DogTrainster.Com

Article Source: examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

There are five ways of using positive reinforcement to train a dog to do behaviors.

1.    Reward Acceptable Behavior
Dogs do what works to benefit them. We can use this to our advantage by paying attention to what they are doing and give them what they want BEFORE they make a mistake.  A good example is if you are working on teaching your dog not to jump, make sure you talk to her and let her know “Good girl!” and give her a reward when you walk into a room and she does not jump on you.

2.    Ignore Inappropriate Behavior
An example of this is begging at the table. If a dog gets rewarded for begging, she will do it again and again. If you stop rewarding this behavior, she will try something else. The first time she tries something appropriate such as lying down, give her a treat. Hopefully she will think, “How did I get that treat? Maybe it was that lying down thing. I will try that again!” Then, you make sure to catch her doing it right the next time and reward her again. Eventually, she should come over to the table and lie down because that is what has worked for her in the past.

3.    No Reward Mark
This is a signal to your dog that she is doing something wrong. Dogs do not come from the litter with an understanding of our language. We have to teach them through the consistent use of associations and consequences. (Eh! Eh!) or another No Reward Mark (NRM) should be used to tell your dog “wrong answer!.” You can then wait for the appropriate response and reward that to clearly communicate which behavior results in a reward and which behavior gets nothing.

4.    Timeouts
This is probably the most powerful positive reinforcement teaching method for most dogs. You give a dog three chances to get it right and then you remove her from the action for a short amount of time. An example of this is jumping on people. The first time she jumps you take the attention away from her because that is what she wants and we don’t want her to be rewarded for inappropriate behavior. You do this by turning your back and saying (Eh! Eh!) Then, when she is on the ground, you say “Good girl!” and pet her. If she sits, that is even better and you give her a treat. The second time she jumps on you do the same thing. The third time, say “Timeout” without anger or yelling and take her to a different area of the house or a crate.

Put her in there for 10 seconds up to a minute at the most and leave the area so she can’t see you. Then, come back and say, “Ok, let’s try again.” She comes out of the area and as she is doing anything that is appropriate praise her “Thanks for not jumping, it is such a good decision to stay on the ground!” If she jumps, however, she does not get three chances, she immediately gets another timeout.

What you are doing is communicating to her using timing and consistency is that her behavior has consequences. She can be with you if she does not jump, but jumping is not appropriate. Incidentally, if she is timed out for jumping and comes out of the cage and nips, barks or other inappropriate behavior that you are currently working on, you can instantly time out again.

Another method of timing out is by looping a 6-foot leash over a doorknob and attaching her collar to the leash and waking away. For jumping, you might walk a few feet away and then turn around “Good! You are not jumping!” If you walk closer and she jumps again, you would say “Eh! Eh!” and walk away again. The message is very clear. She jumps on you and it ends all her chances for interactions. She stays on the ground and she has a chance for rewards, pets and fun.

5.    Withold or Remove Reward
You can practice this strategy during mealtimes. Have your dog sit and put the food bowl down slowly in front of her. Talk to her the whole time: “Good girl!” as soon as she stands up and breaks the sit, you say (Eh! Eh!) and remove the food bowl. You are teaching her that her behavior has consequences. Then put the food bowl down again. If she isn’t able to hold her sit or makes a mistake 3 times in a row for any behavior, we need to make it easier. In this case, put the food bowl down faster when she is sitting and then say “OK” which means she can eat. Make it harder each day by putting it down slower and having her wait longer and longer before she can eat.

All of these strategies can be used together. For instance, to teach a dog not to jump on guests, you can ignore jumping and reward anything but jumping. But, you can also time a dog out for jumping if ignoring the bad behavior did not work. Sometimes it takes different strategies to get the point across clearly to a dog what behaviors work and what behaviors do not.

Article Source: americanchronicle.com
By Kenneth Elliott

For decades, dog training consisted of yanking the dog around by a choke chain to “make him mind” and to “show him who’s boss.” Now, thanks to many years of successfully applying the principles of operant conditioning to marine mammal training, there is an alternative: clicker training. Using only positive reinforcement, such as treats, and a “clicker” to mark the desired behavior, pet owners everywhere are discovering how to train their dogs (and cats and horses, too!) while building a better relationship with them.

The theory is simple: by associating a behavior marker with a reward, the dog learns that good things happen after the marker (the click from the clicker, or simply “YES!”; it’s good to teach both for when you don’t have a clicker handy). With a little practice, you’ll be able to click at the precise time the desired behavior is offered, and the dog will repeat the rewarded behavior.

Example: you click and treat (c/t) when the dog’s rear touches the floor to teach “sit.”

Starting out

1.) This may seem obvious, but we’ll mention it anyway: in order for your training efforts to be effective you must first identify what your dog finds rewarding. For most dogs, that will be food; for a few others, it might be a game of fetch, access to a favorite toy (make it extra special by letting him play with it ONLY during training), or a belly rub.

Food rewards should be “high value” such as small bits of cooked chicken, pieces of hot dog, cheese, etc. Bring out several and see what makes him cross his eyes and salivate!

2.) “Charging” the clicker

This step is vital to your new way of training; you won’t succeed without it. Your dog must learn to associate the click with the forthcoming reward.

Start in a quiet room without any distractions. Have a bowl full of really yummy treats, cut up small enough to require no chewing. Click and immediately give a treat from the bowl. Be sure to reach for the treat after you click, or the dog might associate the movement with the treat. Repeat five or six times, then take a brief break. Next, c/t while moving around the room. Take another brief break after 5-10 repetitions. Let the dog walk around the room a bit, then click. If he immediately turns to you to look for his treat, congratulations! He’s starting to “get” it! Repeat a couple more times and take a break.

Later on in the day, vary the location of where you c/t. When he looks at you every time you click, you’re ready to start the real training.

Keep all training sessions short, especially with puppies. Short and frequent is better than long and few. If the dog loses interest, quit the session, and try a more yummy treat the next time. C/t only one behavior per session.

The following three methods can be used concurrently to achieve different behaviors.

3.) Luring

This is probably the easiest for the basic behaviors like sit and down. To teach a sit, hold a yummy treat in front of the dog’s nose, and slowly raise your hand up and over his head. His eyes and nose will want to follow the treat, meaning he’ll have to lower his rump. Click as soon as he sits and give him the treat. Repeat about five times, then show him the treat without raising your hand. If he sits, jackpot!! That means giving him a whole bunch of treats at once for doing really well!

4.) Shaping

To shape a behavior you first have to break it down into a series of movements toward your goal. Let’s say you want to shape a left turn. Start to c/t when he looks to the left, then when he takes a step, two steps, and so forth. It takes some time and effort (and forethought), but once the dog gets it, the behavior becomes solid very quickly.

5.) Capturing

This may be the hardest and requires your vigilance and preparedness. Does your dog have a cute pose? Wait till he does it, then immediately c/t. If you’ve used clicker training for a while, he’ll be wondering what earned him the click and start offering behaviors. Be patient! C/t ONLY that cute pose you’re trying to capture. If he walks away, just end the session. Be ready next time. He’ll get it eventually!

What’s next

During initial training, you need to remain quiet so as not to confuse the dog. Only after he knows the behavior do you add a cue (word or hand signal). Say “sit” as soon as the dog starts to lower his rump, then click and treat when he actually sits. Repeat a few times, then say the word before he starts to sit. Be patient. If you initially used luring to teach the sit, he already knows your hand movement as a cue, so you could use that (without a treat in the hand) instead.

Want even more fun? Try target training! The target can be things like your hand, a target stick, or a piece of paper on the floor. Targeting means teaching the dog to touch the object (your target) with the nose or paw. Most dogs will quickly learn to nose the palm of your hand. Catch his interest by rubbing your palm with a bit of chicken or hot dog. Avoid moving your hand toward him. Once he targets your hand reliably, move it right, left, high, low, against an object you want him to touch, etc. The target stick works similarly and can be used to teach loose leash walking, for example.

Clicker training is a lot of fun for you and your dog. Before you know it, you’ll be a pro at it and be teaching your dog all sorts of tricks to entertain your friends!

Article Source: columbiatribune.com

By SUSAN HATFIELD

Almost every dog has an irksome habit. You could have the greatest dog in the world, but there is that one little thing that just drives you nuts.

They aren’t necessarily big things - Cooper, our golden retriever, follows me from room to room never letting me out of his sight, and it makes me nuts. Sadie, our wilderness search and rescue dog, hardly ever minds or listens to me as she is totally devoted to my husband, John, and I’m just an annoyance that lives in the same house. Kirby, our little Westie, snores like a lion, and I have to constantly wake him up during the night, which interrupts my sleep.

I love them all dearly, but these little quirks drive me crazy.

After doing some reading, I found an article that listed the three most annoying dog behaviors. The first was drinking from the toilet. Dogs like fresh, cool water, and most times they find just that in the toilet. Obviously the easiest way to correct this problem is to close the lid on the toilet. Make sure your dog has fresh water at all times if this behavior bothers you.

The second most annoying behavior was jumping on guests. This can be corrected through appropriate training techniques. You can begin training immediately regarding this behavior whether it’s a puppy or an adult dog. For an age-appropriate dog, you can teach them to sit when company enters the room, or you can keep your pet on a leash, which provides more control. With consistent training and positive reinforcement, your dog will learn not to jump on guests.

The third most annoying behavior is licking. This one does drive me nuts. This can be a way to show affection but can easily become an annoyance.

You need to correct this starting immediately if you have a puppy. You can use the “no” command and give the dog other outlets for expressing their affection. When Cooper first came into our program he started licking, but with consistent training we have pretty much overcome this issue.

If you have any of these issues or other behaviors that concern you, consult with your veterinarian. They should be able to give you some good advice or refer to you an experienced animal behavioralist.

Just a quick comment before I sign off: We are embarking on our fifth year of writing our “Happy Tails Tips” in the Tribune. Columbia and the surrounding communities continue to let us know how much they appreciate our column. Many individuals who live outside Columbia read our column online. A sampling of comments: “Keep up the good work.” “I regularly read your column in the Tribune and love the kindly advice you give.” “Thanks for the Sunday articles that I never fail to read. I hope it hits home with some of the readers and in time will make a difference.” “Love your articles in the Tribune.”

We appreciate the Tribune’s support over the years and for allowing us to inform the public on responsible pet ownership and animal welfare issues.

Thanks!

Article Source: petslobby.com

Training aggressive dog is a thorny issue and has gotten many dog owners vexed over it. Dog aggression can be a serious problem as there are laws and by-laws in different states that demand the punishment of dog owners in the form of court charges. At the same time, should your dog happen to attack and injure anyone, your poor dog would be put down. That said, with proper dog aggression training, the aggression in dogs can be curbed so that they do not turn on strangers and your closed ones. Are you ready to start learning some training aggressive dog tips?

Training aggressive dog first requires some basic understanding of why dogs become aggressive. There could be several reasons that accounts for your dog’s aggressive behavior. He/she are territorial animals and may feel that their territories are compromised. Maybe they feel threatened by some changes in the environment. Such aggression normally finds its root in the lack of security and confidence. In such instances, simple dog obedience training would not curb aggressive dog behavior.

Training aggressive dog seriously and properly with special aggressive dog training will however solve the problem. Aggressive dog behavior includes barking and lunging at others also. Such behaviors are symptoms of dog aggression behavior. It is therefore important to arrest such aggressive dog behavior early before it balloons into something more serious.

Your dog vet may put forward some suggestions on how to seek a qualified aggressive dog trainer who are experienced in dealing and dog aggression trainer. Training aggressive dog is a special skill set and would thus set you back by a substantial sum of money. However, the results would be good and you can put your worries to rest. Do not just approach any normal dog obedience school as most would not accept your dog if he/she has aggressive behavior since the dog training classes are quite large and there are other pet dogs around. Rather, send your dog to special dog obedience training school that knows exactly how to handle and train aggressive dogs. The local directory and yellow pages are great places to start looking.

One more thing you need to pay attention to is the training techniques and methodology they adopt in training aggressive dog. How they train aggressive dogs is important as some dog training schools are known to use obsolete methods which could be harmful to your dog. As time goes by, accumulated experience and knowledge sharing has taken the area of training aggressive dogs to a more advanced level. So it is worth the effort to be extra careful. After all, the truth is it is hard to train an aggressive dog but with the right techniques; it becomes less of a pain.

Ultimately, what really matters is your favorite pet stops its aggressive behaviors and starts to be a loving companion. You can then enjoy the best moments together and not be in constant fear that your dog would bite you, others or other dogs. Training aggressive dog is so essential in order to make this a reality.

Article Source: dogchannel.com

“Greatest American Dog” judge Allan Reznik offers tips to build a strong relationship.

The weekly competitions on the CBS reality show “Greatest American Dog” are meant to be fun. Bonding with your dog can be just as rewarding, Allan Reznik explains.

“Building a happy, harmonious relationship with your dog is critically important,” said Reznik, a judge on the show and editor-at-large of DOG FANCY. “It starts the minute your new family member enters your home and life.”

Here are some tips to maximize the relationship-building process.

DO:

Continue the early training and socialization begun by your puppy’s breeder. If your dog has been regularly groomed, had his nails clipped and been taught by the breeder to spend brief periods of time in a crate, keep up that routine. It takes just a few days of “no rules” for many dogs to forget the good habits they learned early in life.

Be consistent in your training. If you don’t like dogs on your furniture, don’t let your puppy on the sofa. If you don’t want your good shoes chewed up, don’t let him play with your grubby tennis shoes.

Enroll in a puppy kindergarten or basic obedience class. It’s a great opportunity for socialization. It also gives dogs and owners confidence and experience shutting out distractions and working together.

DON’T:

Try to train when you’re feeling tired or frustrated. You will accomplish nothing positive.

Let other family members give the dog mixed messages. Using different words for the same command or sneaking food to the dog from the table confuses the dog and undermines training.

Be lazy and postpone training. You accepted the responsibilities of dog ownership as well as the fun. There is already a lot of anti-dog sentiment out in the world today. Each of us needs to show by example that a well-behaved dog is a joy to have around and an asset to every neighborhood.

Article Source: just4thedogtraining.com

If you are like most dog owners, you spend considerable time training your dog and you could use a few quick and simple dog training tips. Dogs don’t normally misbehave without having a good reason. After all, they are incredibly smart and they don’t understand English so they can’t explain it to you. Here are three easy tips about dog training basics that can be useful for new dog owners as well as experienced owners.

Tip #1 – Imagine that you’re a dog and think like one.
Get in the mood and think like your dog. Easy? Well, now you know what it’s like to expect your dog to think like he’s human. If you forget all other tips but remember this one, you may do well with your dog training. In order to address misbehavior, you must understand the reason behind it. The next time you hear your dog bark a little too much, keep in mind that it’s in his primitive nature to bark when he perceives a threat or danger. You could have the best muzzle in the world or be the best communicator but nothing beats addressing the cause of the barking. You can also try to place your dog in more social situations so that it becomes less skittish around strangers. You can also give him more room to run in the backyard so your dog doesn’t feel threatened.

Tip #2 - Reward your dog’s good behavior.
If you want to be a successful dog trainer, don’t emphasize punishments but rather give your dog the positive attention they crave from their owners. Positive reinforcement always provides better results in the long run. Keep in mind that dogs can’t reason the way humans do. For example, if you punish your dog for chewing on your shoes while you’re home, he may stop for now but what will happen when you leave? The dog will get bored again and start chewing on your shoes again. If you were to toss them a toy instead or punishing them, he gets attention from you and gets to play with his toy, both of which are seen as rewards for the dog. When you’re away and your dog gets bored, he may just reach for that toy instead of your shoes. Always try to reward good behavior instead of punishing bad behavior.

Tip #3 - Remember their very short attention span.
You may not be aware of it, but dogs have no attention span. Ignore the dog training tips that tell you how to address a mistake your dog made a little while back. Going back to the shoe example, waiving the chewed up shoes in their face will not mean a thing to your dog, even if they did it less than 5 minutes ago. You must catch your dog in the act in order to give a meaningful punishment and get your point across.

Keep these three easy dog training tips in mind and you’ll be successful.

Article Source: americanchronicle.com

By Kenneth Elliott

The variety of dog species is so great that sometimes it´s better not to think of them all as part of the same species at all. Biologists do because they can interbreed. Dog owners have different purposes, so it can be better to emphasize the differences over the similarities.

A Jack Russell terrier looks, thinks and behaves much differently from a Great Dane. The latter are generally very calm. A Golden Retriever is a very different animal than a Collie. Golden Retrievers are fun loving, but excitable. A German Shepherd and a Chihuahua have little more in common than the name ´dog´.

As a result of these differences, training should be tailored to the breed you´re attempting to train. Patience is required for training all dogs, but more is required for some than for others. German Shepherds are intelligent and take to obedience commands readily and with pleasure. Jack Russell´s are also very smart, but much more willful and will require a different technique.

With terriers, for example, distraction techniques are very handy. Terriers are high energy, highly active dogs. They have evolved to spot movement in an instant and go after the animal producing it. Keeping them focused is a real challenge, so make sure at all times that their eyes are on you. Use treats, toys or other objects and wiggle them to see that the terrier´s eyes are on you.

Collies are equally trainable, but much more mellow. They´re extremely loyal and protective, which is great. But it presents its own kind of challenges. A collie will spontaneously bark and chase any stranger who appears to threaten the family. That can be desirable for a watch dog guarding the house at night. But it can be annoying if carried out every time a child walks by along the sidewalk during the afternoon.

Bark collars are sometimes necessary under these circumstances, but remove the collar when the sun goes down. That way the dog may only associate the discouragement with daylight and still continue to function as a watch dog when it counts.

Dalmatians make for excellent companions, but they are ultra-energetic and very strong. That can be a troublesome combination for one that spends all its time in a small backyard with no one to play with. If you plan on owning one of these excellent dogs, be prepared to spend time working off some of that excess vitality.

Dalmatians need a large area so they can run at top speed - the only speed they know. They´ll work best with someone who can toss a ball far away, and has the presence to command them. They can be extremely loyal, but they need a strong hand. Being the alpha dog when faced with a Dalmatian requires a forceful owner.

Tailor your training regimen to the actual nature of your dog, including both those aspects derived from the breed and the unique characteristics of your specific dog. Just like humans, dogs are individuals.

Article Source: ezinearticles.com

By Mike H Lowe

If you have heard the fact over and over again that a dog is just a dog and there usually is no stopping you dogs instincts to dig then you may have been misled. There are several step that one can take when trying to stop their dog from digging up their backyards and flower beds. Here are some facts that you may find interesting about you dog and his or her digging habit.

One fact of a dog’s life is that they do love to dig. Some dogs start digging at a very young age and these are usually the harder cases. But a lot of dogs start digging at a very older age and this can be for a variety of reason, this problem can usually be solved easily.

Another fact is that specific breeds of dogs tend to dig more than others. For example dogs like malamutes and huskies usually love to dig more than other dogs do. With these dogs more extreme measure are usually needed in order to stop their digging habit.

So how do you formulate a program to stop your dog from digging? Well the first thing that someone doing this must realize is what could be causing your dog to dig in the first place? There is a variety of reason from anxiety, boredom, or even lack of exercise. With all of these reasons there is obviously various measures that one can take to correct their dogs digging problem.

Some of the thing you can do to correct your dog digging problem are things like supervising your dog in his favorite spots to dig for long periods of time, this will change the situation for the dog mentally. Next you can use the natural surrounds, for example using physical barriers to block your dog favorite digging spots for a few weeks. This will also change you dogs digging mentality.

But if any of the above are applied what you must follow up with is a plan. If you deprive your dog of one thing reward him or her with something that isn’t considered bad behavior like a free walk in the park or just some more opportunity to be active.

There are many things you can do to train your dog, it’s just up to you to learn the proper steps and to take action in implementing them.

Article Source: examiner.com
By Jeff Millman

Training a dog to walk nicely when on leash can be very frustrating and can seem daunting. My job as a dog trainer is to break down goals into small chunks for my clients to focus on.

One of the important strategies that I recommend is to be more interesting than the environment. When a dog pulls she is often interested in investigating something that is in the distance. If you make yourself really interesting and fun and games start when she appears by your side, then she will be more motivated to walk next to you.

Understanding motivation is critical to being a great dog trainer.  What entices or motivates a dog to do something? That understanding is key to success.

There are many ways that you can motivate a dog to walk nicely next to you. Here are some strategies that you can try with your dog to be more interesting so she is motivated to walk near you to see what other fun activity is going to happen!

1. Bring an outside-only toy with you. If your dog is not thrilled with toys, read this post about teaching a dog to like toys more. Keep a toy near your front door that your dog LOVES. Only use it on walks, and only give it to your dog when she is walking nicely. Gently take it away when she pulls.

2. Talk more. Enthusiasm is a way to keep your dog focused on you as well as provide information to her that she should continue doing what she is doing because she might get a treat or a toy.

3. Quick, gentle changes in direction. Occasionally turn quickly and go the other direction when your dog pulls. Never jerk or be rough with your dog. The changes in direction combined with enthusiasm when she is in the right position is a way to keep her focused on you.

4. Change speeds. If your dog wants to run, run with her for short spurts when she appears by your side. The goal is to make it worthwhile for her to walk in the “reward zone” because sometimes it results in toys, treats or quick sprints might occur.

5. Change your tone and volume of voice. Did you know talking really softly is one way to sometimes get dog’s attention? Try something like, “Hey. What’s over there? Let’s go check it out” and then start running towards something as soon as your dog looks at you. What are you doing? You are motivating your dog to pay attention to you. The more a dog pays attention to the person holding the leash, the less she is scanning the environment for something to pull towards.

6. Toy exhanges. Teach your dog to drop toys on cue and then practice toy exchanges on walks by  asking for “Drop”, and then throwing another toy within the length of the leash. You can continue this periodically on walks to give your dog exercise and mental stimulation. If you need to learn how to teach your dog to Drop, see my Puppy Biting and Rules of Tug video and see more leash walking strategies in my Intermediate Leash Walking video.

7. Reward eye contact. Read this post about teaching eye contact on walks. The more your dog is motivated to look at you, the less she will pull towards other distractions.

These are just a few of the many ways you can be more interesting than the environment to keep your dog focused on you. With practice, you will discover what works best to keep your dog interested in you.

Article Source : positivedogtrainingtechniques.com

By Lee Dobbins

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that more than 4.7 million people a year are bitten by dogs. These high incidents of dog bites result to various medical bills, law suits, and sometimes euthanasia for the dog. These cases might be avoidable if dog owners take safety precautions such as training their dogs not to bite.

There are common techniques that have been proven to be effective in suppressing biting behavior of dogs. However, the degree of difficulty of dog training varies with the breed of dog, age and individual temperament.

The younger the dog, the easier the training will be. Because mouthing, nibbling, and nipping come naturally to a puppy, an owner must be firm to stop this behavior when it starts. Even though it may begin as a cute nuisance, it can turn into a bad habit if not contained from the get-go.

You can start giving verbal commands to your dog when he is four weeks and older. When the puppy tries to bite, a gentle but firm “No!’ followed by a slight squeeze of the muzzle will train him not to bite anymore.

Be careful that you don’t squeeze in a way that causes the dog to bite its tongue. Also be careful not to squeeze hard or too high up on the muzzle. Sensitive and delicate odor receptors of the dog are situated high up inside the nose.

Squeezine your dogs muzzle will help him associate the verbal command with the discomfort of the squeeze. Since most dogs are uncomfortable with having their muzzles squeezed, this will help him think twice about biting.

Another dog training technique that might help eliminate biting is to socialize your dog since dogs that are not used to people or other dogs do tend to bite. You want to socialize your dog eat an early age to develop his calmness and confidence. Your dog will be more friendly to your guests, other animals and even strangers if socialized properly.

While still young, socialize your dog with other dogs preferably those that are non-aggressive. Being exposed to other dog breeds will help him cope up with territorial behavior.

While it is natural for a dog to nip and bite, the know enough not to do this too hard to their littermates. They will nip each other while playing, but they learn early on not to press too hard. This natural instinct can be used in training dogs not to bite by teaching them to extend the scope of the pack to include family members, frequent visitors and other pets.

When introducing your pet to an animal from outside the home, be sure to keep both animals at a distance from each other. Allow the animals to approach one other at a slow pace while they take in their smells and act out other normal behavior.

Put your dog at ease by having the dog sit and stroke its back. Check your dog for signs of aggression like body tension, snarling, and erect ears. After stroking your dog touch the other animal to convey the smell of your pet to that animal. After checking to make sure there are no signs of aggression and the other dog got a scent of your dog then allow them to interact.

Many dogs can be trained to curb thier urge to bite by the time they are four and a half months old, but it may take your dog longer than that. It varies by breed, and each individual dog within a breed is different. And you know that saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? It’s not exactly true, but training an older dog to stop biting is much more difficult than it is to teach a puppy.

While most dogs can be trained not to bite, there are some that still bite despite being trained. Pet owners should also be trained how to handle their dogs properly. If your dog still bites, make sure it cannot interact with other people or be expose to other animals.

Persistent long term use of these dog training techniques will likely result in a more stable and fun pet, not to mention that it could prevent an unwanted situation where your dog could get hurt or hurt someone else.
By Lee Dobbins

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that more than 4.7 million people a year are bitten by dogs. These high incidents of dog bites result to various medical bills, law suits, and sometimes euthanasia for the dog. These cases might be avoidable if dog owners take safety precautions such as training their dogs not to bite.

There are common techniques that have been proven to be effective in suppressing biting behavior of dogs. However, the degree of difficulty of dog training varies with the breed of dog, age and individual temperament.

The younger the dog, the easier the training will be. Because mouthing, nibbling, and nipping come naturally to a puppy, an owner must be firm to stop this behavior when it starts. Even though it may begin as a cute nuisance, it can turn into a bad habit if not contained from the get-go.

You can start giving verbal commands to your dog when he is four weeks and older. When the puppy tries to bite, a gentle but firm “No!’ followed by a slight squeeze of the muzzle will train him not to bite anymore.

Be careful that you don’t squeeze in a way that causes the dog to bite its tongue. Also be careful not to squeeze hard or too high up on the muzzle. Sensitive and delicate odor receptors of the dog are situated high up inside the nose.

Squeezine your dogs muzzle will help him associate the verbal command with the discomfort of the squeeze. Since most dogs are uncomfortable with having their muzzles squeezed, this will help him think twice about biting.

Another dog training technique that might help eliminate biting is to socialize your dog since dogs that are not used to people or other dogs do tend to bite. You want to socialize your dog eat an early age to develop his calmness and confidence. Your dog will be more friendly to your guests, other animals and even strangers if socialized properly.

While still young, socialize your dog with other dogs preferably those that are non-aggressive. Being exposed to other dog breeds will help him cope up with territorial behavior.

While it is natural for a dog to nip and bite, the know enough not to do this too hard to their littermates. They will nip each other while playing, but they learn early on not to press too hard. This natural instinct can be used in training dogs not to bite by teaching them to extend the scope of the pack to include family members, frequent visitors and other pets.

When introducing your pet to an animal from outside the home, be sure to keep both animals at a distance from each other. Allow the animals to approach one other at a slow pace while they take in their smells and act out other normal behavior.

Put your dog at ease by having the dog sit and stroke its back. Check your dog for signs of aggression like body tension, snarling, and erect ears. After stroking your dog touch the other animal to convey the smell of your pet to that animal. After checking to make sure there are no signs of aggression and the other dog got a scent of your dog then allow them to interact.

Many dogs can be trained to curb thier urge to bite by the time they are four and a half months old, but it may take your dog longer than that. It varies by breed, and each individual dog within a breed is different. And you know that saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? It’s not exactly true, but training an older dog to stop biting is much more difficult than it is to teach a puppy.

While most dogs can be trained not to bite, there are some that still bite despite being trained. Pet owners should also be trained how to handle their dogs properly. If your dog still bites, make sure it cannot interact with other people or be expose to other animals.

Persistent long term use of these dog training techniques will likely result in a more stable and fun pet, not to mention that it could prevent an unwanted situation where your dog could get hurt or hurt someone else.
By Lee Dobbins

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) revealed that more than 4.7 million people a year are bitten by dogs. These high incidents of dog bites result to various medical bills, law suits, and sometimes euthanasia for the dog. These cases might be avoidable if dog owners take safety precautions such as training their dogs not to bite.

There are common techniques that have been proven to be effective in suppressing biting behavior of dogs. However, the degree of difficulty of dog training varies with the breed of dog, age and individual temperament.

The younger the dog, the easier the training will be. Because mouthing, nibbling, and nipping come naturally to a puppy, an owner must be firm to stop this behavior when it starts. Even though it may begin as a cute nuisance, it can turn into a bad habit if not contained from the get-go.

You can start giving verbal commands to your dog when he is four weeks and older. When the puppy tries to bite, a gentle but firm “No!’ followed by a slight squeeze of the muzzle will train him not to bite anymore.

Be careful that you don’t squeeze in a way that causes the dog to bite its tongue. Also be careful not to squeeze hard or too high up on the muzzle. Sensitive and delicate odor receptors of the dog are situated high up inside the nose.

Squeezine your dogs muzzle will help him associate the verbal command with the discomfort of the squeeze. Since most dogs are uncomfortable with having their muzzles squeezed, this will help him think twice about biting.

Another dog training technique that might help eliminate biting is to socialize your dog since dogs that are not used to people or other dogs do tend to bite. You want to socialize your dog eat an early age to develop his calmness and confidence. Your dog will be more friendly to your guests, other animals and even strangers if socialized properly.

While still young, socialize your dog with other dogs preferably those that are non-aggressive. Being exposed to other dog breeds will help him cope up with territorial behavior.

While it is natural for a dog to nip and bite, the know enough not to do this too hard to their littermates. They will nip each other while playing, but they learn early on not to press too hard. This natural instinct can be used in training dogs not to bite by teaching them to extend the scope of the pack to include family members, frequent visitors and other pets.

When introducing your pet to an animal from outside the home, be sure to keep both animals at a distance from each other. Allow the animals to approach one other at a slow pace while they take in their smells and act out other normal behavior.

Put your dog at ease by having the dog sit and stroke its back. Check your dog for signs of aggression like body tension, snarling, and erect ears. After stroking your dog touch the other animal to convey the smell of your pet to that animal. After checking to make sure there are no signs of aggression and the other dog got a scent of your dog then allow them to interact.

Many dogs can be trained to curb thier urge to bite by the time they are four and a half months old, but it may take your dog longer than that. It varies by breed, and each individual dog within a breed is different. And you know that saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”? It’s not exactly true, but training an older dog to stop biting is much more difficult than it is to teach a puppy.

While most dogs can be trained not to bite, there are some that still bite despite being trained. Pet owners should also be trained how to handle their dogs properly. If your dog still bites, make sure it cannot interact with other people or be expose to other animals.

Persistent long term use of these dog training techniques will likely result in a more stable and fun pet, not to mention that it could prevent an unwanted situation where your dog could get hurt or hurt someone else.