a site all about the ups and downs of life with three Dogs. You can find articles there about Female Dog Spaying and more.


Why Do Dogs Follow and Lick You?

August 14, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

dogs are mans best friend and they are the most preferred companions for humans because they are easy to train, feed and get familiar with. A pet dog naturally follows his master everywhere. No dog is so hardheaded that it will not know how to follow its master. Besides that, some dogs are really safe with children around, they are also more intelligent, strongly loyal and can return affection to their owners.

The reason why many owners love their pets so much is because an animal shows affection. In dogs, this show of affection includes cuddling and licking. One would definitely think why a dog follows its master and why it licks its owner?s face or hand.

Dogs stay together in packs whether they look the same or not. According to experts, this has been going on since the time dogs separated from the wolf family. Dogs stay together as a means to survival. So when a dog follows its master around, it is out of pack instinct. A dog sees its master as an leading character to whom it can depend and look up to. A dog sees its master as someone who can protect and defend it in times of threat. One must be thinking ironically that this is opposite to what we think about dogs.

There is almost no way one can make his or her dog stop following around except when it is trained. The most dominant figure is naturally the leading male in a pack of dogs. Experts are of a view that the dog instinct of following comes from grey wolves and is most observable in them. Many wolf packs don?t have a value system that resembles that of a dog?s. A dog follows it master because it considers him as a part of the pack.

Licking is a sign of affection, submission, a way to get acquainted with the environment and as a way to communicate with its master. Licking can be a simple demonstration of a dog?s affection for its owner. A female canine can be observed nursing her pups by licking them to clean their fur. Dogs in the wild lick not only for cleaning or showing affection with their mates but they also lick to show submission to the leader dog. A follower may lick the leader of the pack for permission to have a go at the prey. As dogs cannot speak, their barking and yapping are often misinterpreted by those who are unfamiliar with a dog?s behavior. They lick anything that they want to extend affection or to show submission. However, sniffing is also one of the reasons why dogs lick. This is one way for the animals to get familiar with their environment.

A dog would lick anything that can be reached by its rather long tongue and it is not afraid to taste different objects because its stomach can handle the garbage these pets may ingest. Dogs are sensitive creatures that can sense the emotional state of their master. If their master is happy, dogs would want to share with that moment of happiness and would want to comfort its master in a moment of trouble. By licking, they want to communicate with its master. Pet owners must be in stopping the dog from licking because pushing or hitting will not stop the dog and instead it would lick more. A solid NO will be enough.

Author:

Tauqeer Hassan

Why Do Dogs Follow and Lick You?

Rescue Dog Training – How to Stop Your Rescue Dog From Biting, Nipping, Snarling and Growling

August 14, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

Certainly the most serious of all negative behaviors a dog can exhibit, biting cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.

Understanding the root cause will help you to identify the most appropriate training technique to correct and eliminate this negative behavior.

Why do adult dogs bite? Understand that aggressive behavior is actually the norm for dogs in their own habitation. Growling, showing their teeth, snarling, and biting are forms of communication.

Aggression towards humans is a way for the dog to establish itself as alpha dog. It can manifest when the owner does not take appropriate steps to properly train and socialize the dog.

Biting can be triggered in a variety of ways:

- Your dog has learned in the past to fear a certain object (like a brush, muzzle or rolled up newspaper)

- The dog is seeking attention if neglected for periods of time

- Perhaps a child hugs the dog too hard or too quickly – this will not be perceived as a loving gesture by the dog, but a form of annoyance or even a threat

- If a dog is confused about his position in the family hierarchy he could resort to biting to test his dominance over the humans in the house

- Taunting or teasing the dog with a toy, his food or treats could cause a dog to retaliate by biting

- When his territory is being invaded (common for terriers and overly protective Shepherds and Dobermans)

- If the dog is experiencing physical pain

- Poor eyesight (common with older dogs suffering with cataracts) could cause confusion

- The dog is a “herder” and instinctively nips at heels of larger animals including humans

These are reasons, not justifications. Biting, no matter the root cause cannot be allowed.

Obviously, the correction method will depend upon the cause of the biting.

If it’s an object the dog fears, make it an object of gentle play until the fear is gone. But do not use the object in a play of tug-of-war. That only encourages more biting and grabbing. Try a simple hide-and-seek game with the object, or toss and retrieve. If you can’t connect the biting to any object, the behavior may be attention-seeking. Try saying “no” and leaving the room, to show the dog that your attention is lost rather than gained by the nipping or biting.

Children need to understand the importance of approaching all dogs slowly. It will be much easier for you to teach the children this lesson, than it will be to teach your dog to accept what he perceives to be a threat.

Your job as owner, right out of the gate, is to establish yourself, and all other family members as alpha “dogs” in the hierarchy. The sooner you do this, the fewer behavioral problems you will see in your dog. The most effective way to accomplish this is to begin obedience training as soon as your dog is introduced into the home. This is actually a welcome scenario for your dog. He simply wants to know where he belongs in the pecking order. He’ll welcome you as the alpha dog. In return, just shower him with love and kindness.

Biting caused by taunting and teasing is easily eliminated by training the humans to exhibit common sense. This is behavior that should never be demonstrated by family members, visitors to the home or even strangers when it’s observed.

Correcting biting due to territoriality may require trial and error. Foremost, if your dog has not been spayed or neutered, take care of that now. It may drastically minimize irritability in your dog. And, it has been known to reduce aggression from territoriality. But changes will occur slowly after the operation. Like several months.

If your dog is already fixed, reinforcement training could be effective. Positive reinforcement in the form of praise or treats or both when the dog demonstrates good behavior. And, negative reinforcement in the form of a firm “no” or “bad dog” (be consistent) when aggression is demonstrated. Removing the dog from the rest of the family for a short “time out” may also be necessary. These should be 30-seconds so a lesson is learned without creating fear or even more aggression.

If the biting is due to a dog in pain, the cure is obvious. Get your dog to the veterinarian immediately. If it is due to poor eyesight, it is up to you and the entire family to adjust your behavior and be cautious, gentle, and slow to approach. And by using a soothing voice when moving toward your dog. This is just humane treatment for aging dogs.

If your dog has lineage from the herding breeds, it is a natural instinct to round up sheep, cattle, or children if there’s a shortage of livestock in your house. While this may be comical at times, it can lead to an injury if the dog starts nipping at heels. These dogs are high energy and very intelligent, but often require consistent training throughout their life. Never allow this behavior no matter how cute it is at the time. A firm “no”, “sit”, “stay” whenever the dog “herds” can prove effective.

An extreme measure can employ the shaker can technique. Pennies sealed in a soda can and shaken at the dog to correct behavior has been known to work. Personally, such a tactic would scare the dickens out of me, so I can only assume it does the same thing to the unsuspecting dog. Scaring a dog could lead to a fearful dog. Just my opinion.

Remember, dogs instinctively want to please their owners. So biting is an abnormal behavior for the domesticated, well-adjusted dog, which more often than not can be corrected. You owe it to your dog and your family to become knowledgeable in proper dog training techniques.

I use two excellent resources to make sure I am an informed dog owner – The D.I.Y. Dog Training Manual and the Dog Lover’s Membership Site. Learn more by visiting my site referenced below.

BIO
Bob Hunsicker is simply a dog lover, who strongly encourages all interested in bringing a dog into their home, to consider a rescue dog. They are truly creatures who deserve a second chance to become a loving, devoted member of a home.

After evaluating dozens of resources for training older dogs, particularly rescue dogs, I recommend two that have provided me the knowledge to transform my third rescue dog into a wonderful family member. Visit my site to learn more about these two extremely effective training resources… Dog Lover’s Membership Site


Get Your Dog To Listen to You – Start Obedience Training

August 7, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

dog obedience training is important for every dog owner who wants to own, live and enjoy the company of an obedience dog. Obedience training not only allows your dog to listen and behave in the manner that is expected of him, it creates a bond that bring your communication and relationship to new heights.

Do train your dog early and a good time to begin training your dog is when he is about 8 to 10 weeks old. This is the period where they learn best and is a vital time for influencing your dog’s future behavior. It’s definitely easier to train a pup when compare to an older dog. Nevertheless, it’s still possible to train older dogs, you just have to correct his bad habits first and then teach him the proper ones.

There are many incidents where owners abandon their dogs at shelters because they cannot understand what their dog is up to. Dogs will start to display annoying behaviors such as chewing, barking and potty when and where they like, the worse case would be to display aggressive behavior towards the owners.

These incidents can be avoided if obedience training is implemented. Obedience training is a fundamental platform from which your dog and you will learn to effectively communicate with each other.

On top of that, obedience training can help to instill discipline in misbehaved dogs. It is one way of incorporating discipline in the dog’s behavior. Obedience training makes the dog realize that certain behaviors are not allowed and that he should not act that way. Done correctly, obedience training can regulate your dog’s behavior and he will be able to respond properly with the right behavior that is expected of him.

There are many dog owners who ask if it is advisable to enroll their dogs into obedience training school. In most cases, it can be much easier to have a professional trainer or an obedience school to teach both owner and his dog the proper way to follow a command. Nevertheless, if the dog owner feels that he is up to the job and has the ability to follow simple instructions, there is no special incentives or need to enroll into a dog training school. A helpful dog training guide is generally more than enough.

No matter where you choose to train your dog, at home or in a school, there are some universal dog training principles that never change and all dog owners should follow them strictly:

1. Fun and Reward – Effective obedience training is not about imposing strict rules and punishments. Your dog does not understand why he should listen to your commands in the first place. Therefore, in order for your dog to act and behave to what you want, the training session must be fun and rewarding for him.

Your dog will soon learn to do as he is commanded whenever he gets rewards or praises and he will find it an enjoyable experience as well.

2. Consistency – It is important to have consistency in the course of training especially when correcting unwanted behaviors. Always use the same “command” for a specific task you require of your dog. Don’t confuse him by using different commands for the same task.

The minute you set the house rules for your dog, like keeping the bed or bed room out of bounds, stick to them constantly. If the dog learns that he can get away with breaking these rules now and then, your previous efforts will go down the drain.

Simple rules and regulations set earlier on should be followed religiously. It is extremely important to teach the dog what he can and cannot do and stick to it consistently. Confusion will only make matters worse. Last but not least, you have to communicate and make sure the whole family knows and enforce the house rules on your dog consistently.

3. Timing – Knowing when to correct behavior is essential. Praise your dog whenever he is doing something right. Offering your dog a small treat as a reward will work like magic for most dogs.

Do take him to task immediately whenever he does not respond to your command or behaves inappropriately. Delayed reprimands and praises will have no effect after the teachable moment has passed.

There are 2 main approaches when it comes to correcting your dog’s undesirable behaviors. The first approach is the “Direct Approach”. It simply requires you to reprimand your dog on the spot whenever he misbehaves chewing, barking, digging and biting. This is a more tangible and straight forward approach to training your dog and is easy to understand for most trainers.

The second one is the “Endurance Approach” as it’ll require you to ignore your dog when he misbehaves. Using the cause and effect to your advantage, this approach requires you to ignore the dog, especially when he behaves in a certain manner to seek attention.

This method works best by giving your dog attention whenever he is behaving. The rationale for this is that dogs desire attention and will be encouraged by attention. Unlike man, dogs do not know how to differentiate between positive and negative attention. They see things in a simple way. Whenever an action gets attention and a reaction from you, you will find that your dog will repeat the action again – cause and effect.

Sorry to say, most dog owners tend to give negative attention to our dogs. For example: Do you let him out of his crate when he groans or do you give him more attention when he jumps onto you excitedly whenever you comes home? These are considered to be giving him negative attention, and only seek to motivate your dog to continue with his bad behavior.

Luckily, the opposite is true if you can learn to give your dog attention when he behaves well. The moment your dog sees that good behavior brings about attention, he will want to continue repeating the positive actions.

What you should do is to focus your attention on your dog only when he is behaving; praise him or give him a treat, let him know that he’s getting the attention. If this technique is used correctly, he’ll be a well-behaved dog for a long time to come.

4. Training Session – You should be in a calm and correct frame of mind when training your dog. Don’t train your dog when you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs or if you’ve had a bad day and not in the best of moods.

It’s recommended to locate and train at a place where there is little distraction around him so that he can concentrate on training. You should take it slowly when you first begin training, this is especially true for young pups. You should not train a young puppy continuously for more than five minutes and limit the training session for older dogs to less than fifteen minutes. They will not have the mental stamina to concentrate on training. It’s recommended to pause for short breaks in between training session.

Whenever possible, you should plan the training session to your benefit. One of the best time to start training your dog is before meal time when he is hungry; he will be mentally more alert and response better to treat rewards.

Training your dog is not a difficult task: once you get the hang of it, the rest will follow naturally. Every dog owner has the right to own, live and enjoy the company of an obedience dog – Start to train your dog today.

Puppy Training

August 6, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

Is puppy training absolutely necessary?

As anyone who owns a dog will know, if you train a dog early enough it will save you time and money in the long run, not to mention it adding a few years to your life by avoiding unnecessary stress. A dog can be almost as time consuming as having a child. Puppy training is a must for anyone, unless you want to be chasing your dog down the road or changing your carpets on a yearly basis, you won’t think twice about it. You and your dog will benefit from puppy training and the household in general will be a lot better off.

Can’t I just do the puppy training myself?

Many people make the mistake of thinking they can do the puppy training themselves. It is not impossible of course, however most people would benefit from taking the dog to the professionals for the puppy training. It isn’t just the dog that needs training; it is also the dog owner. The professionals know exactly what they are doing and have seen every scenario there is. Like humans, each dog is an individual, and the dog trainers can mould each training session to each dogs needs.

Where is the best place to go for puppy training?

Of course there are lots of excellent places to go for puppy training. It would be advisable that wherever you go, the puppy training firm belongs to the Association of pet Dog Trainers. There is one company that stands out amongst the others as a first class place to go to get your dog trained. The name of the firm I am referring to is www.ck9training.co.uk. They are very professional and will be sure to make any naughty little dog into a well behaved creature.

Author: Gareth Hoyle
Puppy Training

Aggressive Dog Behavior Training No-Nos

August 6, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(0)

Aggressive dog behavior can not only take the fun out of having a dog, it can be dangerous too. The last thing you want to see in your beloved canine is aggressive dog behavior.

As soon as most dog owners see aggressive dog behavior, they try and do something about it, of course. Unfortunately, what these owners do is yell at their dogs or hit their dogs to try and get control of the canine aggression.

With aggressive dogs, its easy to make mistakes that can lead to big problems. To make sure you dont make these mistakes, avoid these aggressive dog behaviour training no-nos:

1. The first mistake people make with aggressive dogs is keeping the dogs penned up. Not exercising an aggressive dog is a big no-no!

A bored dog is far more likely to be an aggressive dog. Most dogs have a lot of pent-up energy. Theyre simply designed to be active. When you dont allow your dog to be as active as he or she wants to be, this can lead to problems.

The best way to avoid dog aggression is to work off that pent-up energy. Take your dog on daily, long walks. Play fetch with your dog. The more you interact with an aggressive dog in a playful, fun way, the less aggression youll see.

2. Another big aggressive dog behavior mistake is hitting the dog. Training aggressive dog techniques require touch, but not hitting! You never want to hit any dog, but certainly not an aggressive dog. Violence will simply encourage aggressive behavior.

To correct an aggressive canine, pull at the scruff of the neck or gently nudge the dog. A firm voice and a specific gesture that telegraphs your displeasure will work too.

Your goal in correcting an aggressive dog is to surprise and get across your message. Youre not trying to hurt or punish the dog.

3. Being a wimp is a big aggressive dog training no-no. Dog training aggressive behavior out of your dog requires you to be the boss! A wimp isnt going to be affective at dog training aggressive behavior out of a dog.

Dogs need guidance. They need a leader. Dog parenting doesnt simply mean care. It means leadership too.

To establish leadership with an aggressive dog, be sure youre the one in control. Enter a room first unless you give your dog the okay to go ahead of you. Establish that youre head honcho.

4. Dealing with repeated dog biting yourself is a big mistake. Aggressive dog training for dog biting requires the pros. If your dog bites, you need aggressive dog training from a professional dog trainer. Dont try and deal with a biting dog yourself. The consequences are too dire. If the above tips dont help control aggressive dog behavior, get some help.

Your dog deserves to be well-socialized so he or she can have a happy life. Take steps now to deal with aggressive dog behavior.

Chewing destructively

July 31, 2011 | Dog Training | Comment(3)

Chewing,
The want to chew is a matter of individual preference among dogs,some have a strong desire to chew because they find it enjoyable and some seem to have no need to chew whatsoever untill they are restless and bored.
The term destructive chewing may sound redundant,all chewing is destuctive and can be quite frustrating. Your dogs jaws are full of sharp teeth so just about anything they start to munch on is usually going to end up beyond repair within a minute.So just to clarify,when I use the term destructive chewing, Im referring to inappropriate chewing,the kind of chewing thats aimed at your own possessions and items around your house,instead of on your dogs own toys.

The three main reasons why dogs chew:
-Dogs have a natural desire to chew,they love it,it passes the time,and its a self-rewarding, self-reinforcing activity (for example, if they are chewing on something that tastes good.)
- Chewing provides a nervous, bored, or lonely dog with an outlet for their feelings.To an anxious dog, the repetitive act of chewing is soothing and it is the doggie equivalent of comfort food.
- Underexercised dogs often use chewing as a way of burning up energy and frustration by giving themselves something to do.

- How to prevent destructive chewing -

Dogs are perfectly capable of being taught not to chew your stuff you just have to put in a little effort first, thats all.

1. Take control: manage your own possessions. Your first step should be to dog-proof your home. Even if you have the most obedient dog in the world,theres still no reason to test their self-control,dogs do all their exploring with their mouths.

Dog-proofing your home means removing everthing you dont want to end up in her mouth,and keeping it out of reach.Consider their size and agility when deciding whether somethings out of reach,can they jump? Can they climb, or jump onto something else to reach their desired object? How tall are they when standing on her their legs? never underestimate them.

some of the most favourable items include books,glasses,clothing,shoes,garbage,and small crunchy items like pens,cameras,cell phones,and remote controls.

It should go without saying that all food needs to be put well away,dont leave food on low tables (or even countertops,youd be amazed how acrobatic they can be when theres food on the go!), put all food into suitable containers or the pantry.clean your dirty plates of any food scraps before leaving them by the sink.

2. Prevent them from learning the joys of illegal chewing as soon as possible.The more times they manage to grab a jawful of a forbidden item,a chair-leg,a pillow,a running shoe the more less hesitant they will target those items in future. If you can stop them from chewing your stuff in the first place,its a lot easier for them to understand what you expect from them.basically speaking,confining them in a dog-proofed area until you are confident of their understanding of the house rules.

3. Dont set them up for failure by confusing the boundaries between their stuff (OK to chew) and your stuff (not OK to chew). Dont offer them old clothes,shoes,or towels to chew and play with,you cant honestly expect them to be able to tell the difference between your current shoes and the one they have got in their mouth that you have just allowed them to chew.

4. give them plenty of tasty alternatives to your stuff. If there home is barren of appealing, appropriate chewing objects, you can hardly blame them for going for your stuff.Remember,most dogs need to chew,if they are an adolescent (under three years) or a puppy (under one year),their needs will be even more pronounced. Go on a toy and chew shopping spree,then give them a few to play with at a time. Rotating the available toys every few days will keep things novel and interesting for them.

5. Spend lots of time in active supervision.Yes it might be alot easier for you to just keep them penned up in their crate,run,or the yard but thats boring and not very nice for them and hardly much fun for you either (if you wanted a pet that you dont need to bother with,you would have bought yourself a goldfish right?)they cant possibly learn whats expected of them if they are spending all their time boxed up in the dog-proof zone,they need the opportunity to explore the boundaries of your expectations, so they can understand whats appropriate behavior and whats not.

6. if you catch them chewing something inappropriate,interrupt them by making a loud noise: clap your hands or make an Ah-ah-aaaah!noise.Then immediately hand them a tasty and dog-appropriate alternative (a chew toy); as soon as there jaws close around it, praise them.There is no better way to get your dog to understand that chewing their own toys equals praise from you, but everything else equals trouble.

- Maintain a productive attitude -

Above all, remember to keep your expectations realistic. we’re not perfect, and neither is your dog,theres likely to be at least one incident where a personal item is damaged by their curiosity.

Particularly in the early stages of your relationship,they are still learning the ropes: itll take some time before they are completely reliable (and even then, if they have been left by themselves for too long or feels neglected,they may choose your stuff over theirs to occupy their time and teeth with.) Remember to give them time to learn the rules,and plenty of together time to help them learn faster,and dont forget to take precautions and keep things out of reach until they have got the hang of the chewing rules!

For more information on dog training techniques and how to deal with problem dog behavior (like chewing), check out Secrets to Dog Training. Its the complete manual for dog ownership and is designed to fast-track your dogs learning.Secrets to Dog Training – Dog Training To Stop Your Dog Behavioral Problems!