Your Dog's Friend is now part of the Combined Federal Campaign. Our CFC code is 91549. If you appreciate what we offer to the community, please consider donating to Your Dog's Friend at your workplace. Thank you!

What your dog needs

 

Every dog is unique, but there are some general reasons why dogs misbehave. We dog owners are failing to give our dogs something they need.

 

Dogs need exercise. This means walking your dog, not just letting him out in the yard. If you aren’t an active person, don’t get a younger, more active dog. A laid back, adult dog would be better. Dogs have energy that needs to be spent somewhere, and you don’t want it to be in your house! Take a look at the book, “Fitness Unleashed: A Dog and Owner’s Guide to Losing Weight and Gaining Health Together” by Marty Becker, DVM and Robert Kushner, MD. Maybe, this will motivate you to get out there!
Dogs need mental stimulation. This is one of many reasons to take your dog to a positive training class and to make training cues part of your daily routine. Toys are another source of stimulation; get enough to rotate them every few days. Try food-dispensing toys. You put hard treats inside, and your dog has to move the toy around to get them out. These include, among others, the Buster Cube, Tube and Groove, Everlasting Fun Ball, and Twist and Treat. Some of you may like ideas in the book, “Canine Adventures: Fun Things to Do with Your Dog” by Cynthia D. Miller. Try agility training or disc dog. How about doggie dancing, tracking, or dog-assisted therapy?
Dogs need a leader. Otherwise, they will fill the void! Leadership does not mean jerking, hitting, or pinning down your dog. Ask your dog to “SIT” before you feed him, put on his leash, walk him, or throw a ball. Teach him a release word that lets him know it’s okay to go. Every time your dog demands attention, food, or playtime and you comply, you are relinquishing the role of leader to your dog. If your dog nudges your hand and you pet him, if your dog barks for food and you give it to him, if your dog jumps on you and gets your attention, whether you pet him or push him away, you are teaching him that he can determine what you do. Your dog will feel more secure if he knows that you are a benevolent, consistent leader.
Dogs need consistency. Dogs need to figure out what you want them to do, and they can only do that if you and everyone in your household are consistent. You have to all decide which rooms your dog can be in, whether he can get on the sofa, and what words to use for training cues. If “down” means lay down to you and get off the bed to your husband, how is your dog supposed to know what “down” means? And if you don’t want your dog to jump on people, you can’t let him jump on your child in play. That will only confuse him.
Dogs need companionship. They are social animals. Dogs will misbehave, jumping on you or grabbing your things, if that's what it takes to get your attention. Start praising and petting your dog when he is lying quietly next to you. Reward good behavior not just in training, but all the time. If you’re gone all day at work, you may want to hire a dog walker, so he isn’t alone all day. When you crate your dog, it should be in an area of the house with a lot of activity, not in an isolated area of the basement.
Dogs need to chew. They need quality, hard food without a lot of fillers. They need chew toys, like Kongs, Nylabones, sterile bones, or Galileo bones. Kongs come in various chewing strengths. You can put peanut butter, cottage cheese, wet kibble, or any of the “recipes” on the Kong website in Kongs and freeze them. You can also fill a sterile bone or soak a Nylabone for fifteen minutes in chicken or beef broth to make them more appealing. If you see your dog chewing something inappropriate, interrupt him with a noise, like a clap, and give him an acceptable alternative. Adult dogs chew less than puppies, but dogs will chew all their lives. So, close your doors, put your shoes away, confine your dog when you’re not home, and stop blaming the dog for chewing your things!
Dogs need good associations. If, when you call your dog, you give him a treat, he will start to come when you call him. If you feed and play with your fearful dog when a stranger approaches, he will start to associate seeing a stranger with good things happening. This is how you teach dogs behaviors that you want. It’s much better than yanking them with a choke chain or punishing them for not behaving. When you punish your dog, you are harming your relationship with him; he won’t know what he is being punished for; and you may end up discouraging a behavior that you actually want. Here’s an example: Your dog runs off. You call him. He eventually comes, but you punish him for running off in the first place. Next time you call him, your dog is more likely to avoid you.
Puppies need socialization. Socializing your puppy can help prevent his becoming a fearful, and possibly aggressive, dog. Before four months old, expose your puppy to new situations. Help him have good experiences with men, women, children, teenagers, dogs, and cats. Teach children how to approach your puppy; ask strangers to give him a treat; let him play with your friends’ healthy, vaccinated dogs; and take him to puppy kindergarten. Remember, though, that socialization is not the same as exposure. Whether you have a puppy or an adopted dog, it’s a mistake to force your pup beyond his comfort level, take him into uncontrolled situations (like dog parks) or get him around crowds (kids’ soccer games) in the name of “socialization”. You want him to be relaxed, not overwhelmed and stressed.  

 
HomeAbout UsContact Us

Announcements
Services

Free Workshops

  • HELP!! This dog is driving me CRAZY!!!
  • Dogs at Play – dog parks, day care, playgroups
  • Helping Your Older Dog Stay Happy & Healthy
  • Living With Your Outta Control Dog
  • Advice from a veterinary behaviorist

Training Classes

  • Basic Manners I
  • Basic Manners II
  • Puppy Kindergarten
  • Skill Clinics
  • IntrO to Rally-O
  • Agility Games
  • Confidence Building
  • Control & Focus
  • Canine Good Citizen
  • Reactive Dog Class
  • Training Tricks
  • Basic Agility I
  • Canine Musical Freestyle
  • Disc Dog
  • K9 Nose Work
  • Competitive Obedience
  • Play & Games for Small Dogs
  • Kids’ Camp & Training Classes
    •

Copyright @ 2009 - Your Dog’s Friend
Privacy | Site Policy

HomeAbout UsContact Us

 

Designed by DotsLinkerllc.com