How To Fix Behaviour Problems In Puppies Before They Start
Puppies are soooo cute aren't they.
When they are brought home, we are all over them, playing with them, giving them attention, ooooing and ahing over them.
We let them trot all around the house, biting on our clothes, our hands, taking whatever they want.
Fast forward 6 months and generally there is a different picture.
We have a half grown dog, that is a cyclone, chewing everything and sundry, nipping the kids or us, maybe barking indiscriminately.
More than likely on its way to developing some annoying behavioural problems.
However, all of these problems can be averted from the very start.
You see, all dogs have inherent instincts.
They are hard wired into them, and they have to be satisfied.
It is like they have these actions wanting to burst out of them and they have no control over them.
And I will be honest here.
If you aren't prepared to provide an outlet for them, then don't have a dog.
Pretty simple.
Here is what I recommend when you get a puppy.
1.
Crate Them.
Teach them to sleep in a crate at night and at times of the day.
This allows them to have a place of their own.
Dogs are denning animals and this is completely natural for them.
This can solve a lot of problems like separation anxiety.
Unsupervised chewing and craziness in general.
2.
Give Them Chew Toys.
Dog's must chew.
They have no discrimination between your couch, chair, shoes or kong.
To them, the world is a chew toy and trying to teach them to discriminate between them will send you insane.
Provide the outlet to chew by giving them specific toys to chew.
Fill them with food and allow them to chew to their heart's content.
Putting them in a crate when doing this really reinforces the positiveness of the crate.
3.
No Teeth On Skin.
Puppies will mouth you all day long, nip at your clothes and this can be scary for young children too as they get older.
This is completely unacceptable.
They have to learn from the get go not to bite.
If they do put your mouth on you let out a loud "OUCH".
And take yourself away.
This should startle them and teach them the game is over.
Or alternatively, a short slap on the snout with a guttural growl.
This is what their mum would do if they were being naughty (the growl bit that is) 4.
Train Incompatible Behaviours.
If you can identify possible behaviour problems before the start, then train a behaviour that opposes that problem, you will never have a problem.
For instance.
Jumping up on people.
Teach your dog to sit well.
Then whenever it meets new people, tell it to sit.
When it sits, it gets patted by them.
Dog's can also be incessant barkers.
Teach your dog to bark on command, then also teach it to be quiet as well.
All of these behaviours are very easy and fun to teach puppies using food and clicker training too.
These are but a few ideas that anyone can use and I will be providing more in-depth information on each of these points in future articles and also on my website.
When they are brought home, we are all over them, playing with them, giving them attention, ooooing and ahing over them.
We let them trot all around the house, biting on our clothes, our hands, taking whatever they want.
Fast forward 6 months and generally there is a different picture.
We have a half grown dog, that is a cyclone, chewing everything and sundry, nipping the kids or us, maybe barking indiscriminately.
More than likely on its way to developing some annoying behavioural problems.
However, all of these problems can be averted from the very start.
You see, all dogs have inherent instincts.
They are hard wired into them, and they have to be satisfied.
It is like they have these actions wanting to burst out of them and they have no control over them.
And I will be honest here.
If you aren't prepared to provide an outlet for them, then don't have a dog.
Pretty simple.
Here is what I recommend when you get a puppy.
1.
Crate Them.
Teach them to sleep in a crate at night and at times of the day.
This allows them to have a place of their own.
Dogs are denning animals and this is completely natural for them.
This can solve a lot of problems like separation anxiety.
Unsupervised chewing and craziness in general.
2.
Give Them Chew Toys.
Dog's must chew.
They have no discrimination between your couch, chair, shoes or kong.
To them, the world is a chew toy and trying to teach them to discriminate between them will send you insane.
Provide the outlet to chew by giving them specific toys to chew.
Fill them with food and allow them to chew to their heart's content.
Putting them in a crate when doing this really reinforces the positiveness of the crate.
3.
No Teeth On Skin.
Puppies will mouth you all day long, nip at your clothes and this can be scary for young children too as they get older.
This is completely unacceptable.
They have to learn from the get go not to bite.
If they do put your mouth on you let out a loud "OUCH".
And take yourself away.
This should startle them and teach them the game is over.
Or alternatively, a short slap on the snout with a guttural growl.
This is what their mum would do if they were being naughty (the growl bit that is) 4.
Train Incompatible Behaviours.
If you can identify possible behaviour problems before the start, then train a behaviour that opposes that problem, you will never have a problem.
For instance.
Jumping up on people.
Teach your dog to sit well.
Then whenever it meets new people, tell it to sit.
When it sits, it gets patted by them.
Dog's can also be incessant barkers.
Teach your dog to bark on command, then also teach it to be quiet as well.
All of these behaviours are very easy and fun to teach puppies using food and clicker training too.
These are but a few ideas that anyone can use and I will be providing more in-depth information on each of these points in future articles and also on my website.
Source...