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Informative Articles

Choosing a Bed for Your Dog
Does your dog enjoy sleeping with you at night? Although cuddling with a pet can keep owner and dog warm and snuggly, keep in mind that most animals are not as clean as people, nor do they always follow the same sleep patterns. A dog can track mud,...

Dog Training: The Do's And The Don'ts Of House Training Your Puppy
House training a puppy is very important for the well being of both the puppy and the owner. The number one reason that dogs are surrender to animal shelters is problems with inappropriate elimination, so it is easy to see why proper house...

Dog Training: What You Should Know About Using Food As Reward Training For Your Dog
Training with treats and other food based rewards is a great way to motivate your dog and speed the training process along. Most dogs are highly motivated by food rewards, and treat training using this kind of positive reinforcement is used to...

Dogs - Choosing The Right Breeder
The Right Breeder Dogs are considered as man's best friend. Deciding to own one whether it is big or small involves a lot of responsibility. It is not just about feeding it but includes other chores such as grooming, watching its health and...

FREE Dog Training Tips: Easy Steps to Leading the Pack
[This article is the first in a 3-part series about changing dog behavior using positive dog training methods.] Be a leader, a dog will follow. Hum, what does that mean?! Simply put, if you lead the pack, your dog will follow you to...

How To Select The Right Pet Bunny Rabbit For Your Household!
So you have decided to purchase a pet rabbit, and now you are wondering how do I pick out the right one? Well, aside from appearance, there are a number of important considerations that you will have to make when you pick out your pet bunny...

Leash Training
Leash Training What is the purpose of a leash? "A chain, rope, or strap attached to the collar or harness of an animal, especially a dog, and used to lead it or hold it in check." - Webster's Dictionary Hmmmm... - A chain, or rope used to...

Shih Tzu - Does Your Shih Tzu Refuse To Come When Called?
Many shih tzu owners fail to recognize the importance of having a shih tzu that comes when called until there is a problem, such as the collar or leash breaking, or the shih tzu tearing free to chase a person or another animal. These situations...

Shih Tzu - The Hotly Contested Question Of Shih Tzu Size Part III
There is a highly important article presented by a Norweigan Shih Tzu fancier of which the author's name is not given. It is thought to be almost certain, however, the article was written by Dr. Walter Young, author of Some Canine Breeds of...

Westie Puppies For Sale – 7 Important Questions To Ask Your West Highland Terrier Breeder
Let’s say you’ve made up your mind on the breed you want, which is a cute westie puppies for sale. The next step to take is finding a responsible breeder. You can do that from the parent club website or even at a Westie show. Local club Breeder...

 
 
 
Dealing with problem puppy behaviors

Everyone who owns a puppy or dog will eventually have to deal with and correct less than desirable behaviors on the part of their companion animal. There are a number of behaviors that should be nipped in the bud, including:

Jumping up on people This is one of those behaviors that many owners inadvertently encourage in their animals, since jumping up, wagging his tail and the like can be adorable in a young puppy. When that puppy is older, larger and heavier, however, this jumping up behavior ceases to be cute and begins to become annoying and even dangerous.

A large, heavy dog jumping up on people can be dangerous to young children and even to some adults, since a large, 100 pound plus dog can easily knock down a child or small adult. Since you as the owner are responsible for the behavior of your dog, it is important to nip this problem behavior in the bud.

The best time to do that, of course, is when the puppy is still small and easy to handle. When the puppy jumps up on you or someone else, gently place the puppy's feet back on the floor. When the dog remains standing there, be sure to praise it extensively.

It is also important to give the puppy an alternative to jumping up. Puppies jump up on people to express their enthusiasm, so it is important to redirect this energy in a more socially acceptable direction. Try teaching the puppy to present his paw instead of jumping up.

When teaching the puppy to not jump up on people, it is important to be consistent. Consistency is important in any training program, and all members of the family must understand that the puppy is not permitted to jump on them.

Pulling, charging and tugging on the lead One problem you definitely

 


want to nip in the bud is this one. It is important that the puppy learn to respect the collar and leash now, when he is still small and light enough to handle. Teaching this lesson to a 10 pound puppy will be much easier than teaching the same lesson to a 150 pound dog.

Using a good strong body harness or head collar can be a big help when training a puppy not to pull, or to retrain a dog that has already learned to pull on the leash. When first fitting a harness, it is important to allow the puppy to walk around wearing it, so that he can get used to wearing it. The first thing your puppy must learn, and the basis of all subsequent training, is teaching your dog to heel. Teaching your dog to walk quietly at your side on a loose lead is the basis of all dog training, and until your puppy has mastered this vital skill he will be unable to move onto more advanced training. When walking with a puppy on a leash, it is important to always keep slack in the leash. If the puppy begins to pull on the leash, the handler should quickly change directions. The puppy will then find itself lagging behind instead of forging ahead. The least will be loose except for the split second it takes to change directions. It is important for the handler to use a quick tug of the leash, followed by an immediate loosening, when teaching this lesson. When teaching the puppy to walk properly, it is important to never allow the puppy to pull you around, or to forge ahead on the leash. Allowing the puppy to pull you around will teach him exactly the wrong lesson.

About the author:

Tony Robinson is an international author and dog lover. His website http://www.dogtraining4u.com contains valuable insights into the life of our canine friends.