Common Dog Obedience Training Problems

Common Dog Obedience Training Problems

Jumping

To prevent your dog from jumping, everyone who interacts with your dog must send a consistent message. If one person allows your dog to jump, your dog is going to have a hard time understanding how he's supposed to behave. The best way to stop jumping (which can be tough if you have a big dog) is to simply turn your back and ignore him. Once he stops jumping, slowly pet him and give him attention. Your dog will eventually learn that you won't interact with him when he jumps.

You also should have your dog sit every time you interact with him. Dogs naturally jump during greetings, so you really need to be consistent if you want him to greet you another way. You can easily teach your dog to sit when he greets you as long as you send him a consistent message.

Greeting Guests

Just as you should have your dog sit when she greets you, he should also have her sit when others come to the door. Keep some treats near the door so that you can reward her, which will reinforce this good behavior. It also might be a good idea to have your guest gives her dog a treat, while she greets him with a sit. Having a leash handy will physically prevent your dog from jumping on people at the door. Stand on the leash so there is only enough room to sit. If she gets up, have her sit again and reward the proper behavior.

Chewing

Chewing is a difficult problem to fix, since it is natural and "necessary" for puppies to chew. Dogs do not have hands like we do to investigate new and mysterious things. The only way they can examine new objects is by smelling them and putting them in their mouth!

Plus, just like human children, puppies loose their "baby teeth" and grow new adult ones. They need to chew during this time and there is no way to really stop them. The best thing to do is to get your dog acceptable toys that she can chew on. I recommend Kongs, Nylabones and similar toys. They are very durable and when "baited" they can draw your dog's attention for a long time. Both can be found at any PetCo or PetSmart. The Kong has a hole in the center, which can be filled with your dog's favorite treats, dog food, and even peanut butter. Some dogs spend hours chewing on this toy, trying to get the food out. Nylabones and Gumbabones now come in different flavors like beef, chicken and liver. The plain ones can also be boiled in broth to make them more palatable.

Whenever your dog is chewing something she shouldn't be, tell her "No" and give her an acceptable toy. Also be sure to play with your dog and her chew toys at the same time. This will make them more likely to play with them instead of your favorite chair! Most importantly, "Reward" her when she is playing with the correct toys.

Digging

Most dogs dig out of boredom. Often tiring your dog out with a good game of fetch will "prevent" your dog from digging and partaking in other destructive behavior. Hint: Play fetch with two balls. If your dog won't drop the ball you just threw, show him the second ball and he'll usually drop the first one. Some dogs dig holes to stay cool on warm days. Make sure your dog has plenty of shade to rest in when he is outside. He should have plenty of cool water and, if it's too hot, bring him inside.

Some dogs like Dachshunds were bred to dig. It is very hard to stop a dog with this type of instinct from digging. The easiest way to deal with a persistent digger is to create a special digging area. It is much easier to teach your dog to dig in an inconspicuous spot than it is to teach him not to dig at all, especially with dogs that were bred to dig.

Create a special part of your yard just for digging and make it desirable to dig there. Actually dig with your dog to show him it's okay. Bury desirable objects like balls etc… for your dog to find. If you see your dog digging in the wrong area, tell him "No" and bring him to the designated digging area. Show him again that it is okay to dig in that area and reward him with treats and praise when he digs there.

Housebreaking

Probably the biggest mistake an owner can make when housebreaking a dog is reprimanding her after the fact. Unless you catch her in the act, she is unlikely to know what she is being punished for. Plus, it often doesn't stop the dog from going in the house; it just makes her do it in less noticeable areas.

If you catch her in the middle of the act, tell her "no" and take her right outside. Wait till she goes and praise her. You also should keep in mind that a young dog doesn't have a fully developed bladder and can not physically hold it in for eight hours while we're out. If this sounds like your situation, you might want to consider hiring someone or asking a friend to let your dog out while you're gone.

Another consideration is that a dog normally has to eliminate about an hour after eating. So you probably should feed her early before you go out, allowing enough time for the food to digest and to take her out. It is very important to praise your dog when she goes where you want her. When you're housetraining you dog, you'll want to keep your dog confined to one room (like the kitchen) or in a crate where she has enough room to turn around. Make the crate fun by giving her treats, toys and even feeding her in it. Once your dog has gone to the bathroom outside you can allow her free roam of the house for about 20 minutes, or you can keep her on the leash so you can pull her quickly outside if she starts to go in the house. When home try to take her out every hour or so and really reward her when she goes outside.

Common Dog Obedience Training Problems