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Why Do Puppies Bite Part 1?

By Admin
28
Nov 2009

“For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Newton’s third law of
Motion

We must first understand why puppies or dogs bite to understand how to stop them from biting or control their biting. The main reason I have found in my research is puppies bite because they are teething. Experts have determined the teething period for puppies range from 4 to 6 months up to a maximum of 10 months.

It is very crucial within this period for the new owner to control the puppy’s training process. All puppies like to play by being mouthy and chewing on anything they can get their sharp little teeth into. This is the time the new dog owner should control the puppy’s biting inhibition. The puppy must learn what is acceptable biting and what is not acceptable biting.

Within the litter puppies will play and bite naturally. However the mom will correct the puppy if the puppy bites mom while nursing, by rolling the puppy over and correcting it, or just get up and walk away. The mom in this situation is the pack leader and the puppy knows the rules of the pack. In the home, the puppy must understand that the new owner is now the new pack leader, and the rules of the pack. It is very important to correct a biting puppy if the behavior is not acceptable.

It is very important to socialize your puppy. Lack of socialization of your puppy between the age of 3 wks to 3mths with your environment, your children, other people and other dogs can also lead to growling which can lead to biting. You can read about socializing your puppy and the importance of this aspect of training in Socializing Puppy Tips:Aritcle.

All puppies explore things in their environment with their nose and mouth. They sniff around, find something, and next thing you know it is in their mouth. Many of times I have turned my back to see my dog with a dish towel I have dropped, my shoe that I left out, or a sock they found in the bedroom in their mouth.

There are different breeds of dogs that are known chewers. I have a Chocolate Lab that likes nothing better than to sit by my side with a chew toy in her mouth. She is just content to chew on that toy until she goes to sleep. I have taught my dog what is acceptable biting and what is not. It is acceptable to chew on the toy; however it is not acceptable to chew on my shoes. I did this by sternly saying no while pointing at my shoe and positively rewarding her with her chew toy. This worked for me and it may work for you.

Rewarding positive behavior will get you the acceptable behavior you want out of your new puppy. The rules are consistency in your training methods. Don’t reward the puppy for everything or the puppy may be confused. Some biting from the puppy may be acceptable but the intensity of the biting is what you are looking to control.

My adult dog has learned how to use her mouth to grab my arm when playing however the pressure is controlled. If the pressure is too intense I say no, she stops, or I walk away. This teaches her the biting was not acceptable and if she cannot control that she does not get to play.

Remember it is all in the training process. I never recommend the new dog owner using training in a negative manner. This can only add to your dogs inhibitions and could create the opposite behavior than what you expect. Positive reinforcement and rewards are recommended for a healthy and happy puppy.

Category: Aggressive Dog Behavior, Puppy Training Steps, Socializing A Puppy  Tags: agressive behavior, biting, dog, puppy, puppy training  Leave a Comment

How To Train Dogs To “Stay” On Command

By Admin
27
Nov 2009

Stay Command So you want your puppy to sit and stay on command. Good luck because some get it some don’t. Training your puppy to stay can be very trying. You tell your puppy to stay and you walk out of the room just to turn around and see your puppy bouncing behind you. Everyone at one time or another during training their dog to stay has had the same experience. We walk the puppy back into the other room and tell it to “sit and stay” and as soon as you turn your back there he or she is right on the back of your heels. Watch these short and informative videos by expert dog trainers on how to train your dog to stay on command. Pick up tips, tricks, and advice on puppy training in these 9 videos by an dog trainers in how to get your dog to obey the “dog stay” command.

Dealing with Different Scenarios when Training a Dog to Stay: Part 1. In this 1.49 minute video the trainer will teach you how to teach your dog to stay in different environmental areas. Part 1 of 2 training videos.

Dealing with Different Scenarios when Training a Dog to Stay: Part 2. Learning to deal with mishaps when training your puppy to stay is covered in this 2.36 minute video which is Part 2.

Category: New Puppies, Puppy Commands  Tags: command, dog, dog stay, puppy, stay command, training  Leave a Comment

Puppy And Dog Separation Anxiety

By Admin
26
Nov 2009

When you leave home does your dog behave poorly while you are gone? Does he or she urinate in the house, pace, excessively bark, chew and tear your furniture, rugs, or other items in your home? If so, your dog may be experiencing separation anxiety.

What is separation anxiety? This condition in dogs is a term used to describe poor behavior when your dog is left alone. The dog could be destructive, noisy, and anxious to the point he disturbs neighbors, destroys items in the home, or harms himself. Separation anxiety is a stressful reaction your dog experiences when they become upset or stressed at their owner for leaving them alone with strangers or alone at home by themselves.

Some dogs are more susceptible than others to separation anxiety. Some common behaviors your dog may exhibit that you need to recognize could be but not limited to:

Vomiting
Reduced Appetite
Urinating or Defecation in the home
Shaking and Pacing
Trying to escape
Panting profusely
Excessive whining or barking
Hiding
Aggressive Behavior

Not all dogs with separation anxiety will experience all of these behaviors. Some may experience these behaviors in a mild state or some may experience them in a severely unhealthy state. It is important to recognize any of these behaviors in your pet when leaving your pet for any period of time by himself. Once recognized there is treatment for this condition. Contact your veterinarian for an evaluation of your dog�s health. There are specific medications your vet can recommend. Stress is not good for any dog and that is basically what triggers the bad behavior. The stress of the separation between the owner and the dog.

There are others ways to help your dog with separation anxiety through proper puppy and dog training. Always remember to focus on positive reinforcement when training your pet. Help promote a more relaxed behavior by rewarding your pet with his favorite treats or toys. Do not yell or scold the dog for undesirable behavior because this only adds to your dog�s anxiety and stress. Positive reinforcement is really the key to your dogs overall health and behavior.

Reward only calm behavior. Do not reward the dog when the dog is hyper or stressed because this only affirms that behavior. Use attention, affection, dog treats, favorite toys, belly rubs, and other attention to your dog to reward calm and acceptable behavior.

A rule of thumb when leaving your pet is not to make the situation overly exciting or stressful. Don’t continue to talk to the dog as you are leaving. You may think that telling your pet to be a good boy or girl, or you will be home soon, is calming to your dog. On the contrary, this gets your dog anxious and excited which we are trying to avoid. Just prior to leaving you can give your dog a treat or his favorite toy as a distraction but then immediately walk out the door quietly.

When you return home do not get the dog excited by talking loudly or being overly excited yourself. Wait for your pet to calm down and then give him attention thus reinforcing the good behavior. Remove his favorite toy and put it up for additional training periods. Remember the favorite toy is a reward for good behavior. If the toy is allowed to be at the dogs disposal whenever he wants it then the reward no longer works.

A good way to help your dog coup with separation anxiety is to teach your dog to settle down in a specified location whether it is a dog crate, a corner with a dog bed, or on his favorite blanket in a certain location in the home. This will allow the dog to have a safe and secure sanctuary to retreat to when left at home alone. It will also teach the dog there is a safe location for him when others are home and he needs to rest.

Properly training your dog through rewarding him with positive reinforcement can improve your pet�s health and help to eliminate or at least control the behavior experienced when separated from his owner.

Separation anxiety is common amongst dogs and is treatable. This article is not a cure all for this condition and it is recommended that any dog owner who suspects their pet is experiencing separation anxiety seek the help of their local veterinarian for proper treatment.

Category: New Puppies, Puppy Training Steps, Puppy and Dog Health, Socializing A Puppy  Tags: agressive, agressive behavior, behavior, dog, puppy training, separationg anxiety, socializing puppy  Leave a Comment

What Do I Feed My New Puppy?

By Admin
26
Nov 2009

Are you feeding your puppy or adult dog the proper food for a healthy coat, aging process, and overall health? Does it really matter what you feed your puppy?

Yes, it does matter what you feed your puppy and adult dog as they age. To determine if you are feeding your puppy or dog correctly you must know what ingredients are in the puppy food and what type of puppy food is best for your dog.

The typical dog food that most dog owners use is commercial dog food. It is the easiest least expensive way to feed a dog and is more accessible. However is it the best dog food for your pet?

Let us look at the different types of commercial dog foods first. There are basically three commercial dog foods, dry, semi-moist, or moist (canned).

The dry dog food is the least expensive. Does this mean this is not considered healthy for your dog to eat? No it does not mean that. Many dry puppy and dog foods have the needed nutrients that your puppy, adult, or senior dog need to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. One advantage of dry dog food for puppies and dogs is that dogs normally have cleaner teeth due to the dry hard bits that scrape against their teeth basically cleaning them.

Semi-moist puppy and dog food come generally in little packets and are the next least expensive food. This food is semi-moist and is essentially soft little chunks. The disadvantage to this type of food is that this food tends to stick to your dogs teeth and gums harboring bacteria and promotes gum disease. Should you avoid this type of food for you dog? Absolutely not, this food is very tasteful to the puppy and dog and it too contains many vitamins and nutrients that are essential to a puppy and dogs development. A regular tooth cleaning is recommended to help the dog maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Moist puppy and dog food otherwise known as canned dog food is the third commercial dog food. Canned dog food is the most expensive of the three types of dog food. Canned dog food can be a supplement to your puppy or dog’s dry dog food to add flavor or as a treat for the dog. Moist dog food is ideal for dog’s that are elderly, have dental problems, or whose appetite is minimal due to an illness. Remember once you open canned dog food you must refrigerate for freshness and to avoid spoiling. A disadvantage that people mention when feeding their dog moist dog food is their stool tends to be loose. This is the opposite when a dog eats dry food where their stool is more solid. It all is personal preference in selecting the appropriate food for your pet.

Category: New Puppies, Puppy and Dog Health  Tags: dog, dog food, food, health, puppy, puppy diet, puppy healt  Leave a Comment

Adopting A Puppy

By Admin
26
Nov 2009

The excitement of adopting a puppy is elating for most families. However selecting a puppy that is a complement to your family is a very important step in pet ownership.

Before adopting a puppy you must first sit down and determine what your personal lifestyle involves. Do you live in an apartment, condominium, single family dwelling, or a mobile home? If you live in a leased facility does your lease allow for pets? Are you adopting a puppy by yourself or within a family setting? These are just a few questions to ask yourself prior to adopting your pet. A puppy is a full-time commitment that should not be taken lightly by you and your family.

There are advantages and disadvantages to adopting a puppy over an adult dog. With a puppy you can train the puppy as you raise the puppy. Also socialization begins the minute you bring the puppy into your family. The puppy grows as your family grows. A disadvantage of acquiring a puppy instead of an adult dog is time spent in training the puppy. Housebreaking the puppy can be a very trying and tedious experience that is sure to bring accidents and stress. An adult dog can be a little more difficult to socialize into a family and some adult dogs may not be suited for a family with small children unless they have experience with small children. Knowing the history of an adult dog is a must before adopting a puppy.

When deciding on adopting a puppy or adult dogs weigh all the advantages and disadvantages. Make sure if this dog is going to be a part of a family all members of the family are involved in selecting the puppy.

Do some research into selecting a puppy based on temperament, size, weight, behavior issues, potential illness issues, and exercise required. These are a few factors you will want to consider when selecting a puppy. Do you and your family members have the space and time to exercise the puppy daily? Dogs that are susceptible to particular illnesses could put a strain on the family budget. The size and weight of a dog definitely must be considered. Some small cute puppies become very large dogs that are not fit for apartment or condominium living. Dogs that are known to have a very vivacious temperament may not be fit for a family with small children. Adult dogs that show behavior issues may need special handling and should not be adopted by a family who has no time to address the behavior issues and is better fit for a single owner.

There are many different breeds of dogs and places to adopt a puppy. I recommend you first start off by contacting your local animal shelter for advice on adopting a puppy and for information on what puppy may be ideal for you family. Check your local listings for dog breeders for particular dogs. Contact a local veterinary office to inquire about favorable breeders in the area and suggestions on a particular breed of puppy for you or your family.

When adopting a full-blood puppy be prepared to pay a price for the puppy. Pure breed dogs commend a higher price than you average mixed breed (mutt) pound puppy. Furthermore, adopting a pure breed puppy does not guarantee a perfect puppy. The only guarantee on a pure breed puppy is knowing its history and stock. A so called pound puppy can turn out to make a very loyal and obedient dog. Ask questions of the breeder and the local animal shelter prior to deciding on your new addition to the family.

Adopting a puppy or an adult dog can be a very fulfilling experience for you and your family that provides years of friendship and enjoyment to all involved.

Category: New Puppies  Tags: adopting a puppy, dog, housebreaking a puppy, train, training  Leave a Comment