How to Prevent Dog Behavior Problems (or correct them once there is an issue).

Many owners make the error of giving their young dogs frequent opportunities for mistakes. In training dogs for 25 years, and owning an obedience school for 18 years, I have found that if people incorporate structure and "The Rules" for a few months, then their dogs develop normally as a pet who respects people.

Dogs who demonstrate the utmost in willingness to please are dogs who have owners who understand dog behavior and how to set boundaries. Much of early dog training is removing the option to be wrong.

Here are "The Rules for Canine Home Management." by Kaylan Head, Full Circle Obedience School, Oklahoma City,

www.fullcircleobedience.com

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A Dog
• A Crate
• A Leash
• Treats
• Patience

1. CONTROL RESTING AREAS.
   Until you have owned your dog for at least a year and have completed a training course, don't allow your dog on the bed or to jump up on the furniture uninvited. It takes some dogs a while to show you who they are--if they snap or growl, believe them! An aggressive dog is telling you it needs more structure and less opportunity to make decisions in your space and territory.
   
   If the dog has been allowed to share resting areas with family members and has growled, or snapped for any reason, then this is not a dog who should be allowed furniture privileges again.
   
   Have the dog wear a leash in the house (only when supervised of course) and remove the dog from the furniture. This makes it safer for dogs that might bite if you reached for the collar to remove them.
   
   Some dogs see any access to the bedroom as the privilege of a high-ranking member of the pack. These dogs should not be allowed in bedrooms at all; close doors or use baby-gates.

2. CONTROL MEAL TIMES.
   Food should be presented to the dog after it responds to a sit and a down command. Any food not consumed in 10 minutes is taken away and not offered again for at least 12 hours.
   
   Owner aggressive dogs will benefit by having several meals per week hand fed. Each handful should be earned by the dog's response to simple commands.

3. CONTROL YOUR WALKING SPACE.
   Don't let your dog control your movement. Go first through doorways and passages. If the dog tries to go through first, close the door sharply. Close other doors in the house to prevent free roaming in your territory. Make the dog look at your face (food lures work well for teaching eye-contact attention), and wait for a signal or command to go through doors, or to get in or out of the car. Make the dog move if it is blocking your way.
   
   Teach your dog to "heel" or walk with respect at your side without pulling you. Head halters, or prong collars, and a good obedience class will work wonders. Don't let the dog walk more than 6-8 inches in front of your leg. No sniffing, or dropping the head on your walks. Think about the walk as more of a structured march than free time for the dog.

4. TAKE BACK YOUR HOME.
   If the dog chews, urinates, and/or has displayed dominant behavior, it is time to limit freedom. Crate train for times when you are away from the house, and several times per day when you are home, the dog should be crated and be expected to be quiet and accepting. Use baby gates, or "stationing" when you are there to supervise.
   
   Stationing: tie your dog to a doorknob or heavy piece of furniture. Give the dog something acceptable to chew. The dog can be stationed during the family's meal times, when guests arrive, or anytime you want the dog to be part of the family but under control. Stationing can be done for 20-30 minutes for young dogs up to several hours for older dogs. Be sure and give the dog appropriate potty breaks.
   
   *Note: Those dogs who are "outside" dogs (just call them "lawn ornaments" because that is what they are) do not usually develop respectful behavior with their owners. The yard is the dog's because they are there 24/7. They are often so deprived of attention that they are flooded with adrenaline at the sight of their people. ALL dogs can be structured and taught to be in your home environment with manners by using a crate, leash, stationing, and training.

5. CONTROL THE GAMES.
   Don't play tug-of-war with your dog unless you do so with control and teach an "out" or "drop-it" command. When you play "fetch games" start and end the game with possession of the toy. You must ALWAYS win and never leave toys or bones lying around.
   Present bones and toys to the dog after he or she complies with a simple command like "sit" or "down."

6. CONTROL THE REWARDS.
   Ignore nudging, whining or bringing you toys. Make your dog obey a command before giving it attention. All treats must be earned. Games are earned. Control the reward of going outside and coming in; be sure you are not jumping up and down to let the dog in and out at every demand.

7. CONTROL GROOMING.
   Don't let your dog decide what handling is appropriate. Handle your dog's ears, feet, tail, etc. and groom it as long as you choose.
   If this is a problem, seek help from a licensed behaviorist, or a NADOI or APDT endorsed instructor in your area. If there isn't an instructor in your area, often an experience dog groomer will show you a few tricks of the trade in handling difficult dogs.

8. CONTROL THE RESPONSES TO OTHERS.
   The threshold of your home is yours--not your dog's. Teach your dog a "quiet" command so that alarm barking does not become uncontrolled nuisance barking. Do not allow the dog to greet your guests before you do. Dogs cab be easily taught to back up, so that you are between the guests and the dog. This will help the dog control the impulse to jump by moving away from those coming in the door.
   
   You could also meet and greet guests with the dog on leash to help control barking, jumping, or circling (many reported bites are to the back of the legs of guests).
   
   Incorporate obedience training into your dog's daily routine.
   Practice immediate sits and downs when greeting people and/or dogs. Train the dog several times per week away from home to teach the same manners in new locations.

9. CONTROL THE EXERCISE
   Train your dog to walk on a short, loose lead at your side. Dogs should not be allowed to mark territory with urine away from home on your neighborhood walks. To allow this makes the dog think they are marking a very large territory, and can lead to aggressive behavior toward neighbors and their dogs. If your dog tries to mark every tree and post, continue to walk briskly.
   
   The dog should have a good energy burn-off every day. This can be through walks, swimming, biking (check out the Springer apparatus for safely biking with your dog), or retrieve games in addition to the structured walk. Dogs do not get the right kind of structured exercise playing in the backyard.

10. CONTROL YOUR URGE TO EXCUSE OR TO PUNISH.
    Some owners see their dogs as children and make excuses for behaviors that are often dangerous. Some dogs may have had a rough experience, but it is we who remember the incident -- not the dog. Some owners want to blame the dog and give him or her human characteristics and reasoning abilities of which dogs are simply not capable. Dogs are not vengeful or vindictive, they are not capable of complex retaliatory acts (like chewing your new shoes because the dog was mad about something that happened yesterday). Dogs are pack animals; they understand through instinct, and defined leadership roles. Dogs simply need consistency and direction.

[Vanillatte]

on 9/21/2008 This is one of the best articles I've read on how to establish and maintain pack leadership!

[GigaByte]

on 5/24/2008 Wow this really helps!
Everything on this page helped my dog problems.
Thanks... :)

[rowdy7]

on 1/12/2008 Have you written a book? I have not seen information like this in dog training books. It should be in something besides this website.

[rowdy7]

on 1/12/2008 very good article

[cristlpony]

on 11/25/2007 As always Kaylan, you are right on the money with your methods and suggestions. Consistency is everything! When people tell me they want their dog to behave like mine I give them a card to Full Circle.