Things You'll Need:
- Bark Control Dog Collars
- Dog Balls
- Dog Toys
- Dog Training Aids
- Dog Training Leashes/collars
- Dog Treats
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Step 1
View the problem behavior as normal, instead of labeling yourself an incompetent dog owner or your dog as bad, stubborn or neurotic.
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Step 2
Note the environment (in the house?, in the car?) and people involved when the behavior occurs. This will help you narrow down the cause of the problem.
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Step 3
Consider why your dog is misbehaving. Does your tone of voice or method of training set your pet off? Perhaps your dog doesn't trust a particular person.
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Step 4
List all the possible solutions to the problem, even outrageous or silly ones, like never putting your dog in the car again, if that really gets it going.
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Step 5
Read books on pet behavior modification, and ask your veterinarian or a professional dog trainer for input. Add expert suggestions to your list.
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Step 6
Go through the list and select the solutions that will work best for you and your dog. You may find that you will have to make changes in your own behavior.
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Step 7
Carry out the solutions. Remember to use consistency and patience throughout the entire period.
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Step 8
Assess the results. If the behavior continues and you don't notice any improvements after a long period, you may have missed part of the problem.
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Step 9
Seek professional help with a dog trainer or dog behavior specialist if the problem is severe or too large to handle.
Comments
kims3003 said
on 8/7/2009 great suggestions!
ynohtna said
on 7/6/2009 Great article thanks!
lucylaw1 said
on 11/3/2008 this is exactly what our new adopted 6 month terrier mix has started doing! I am mystified.
She is fine for two days and then is the escape artist, eats ANYTHING and survives!
She is 9 pounds and is a terrier mix. I am beginning to think I am out of my league.
Lucy is a love, I think trainable, but was found in a dumpster. We have been consistent with the training. She will poop in her crate after pooping outside or on leash. I am beginning to think she was "flung" or ???Help.
Anonymous said
on 2/1/2006 Take one month of your life and you will have a good companion for 10-15 years. This will work no matter how old the dog is, how he was treated in his previous home, or how long you have had him. All it takes is time, effort, and patience.
I didn't realize how good my dogs were until we had some friends over to watch movies. One person made a sandwich and dropped a piece of roast beef on the coffee table. My black Labrador sat there and looked at it for almost 15 minutes waiting on me to say "Okay." All of my friends were amazed that he didn't eat it, but I knew that was normal for him.
Here is what I do when I get a dog. If possible I take time off work, but it isn't necessary.
First, we get a training collar and a 6 foot leash. My favorite is the pinch collar because it doesn't injure the trachea (nylon collars) or twist the vertebra in the neck (halters and gentle leader). All it does is pinch the skin in even parts all around the neck. Try it on your thigh if you don't believe me.
If I am not home, the dog is in his crate with his collar and leash on the floor in front of the crate. If I am home, the dog is wearing the collar and leash and the other end of the leash is on my wrist. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, watching TV, doing laundry, eating dinner, letting him out in the yard; the dog is at my side all the time. If he does something he isn't allowed to do, he is corrected with his collar and when he does something good, he gets a treat from my pocket. Take him to as many places as you can and follow this. Never let your dog see you correct him. Correction comes from some mysterious force, but treats and love come the people he lives with.
After four weeks of this, I trade the 6 foot leash for a 15 foot leash, but I still always have the leash on my wrist. After another month of this I put the 6 foot leash back on, but I let it trail behind him. Make sure your house is leash proofed, so your dog doesn't catch the leash on something and choke. At this point he should be so used to being at your side that if you don't see him for a few minutes check on him! The leash does not come off for at least a year. If you have been consistent, he will always come when called no matter what.
I cannot stress this enough:
Never leave a training collar and leash on your dog if you are not home! There is too much risk of him catching it on something and hanging or choking to death.
A quick word on crate training.
Don't just throw your dog in. Plan to spend 8-10 hours the first day getting him used to his mini-home. Use sets of five treats each time, then get up walk around for a while, go out side for a potty break then return and do another set of five treats. Sit on the floor next to the crate and feed him treats until he is comfortable being next to the crate. Then every fifth treat, throw into the crate. Work until you throw every treat into the crate, and when you throw it in say "Crate" or "Bed" or what ever word you want to mean "You need to go in there right now." Then start giving them treats before he comes out of the crate. Then after your next walk, sit down but wait for him to go in the crate before you give a treat. Once he is comfortable, close the door and give him treats through the bars. After five treats open the door and go on a walk. Repeat several times. Then when he goes in give him one treat and walk out of the room for between one and three seconds. Walk back and give him a treat. Repeat for the rest of the five treat set, let him out and do your walk. Repeat this several times, but stay out of the room a little bit longer each time. Once you have worked up to several minutes, give him a rawhide with his treat and try doing chores around the house for thirty minutes before you let him out. If his crate is in the kitchen, let him stay in there while you fix dinner.
If you show him he is safe and you will come back, he will love having a place of his own.
Anonymous said
on 11/30/2005 Lots of pet owners will not forget to punish for bad behavior, but have you forgotten to reward for the right behavior too? My dogs reponsed more to rewards. For example, he gets a treat for peeing at the right place. He soon know that he has done the right thing.