Your pooch has finally received his or her first invitation to a dog party. While he or she is looking forward to playing with his or her doggy pals you’re fretting about embarrassing yourself with your dog’s behavior. Worry no more; these tips will help you and your pet shine. The key to a successful evening is being prepared. Don’t assume that your host will think about your dog’s specific needs. If your dog has a health condition, particularly relating to food, make sure to tell them in advance.
Prepare and bring a ‘doggy diaper bag.’ This should have: gifts for the hosting dogs, a couple of treats, food if your dog’s on a special diet, water, bowls for your dog to eat and drink from, a leash, a special treat for the car ride home, and – most importantly – bags to pick up your dog’s poop. Even though Fido will undoubtedly make his or her mess outside, no one wants to spend the day after a party picking up after a houseful of hounds. Picking up your dog’s poop will set you and your pet above the rest of the “party poopers.”
When you’re at the party, make sure to keep a close eye on your pooch. Besides introducing him or her to new playmates and party attendees make sure to keep an eye on where your dog is playing and what he or she is eating. With a lot of other doggy mommies and daddies around, things may get a little out of hand, and the only way to not be caught by surprised is to be aware of your pup’s whereabouts.
Leaving can be the hardest part of a good dog party. You’re tired and want to go, but your dog is still busy enjoying him or her self. How you leave can make or break a party. During the party, make sure to interrupt your dog’s play, calling him or her to your side and rewarding his or her obedience with a treat. If your dog doesn’t respond, calmly go over and lead them back to where you were standing, then praise them for their obedience. Repeat this all throughout the party, until your pooch comes running whenever you call. This way, when it’s time to go he or she will gladly come to your side and you can snap on the leash and walk away without a fuss.
Is your dog the type that barks at cars? Does he or she go running when a tall man enters a house, or growl at the mailman? These and other aggressive behaviors often stem from a lack of socialization.
Puppies who are heavily socialized are calmer, friendlier, and have an easier time handling new situations. But dog socialization doesn’t end at 12 months, or when your dog’s completed their first puppy training class. A lack of continual socialization can lead to your dog feeling anxious or frightened in new or unusual situations, and fear is a leading cause of aggression in dogs. If your dog is displaying unexplained aggressive behaviors, or is acting aggressively after a move or change in the social structure of the family, socialization may present a cure.
In order to socialize your dog you will want to pinpoint what he or she is afraid of, and target those areas. If people with glasses give your dog a scare invite some eyeglass sporting friends over. If possible, have them go without their eyeglasses until they have been introduced to the dog. Encouraging good play and treat-giving will help your dog overcome their anxiety and learn that these people are generous and fun to be with. If your dog barks at the mailman, try to introduce your dog to the mail deliverer. Walk your dog daily just so that you and your dog can great the mailman in a friendly manner as you pass each other’s paths.
For a dog suffering from under socialization, or a lapse in socialization, it is important to include him or her in every activity you do outside the home. Car rides, park days, long walks, visiting friends, and even shopping at dog friendly stores can all help expose and cure your dog from socialization related fear and aggression.
Aggressive dogs can leave owners feeling like they may have to choose between their pet and their loved ones. While aggressive behaviors are normal for dogs their tolerance for stimuli can vary depending on their environment and genetics. Fortunately aggressive dogs can be trained to have a higher tolerance for aggravation.
There are many different types of dog aggression, and understanding them can help you in your efforts to retrain your dog.
- Protective, territorial and possession aggression is often supported by the dog’s family because they want a loyal family dog or believe a dog has a right to be protective of their meal or toys.
- “Predator” aggression is natural for dogs and a dog displaying predator aggression may attack smaller dogs, cats, or small farm animals as it acts on its hunting instincts.
- Because dogs are social creatures and instinctually crave a pecking order dominance aggression is common, and can even spur aggressive behavior towards a new human or animal member of the family as well as new playmates.
- Fear aggression can occur even when a dog is not actually in danger, but perceives that they may be harmed.
- Dogs sometimes also re-direct aggression, turning their aggression towards the cat outside their fence on their doggy pal or others.
- Pain induced aggression is one of the most misunderstood and misdiagnosed aggressions, as many dog health problems are not easily diagnosed by the naked eye.
- Very few dogs suffer from rage induced or idiopathic aggressions, aggressing without reason. Some breeds are predisposed but an owner should always have their dog fully diagnosed before assuming that their dog suffers from unfounded aggression problems.
While you should never accept aggressive behaviors from your dog, never punish them physically or verbally, as it may spawn fear aggression. If your dogs displays aggressive behaviors use kennel time outs, and a calm voice to correct his or her actions. If you feel your dog displays aggressive behavior in respect to its territory make sure to kennel your pet or otherwise remove him or her from the area when you have guests. For dogs who struggle with aggression it is important to not encourage aggressive play, such as tug of war, and to work with them to build their tolerance to stimuli that might trigger aggression.
Is your dog an incessent barker? Does every little noise set him or her to yipping? Do they howl when you leave them alone for five minutes? Here’s some advice to help silence your dog’s barking.
For dogs who bark for attention a good way to handle the situation is to not praise your dog. If your dog is chronically barking for attention, not praising him or her will teach them that the only way they will get the attention they crave is through behaving properly. Retrain your dog, only praising or petting them when they do as directed. Make sure to act like you don’t notice your attention craving hound unless they are responding to a command.
If your dog suffers from seperation anxiety he or she may bark constantly when you leave the house. A good way to deal with this it to treat your leaving as commonplace by not saying goodbye or greeting your dog with excited love when you return. If your dog senses that you aren’t anxious about leaving them alone, they will be less likely to get anxious about it as well.
For owners who are exhausted from countless attempts to train their pet not to bark there are several innovations which can help deterr your dog. From anti-bark collars, like those made by Multivet that use a burst of citronella scent released when your dog barks, to outdoor or indoor devices, like the Lentek Bark Free sonic device that produces a sound detterent, there are many products on the market today to help you easily control your noise making hound.
