You probably think that you could
control your dog by shouting “No!” Then, you might find out that the
day you really needed your dog to listen was the day he stopped
listening.
The only time
you should shout at your dog is when it is the only way to get his
attention or stop him in his tracks when there is danger. If you
constantly shout at your dog day in and day out, he has already learned
not to listen to you.
For several
weeks, stop talking to your dog altogether. Work him silently as much
as possible. When you simply must speak, then whisper. Get your dog's
attention back. Make him look at you to see what you want. This will
make your dog attentive and ecstatic.
Always speak
softly to your dog. If one day you should see him heading for danger,
you can shout to save him. If he is about to run through an ongoing
traffic, shout “No,” “Wait,” “Come!” In this case, do anything you can
to save him and get him back.
Destructive
Behavior
A lot of
people get turned-off with their dogs, even give up on them
permanently, because of destructive behavior, such as chewing, digging,
shredding, and scratching. These behaviors caused some owners to have
their dogs euthanized by the local vet or the humane society.
Which do you
think is more cruel, the use of a dog crate as a temporary training
tool or putting your dear pet to sleep? If you raise your dog with a
crate, you will never have to worry about coming home to find a
shredded couch. When you cannot watch the dog, crate him. As he matures
and excels in training, as he proves himself capable of being left
loose in your home, give him the privileges he deserves. Never give him
responsibility he cannot handle. That would be like giving a
five-year-old your car keys!
Besides the
crate, understanding is an important tool in stopping destructive
behavior. Dogs chew for a variety of reasons and these must be reviewed
along with companion remedies. Your dog will chew to release pent up
energy, so make sure he gets enough exercise. Your dog will chew
because he is anxious. He may be left alone too long and too often.
Give him a
little more consideration when making plans. Train him so that you can
take him with you more often. Train him to allay his anxiety, his
feeling of looseness and lack of connection. Hire someone to walk him
when you are out to work.
Dogs chew when
they are bored. Leave your dog something acceptable to chew. That way,
he'll be less likely to chew your stuff. Dogs chew because they don't
know they are not supposed to. Be clear when you correct your
dog. Do not give him socks to play with and then get mad when he chews
your clothes. Female dogs shred just before coming into heat. Keep your
female's cycle on a calendar and watch for signs that she is coming
into heat. These include: Increased appetite, increased displays of
affection, increased activity level, and generally hyper behavior. You
may have to crate her just before the onset of her heat
cycle or
provide her with a supply of shreddables to practice her nest making on.
To summarize
the above statement: Use a crate when necessary. Your dog should be
reliable sometime between one and two years of age. Give him plenty of
exercise. Leave him some rawhide or other safe chew toys. Monitor his
behavior when you are with him, correcting him with a “No” for starting
to work on the fringe of the carpet or the arm of the sofa. Then
present him with one of his toys and tell him “Ok.” But if he goes
right back to your stuff, correct him again and put him in the crate
for one hour. Tighten your obedience work. This reinforces you as the
pack leader, someone not to be trifled with. And, if you are gone for
long hours, hire a reliable person to come and walk your
dog and play with him.
What about
hole digging in the yard? Digging is both natural and pleasurable for
dogs. Let your dog have his pleasure. Give him a small corner of your
yard in which he may dig to his heart's delight. You may fence the
corner, making it a pen or run. Once a week, fill in the holes and tamp
them down. When the dog is in your part of the yard, correct him if he
tries to dig up the lawn, eat your plant, or dash through the flower
beds.
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