| BEHAVIOR: CORRECTING MISBEHAVIORS |
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| Just call me Digger Dogs spend a lot of time watching their Pet Parents (and other people as well) dig things up! You dig in your gardens and in your yard, but when your dog or puppy tries to show you how much of a better and more efficient digger he is than you, suddenly everyone is freaking out. From your dog's point of you, he has no idea what is going on. See, isn't it helpful to look at things from your dog's perspective every once in a while? Okay, so now you've diagnosed the canine misbehavior known as digging, how do you stop your furry friend from digging up your entire yard and garden? In Danny Wilson's book, "Curing Your Dog's Bad Habits: Treating Behavioral Problems," the author states, "I have discovered that there are some breeds of dogs that are more prone to chewing and digging than others. Many larger breeds, such as collies, labradors, and german shepherds are likely to have such problems. Australian cattle dogs, poodles, and terriers head the list for the smaller dogs." No matter what size or breed your dog is, getting him to stop digging may be difficult because digging just seems natural to a canine. The usual command you use to tell him to stop doing something, such as "No!" or "Stop!" might work, or you can try to distract "Digger" by giving him his favorite toy. Putting bricks or wire fencing materials over the particular spots you want to protect is also good. If worse comes to worse, you might have to compromise and let your dog have a certain place designated especially for him to dig. That way nothing will be harmed, and, just like a little kid in a sandbox, your dog will have the fun of playing in the dirt! Just call me Barky Danger barks. Greeting barks. I-have-to-potty barks. Wanna-play? barks. All of these are reasons that a dog may bark. One thing is for certain, your dog probably understands that barking, for whatever reason, gets him attention--good as well as bad! So, barking to get you to notice him, for whatever reason, is something you'll probably never get him to stop entirely. If your dog's barking becomes too much for you to bear, a squirt from a water bottle or a "No!" voice command should be able to get your point across effectively. If that doesn't work, another option is to purchase a "citronella collar." Once placed on your dog, it will emit a scent of citronella when your dog barks. The scent of citronella is quite offensive to your pooch, though harmless, and has helped keep many a dog from incessant barking. It's important to realize, though, that sometimes your pooch's barking is a good thing. Dogs have been known to alert their Pet Parents to home intruders and even house fires, thus saving lives with their vocal calls. Just call me Jumpy Dogs love to jump on people they are happy to see, especially their Pet Parents. In his book, "The Complete Illustrated Guide to Dog Care and Behavior," Bruce Fogle, DVM, advises Pet Parents on how to control a dog's jumping behavior in three steps: To correct this behavior, say "No" sharply, while at the same time turning away and avoiding eye contact. Do not make a fuss over your dog. Command your dog to sit. If he has been properly trained properly, he will obey at once. Now you, or your guest, can greet your dog on your own terms. Praise him for obeying you. He will soon realize that he must not jump up to greet. Good training, good dog The above-mentioned misbehaviors are only a few of the many that dogs can exhibit. Of course, each dog's reason for doing these things may be different, but the end result is always the same--disapproval from his Pet Parents. That's why it's important to spend time training your dog. He won't train himself to behave the way you'd like him to! And if your training just isn't getting the job done, consider a dog training class, personal trainer, or even a pet therapist. Always check with your veterinarian before making final decisions on treatment or training for your dog to make sure his misbehaviors aren't because of medical problems. It's the responsibility of you, the Pet Parent, to provide a good groundwork for your dog's training. With the fundamentals in place, future problems can be fixed more easily, making a much happier Pet Family environment for Pet Parent and pup! |
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