Here are a few tips to help turn your dog’s behavior around:
When coping with dog problems one of the most important things to consider is why your pet is acting up. Are they a puppy, and simply need time and training? Or an older dog that is acting out? Once you know the cause of your pet’s misdeeds you will know how to respond.
Jumping and mouthing are common problems with dogs. Even the most well trained dog can succumb to a moment of jumping on a visitor, or slobbering all over a friendly hand. Most visitors exacerbate the problem by giving the encroaching pooch a friendly pat on the head. Encourage your guests to verbally reprimand your dog, instead of rewarding them with a pat. For both puppies and older dogs, if jumping or mouthing persists, remove them from the social gathering by kenneling or putting them outside on their run. For some dogs jumping may be a sign that they are under-trained, a common occurrence in some households. We love our family dog and hate to have to constantly reprimand him or her about her behavior, but every time we let them slide they learn that undesirable behavior is acceptable. If you think your dog problems may stem from a lapse in training, renew your efforts to teach rover to stay ‘down’. The best way to train a dog is through repeated exercises using verbal commands and hand signals and rewarding him or her with a treat when they follow your commands. Other dogs may simply suffer from social anxiety. Some times secluding them from the social gathering may be the best answer, but if it’s a simple house visit where you can spare a little extra attention, try keeping your dog at your side, on a leash if need be, and giving him affection throughout the visit. This could help to ease his fear of being replaced and make him feel comfortable around new people or in new situations.
For some dogs potty accidents are a reoccurring problem. Before you decide that your pooch is incurable take him or her to the vet to make sure that they don’t have a urinary tract infection. Dogs with urinary tract infections are more likely to urinate erratically, or be unable to ‘hold it’ while in their kennel or inside. Fortunately it is a treatable condition, and with medication and a little re-training your dog should be right back on track for good potty behavior. Other dogs may be experiencing defiance issues. For some dogs the idea of being cooped up in a kennel or refused an outing with the family can cause them to react defiantly, and the most common defiance problem is potty accidents. Dogs with defiance issues will use their potty accidents to ‘punish’ their family or express their displeasure with something in their environment. They will potty inside after having been given time outside to do their deed, or they will use the restroom in prominent places in the house like the couch or kitchen floor. The best way to cope with defiance potty issues is through kenneling. Make sure that the kennel you use is just big enough for your dog to turn around in, or they may potty inside it. Whenever your dog potties where he or she shouldn’t, show him his mistake and tell him “no”, then kennel him immediately for at least ten minutes. If your dog tends to potty because they have been left home when the family goes out, make sure to kennel them when you leave. After repeated kenneling you can test letting your dog stay out of the kennel while you leave for a short period of time, no more than half an hour. If your dog doesn’t potty in the house, then reward him with a treat and let him or her stay out again next time. If you have to go out and kennel a dog with defiance issues always make sure to place a treat inside the kennel when you put your dog in. This will make the idea of being in the kennel more pleasant for your pet. When you come home let your pet out immediately and give him or her love and more treats to let your dog know that you appreciated the time she or he spent being a good dog in the kennel. Never give treats to a dog that is being kenneled for punishment, as this will send a mixed signal and the dog will not understand if he or she is being punished or rewarded.
Mouthing is another dog problem that can cause no end of aggravation. From cardboard cartons to furniture or the remote control some dogs just can’t seem to get a grip on their need to gnaw. For a stubborn gnawer the only answer may be to be constantly aware of their whereabouts. When out of the house make sure to kennel your dog so they can’t get to anything they shouldn’t. Gates can also help to keep your dog out of ‘trouble’ areas like the formal dining room. Before you give up in frustration, though, make sure your pooch has plenty of toys and rawhide bones as options instead of the couch. Always kennel your dog if you discover him or her in the act of chewing, but punishing your dog hours or days after the fact will just leave them confused as to what they did wrong. Another option may be trying one of the sprays available at your local pet store that claim to repel your pet from their chewing endeavors. Unfortunately, not every dog responds well to these sprays, making awareness of your pet’s activities the best prevention.
While dog problems like these may send you to the brink of banishing your beloved pet to the backyard forever, take heart. By re-enforcing the rules through training and disciplining with kenneling you can turn your dog’s bad behavior around.