Special Delivery Puppies

"Jesus and a puppy can lick anything"

Ten Tips For New Dog Owners

 
 

Dogs make wonderful companions, but the first-time dog owner needs to understand that caring for a dog companion is a commitment for the life of the dog. Dogs are not playthings to be left tethered out in the yard, only to be given attention at the owner’s whim. Your dog should be considered a member of your family, and given the same care, consideration and respect you would give your own human family members. Your dog will depend on you to care for his needs and to teach him to be a loving, faithful companion.

  1. Choose a puppy instead of a full-grown dog. Puppies are clean slates; they haven’t had any training yet. An improperly-trained adult dog can be taught to behave, but it will be a more difficult task for the inexperienced owner.
  2. Teach your puppy good manners right from the beginning. Puppies only know how to act like puppies, and they’re awfully cute doing so! But if you allow him to misbehave, or nip and bite people, you’ll reinforce his misbehavior and may end up with a dog who is not a good companion and may even be a threat. Even very young puppies can be taught the sit/stay, down, and come commands. Get a good book on dog training or enroll yourself and your puppy in a dog obedience course.
  3. Choose a dog breed with a reputation for being submissive. Research the various dog breeds before choosing your puppy. Most breeds will generally have either dominant or submissive personalities, although there are variations within a breed. The guard and sporting breeds generally have more dominant personalities, and an inexperienced dog owner may have difficulty keeping them under control. A dominant dog will run the household if you let him! Submissive breeds are more eager to please you and tend to be easier to train and control. When choosing a puppy from a litter, roll the puppy onto his back and rub his tummy. Usually, a more submissive puppy will allow you to do so; a more dominant puppy will resist.
  4. Use voice commands to correct; never hit your dog. Striking a dog only makes him fearful and distrustful of humans. Use a high-pitched voice to praise him when he’s being good, and a low, gruff voice to gently scold (never yell) when he’s misbehaving.
  5. Learn about dog nutrition and health. Feed your dog a high-quality dog food for his optimum growth and a healthy immune system. Have him checked out by your vet, and regularly as your vet recommends, to catch any potential health problems early.
  6. Socialize your puppy. Dogs who are exposed to a variety of people, other animals, sights, and sounds while they’re young will be less fearful of new experiences as they grow older. Take your dog on car rides to fun places at an early age, so he doesn’t learn to associate a car ride with a trip to the vet!
  7. Have patience when potty-training. Puppies are like children; some take right to potty-training, and sometimes it seems like it’s never going to happen! You can help your puppy become trained more quickly by confining him to a small space, or a crate, when you are not able to supervise him. Clean up all accidents immediately with a urine removal product. It’s a dog’s nature to go in a spot that has been previously soiled with urine or feces, and stained carpeting can greatly hinder your efforts to house break your dog.
  8. Give your puppy his own toys. If you don’t care to have your new shoes chewed up, don’t give him your old ones to play with! Puppies should have their own dog-safe toys to play with, and may have a preference for either soft or hard toys. You may have to experiment to find out which your dog prefers. When you catch him chewing on something that is not his, simply replace the object with one of his own toys until he learns the difference. Praise him when you see him playing with his own toys instead of your belongings.
  9. Handle your puppy gently. Don’t allow anyone to play roughly with your puppy. Your dog needs to understand that all touch is good. A dog who is shy of being touched will be difficult to handle if he requires grooming or must be given first aid treatment. Get him used to having his mouth, feet and legs, ears, and other body parts handled.
  10. Protect your dog from household hazards. Just as you would with small children in the house, look around your home and yard for potential hazards. Keep electrical cords tucked away where they can’t be reached. Place household cleaners and chemicals on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet. Avoid houseplants and landscape plants that may be toxic to your dog. Pick up small toys or other small objects that may be a choking hazard. Your dog’s safety is your responsibility!

Making Your Dog 'Family'

Some dog owners believe that dogs, especially large ones, should be "outdoor only" pets. We believe that dogs of all sizes are happier, healthier and safer when they can be indoors with their people the majority of the time. Dogs have a need to be social just like we do.

Exercise: Some people believe that dogs need to be outside so they can get plenty of exercise. The truth is that most dogs don't exercise when they're in a yard by themselves; they spend most of their time lying by the back door, waiting for "their people" to either let them in or come out and play with them. However, dogs do need exercise every day, so we recommend walking your dog or engaging him in a regular game of fetch!

Socialization: Dogs need to spend time with "their people" in order to learn their rules and how to get along with them. Dogs that spend most of their time alone or only in the company of other dogs, may demonstrate fearful, aggressive or overactive behavior toward family members or strangers because they've never learned how to act around people.

Safety: Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors are a risk for a variety of reasons. They could escape from the yard and become lost; a disgruntled neighbor could throw poison over the fence or spray the dog with mace or pepper spray; or the dog could be stolen and possibly sold to a research facility or dog-fighting ring.

Behavior Problems: Dogs left alone in the yard for long periods of time often get bored, lonely and frustrated. As a result, they may dig or bark excessively. Most cities have noise ordinances that penalize owners of barking dogs. If a dog escapes the yard in search of interesting things to do, not only is he at risk of being injured by a car, but also his owner is liable for any damage or harm that he might do.

Protection: Dogs that spend time with their owners and feel attached to them are more likely to be protective of "their family". Dogs that spend most of their time outdoors may be friendly to any stranger who pets or feeds them. Alternatively, some yard dogs may become overly territorial and feel the need to protect their territory even from family and friends. If a dog is hardly ever allowed to come indoors, it will be difficult for him to distinguish between family, friends and uninvited "guests".

Puppies: People who are away from home for eight to ten hours a day may be inclined to leave their new puppy in the yard because he can't control his bowels and bladder for that length of time. Although it's true that puppies need to eliminate more frequently than adult dogs, it's also very important for puppies to receive adequate people time at the formative stage of their lives. If dogs aren't adequately socialized when they're young, they're likely to become fearful or aggressive toward people, and possibly other animals. Puppies are also more vulnerable to extreme weather conditions than adult dogs. If you must be away from home for more than four or five hours at a time every day, this may not be the right time for you to adopt a puppy.

The Garage: While dogs my be safer from people and other animals in the garage than in the yard, unless people spend time with them in the garage, they'll still suffer from isolation and, as a result, may develop any of the behavior problems previously mentioned. Most garages are very hot during the summer months and cold during the winter. Each year many pets suffer and die from heat exhaustion during the warmer months and from illness and exposure to the cold in the winter months from being left in a garage. Garages are often storage places for tools and chemicals that could cause injury to a curious dog. If the garage has an automatic door opener, the dog could run out into the street when the door is opened.

Changing Times: Some of us may have fond childhood memories of a family dog that lived outside, but times have changed. More mothers used to stay at home and children used to spend more time outdoors. The outdoor dog had company while mom hung laundry or gardened and the children played outside. With the advent of two-income families, television and computer games, the outdoor dog is more likely to spend most of his time alone.

No Alternative: If you must leave your dog outdoors, unsupervised for extended periods of time, please provide him with the following:
  • An insulated shelter with a wind-proof opening. Some very short-coated breeds like greyhounds, beagles and Dalmatians, may not be able to tolerate extreme cold, even with a shelter.
  • Shade in the summertime. All dogs need shade, but remember that heavy-coated dogs such as huskies and chows are more susceptible to the heat.
  • Fresh food and water every day. In winter, you'll need a heated water bowl to keep water from freezing. In summer, you'll need a tip-proof bowl so your dog won't tip the bowl over in an effort to get cool.
  • Interactive playtime daily.
  • A daily walk.
  • An escape-proof fence with a locked gate.
  • Busy toys.

    Most dogs do enjoy spending time outdoors, but the time dogs spend alone outdoors must be balanced with quality time with "their people". With a little time and training, dogs can learn to be well behaved around people and can come to respect the house rules. They can then be left inside alone without cause for worry and be trusted companions and members of the family.

    Courtesy: SPCA of Central Florida

    • "House training Your Puppy"

     

    House training a puppy requires time, vigilance, patience and commitment. By following the procedures outlined below, you can minimize house soiling incidents, but virtually every puppy will have an accident in the house (more likely several). This is part of raising a puppy and should be expected. The more consistent you are in following the basic house training procedures, the faster your puppy will learn acceptable behavior. It may take several weeks to house train your puppy and with some smaller breeds it might take longer. A puppy can usually be considered reliably housetrained when it has not had any accidents for two or three months.

    Establish A Routine: Your puppy will do best if he is taken outside on a consistent and frequent schedule. He should have the opportunity to eliminate after waking up from a nap, after playing and after eating.

    Choose a location not too far from the door to be the bathroom spot. Always take your puppy, on a leash, directly to the bathroom spot. Taking him for a walk or playing with him directly after he has eliminated will help him to associate good things with elimination. If you clean up an accident in the house, take the soiled rags or paper towels and leave them in the bathroom spot. The smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place he is supposed to eliminate. While your puppy is eliminating, use a word or phrase, like "go potty," that you can eventually use before he eliminates to remind him of what he's supposed to do.

    Praise your puppy lavishly every time he eliminates outdoors. You can even give him a treat. You must praise him or treat him immediately after he's finished eliminating, not after he comes back in the house. This step is vital because rewarding your dog for eliminating outdoors is the only way he'll know that this is an appropriate behavior.

    If possible, put your puppy on a regular feeding schedule. Depending on their age, puppies usually need to be fed three or four times a day. Feeding your puppy at the same times each day will make it more likely he'll eliminate at consistent times as well. This makes house training easier for both of you.

    Supervise, Supervise, Supervise! Don't give your puppy an opportunity to soil in the house. He should be watched at all times when he is indoors. You can tether him to you with a leash or use baby gates to keep him in your view. Watch for signs that he needs to eliminate, like sniffing around or circling. When you see these signs, immediately take him outside, on a leash, to his bathroom spot. If he eliminates, praise him lavishly and reward him with a treat.

    Confinement. When you're unable to watch your puppy closely, he should be confined to an area small enough that he won't want to eliminate there. It should be just big enough for him to comfortably stand, lie down and turn around. This area could be a portion of a bathroom or laundry room, blocked off with boxes or baby gates. Or you may want to crate-train your puppy and use the crate to confine him. If your puppy has spent several hours in confinement, make sure to take him directly to his bathroom spot before doing anything else.

    Oops! Expect your puppy to have an accident in the house - it's a normal part of house training.

    When you catch him in the act of eliminating in the house, do something to interrupt him, like make a startling noise (be careful not to scare him). Immediately take him to his bathroom spot, praise him and give him a treat if he finishes eliminating there.

    Don't punish your puppy for eliminating in the house. If you find a soiled area, it's too late to administer a correction. Do nothing but clean it up. Rubbing your puppy's nose in it, taking him to the spot and scolding him (or any other punishment or discipline) will only make him afraid of you or afraid to eliminate in your presence. Animals don't understand punishment after the fact, even if it's only seconds later. Punishment will do more harm than good.

    Cleaning the soiled area is very important because puppies are highly motivated to continue soiling in areas that smell like urine or feces. (Spray the area well with a Vinegar/Water mixture, this will eliminate all odors.) It's extremely important that you use the supervision and confinement procedures outline above to minimize the number of accidents. If you allow your puppy to eliminate frequently in the house, he'll get confused about where he's supposed to eliminate, which will prolong the house training process.

    Paper Training. A puppy under 6 months of age cannot be expected to control his bladder for more than a few hours at a time. If you have to be away from home for more than four or five hours a day, this may not be the best time to get a puppy. If you're already committed to having a puppy and have to be away from home for long periods of time, you'll need to train your puppy to eliminate in a specific place indoors. Be aware, however, that doing so can prolong the process of teaching him to eliminate outdoors. Teaching your puppy to eliminate on newspaper may create a life-long surface preference, meaning that he may, even in adulthood, eliminate on any newspaper he finds lying around the house.

    When your puppy must be left alone for long periods of time, confine him to an area with enough room for a sleeping space, a playing space and a separate place to eliminate. In the area designated as the elimination place, you can either use newspapers, a sod box, or litter. To make a sod box, place sod in a container like a child's small, plastic swimming pool. You can also find dog litter products at pet supply stores. If you clean up an accident in the house, take the soiled rags or paper towels, and place them in the designated elimination place. The smell will help your puppy recognize the area as the place where he is supposed to eliminate.

    Other Types Of House Soiling Problems. If you've consistently followed the house training procedures and your puppy continues to eliminate in the house, there may be another reason for his behavior.

    Medical Problems. House soiling can often be caused by physical problems, such as a urinary tract infection of a parasite infection. Check with your veterinarian to rule out any possibility of disease or illness.

    Submissive/Excitement Urination. Some dogs, especially young ones, temporarily lose control of their bladders when they become excited or feel threatened. This usually occurs during greetings, intense play or when they're about to be punished.

    Territorial Urine-Marking. Dogs sometimes deposit urine or feces, usually in small amounts, to scent-mark their territory. Both male and female dogs do this, and it most often occurs when they believe their territory has been invaded.

    Separation Anxiety. Dogs that become anxious when they're left alone may house soil as a result. Usually, there are other symptoms, such as destructive behavior or vocalization.

    Fears or Phobias. When animals become frightened, they may lose control of their bladder and/or bowels. If your puppy is afraid of loud noises, such as thunderstorms or fireworks, he may house soil when he's exposed to these sounds

    "Trimming dogs nails"
     
     
    Although dogs are less likely than cats to injure someone with their claws, timely nail trimmings help ensure that a dog can walk without pain or discomfort. The nails of very active dogs may not require any trimming, since they're continually worn down by contact with concrete and other rough surfaces. But it's still a good idea to check the nails occasionally to make sure none of them are torn or split.

    When you think about grooming a dog, you probably consider bathing him, brushing his coat, even cleaning those floppy ears, but it's a good idea to give dogs a pedicure every few weeks as well. If you've never trimmed a dog's nails, ask for some help from a more experienced person, and keep these instructions nearby.

    1. Stay Sharp:A few different tools are available to help you trim a dog's nails, including those that resemble miniature pliers and those with replaceable sliding "guillotine" blades. Use whichever model makes you and the animal most comfortable, but be sure to replace the blade frequently to make the job easier and prevent the dog from feeling any discomfort.

    2. Pull Their Legs:Dogs are often pretty cooperative when it comes to having their nails trimmed, and those who were handled often as puppies are even more likely to comply. Still, you may need to work a little to keep the animal still. If you're working alone, have the dog sit or lie down on the floor or table, then trim the nails, one paw at a time.

    3. Pull Their Legs, Part II: If you're grooming a larger dog or if the animal is apprehensive, have someone sit him down and hold out his paw, then get to work with the clippers. Have your helper scratch behind the dog's ears to reassure the animal and help move things along a little more quickly.

    4. Take The Edge Off :Remember that you should only remove the very end of the dog's nails. You may be tempted to trim off all of the excess, but that would be a mistake. In dogs, the quick -- the nerve endings and blood vessels inside the nail -- continue to grow as the nail grows. That means long nails must be trimmed bit by bit, over weeks or months, until the quick gradually recedes. Because it's so difficult to see the quick in dogs with dark nails, you'll need to look at the nail straight on and keep trimming until you see a small dark circle. If you accidentally clip too far and the nail begins to bleed, apply pressure to the tip of the nail or dip the nail in a bit of styptic powder, then make sure the animal is kept inactive for a short time.

    Thank Them Very Much Give the dog a treat or a pat on the tummy to thank him for his cooperation, and things should go at least as well the next time around.

    Courtesy: SPCA of Central Florida

    Separation Anxiety: Helping Your Puppy Cope

    Separation anxiety in dogs and puppies is an exaggerated fear of being separated from their pack, which are the humans that they live with. This causes a great deal of stress and it happens each time you and your family leave the house. There are some things that you can do to help your puppy cope with his fears. Let’s take a look at puppy anxiety.

    Signs of Puppy Anxiety

    • Barking, growling and whining.
    • Chewing on and/or destroying things such as shoes, slippers and furniture.
    • Eliminating or defecating in the house.
    • Scratching feverishly at the door when you close it behind you.
    • Vomiting.

    Crate Training for Anxiety

    A great way to help your puppy cope with separation anxiety is to crate train him. This gives him a place to go where he will feel safe and secure. The crate becomes his den and he will learn to be happy there while his pack is away.

    Tips

    • Introduce your puppy to the crate.
    • Be sure it is large enough for him to turn around when he is fully grown. That way he can keep his den for his entire life.
    • Place the crate in a place where your puppy can enter and exit it comfortably.
    • Leave the door open and allow your puppy to explore his safe den.

    If you follow these tips, your puppy will soon feel safe and secure in his crate and will retreat to it when he’s feeling vulnerable.

    Crate training is an effective way to alleviate anxiety



    Your Puppy and His Crate

    Don’t lock your puppy in his crate for long periods of time when you first introduce him to it. It’s better to introduce the crate when you are going to be home for a few days. Follow these tips for a positive crate experience:

    • Put the puppy into the crate and close the door for two to three minutes while you remain in the room.
    • Open the crate and let the puppy out.
    • If he was well behaved, give him a nutritional treat, such as a piece of cheese or apple. If he whined, cried or barked while he was contained, give him nothing.
    • Gradually increase the amount of time that you leave the puppy in his crate while you are in the room. Reward him when his behavior is calm.
    • Begin putting your puppy into the crate and leaving the room for short periods of time, starting with a minute or two.
    • Come back into the room, and then leave again for a couple of minutes.
    • Gradually increase the time that you spend out of the room.
    • If your puppy remains calm, always reward him, speak gently, pat him and give him a treat. If he cries, barks, howls or whines, he gets nothing.
    • Do not let your puppy out of the crate until he calms down.
    • Never go directly to the crate when you get home from work or from being out.
    • If your puppy remains calm, release him, pat him, praise him and give him a treat.
    • At this point your puppy will need to go outside to the bathroom. He will not eliminate or defecate in his crate, as that is his den.
    • If possible, have someone visit your puppy during the day and take him out for a bathroom break and a walk. Ask them to spend a bit of time playing with him to burn off pent-up energy.
    • Teach the person who will be doing this to place your puppy back in the crate and leave immediately, without fuss. If they fuss, it will make your puppy’s anxiety level escalate.
    • Stay on schedule when possible. This allows your puppy to know when to expect your arrival.
    • Take your puppy out for a morning walk before leaving for work.
    • Put an indestructible toy or two in puppy’s crate. Fill a Kong with peanut butter. This will help your puppy pass the time while you’re gone.
    • Leave the house without fuss. Give puppy a pat and leave immediately after using a phrase such as, “See you later.” If you use the same phrase every time, your puppy will soon learn its meaning.
    • Be sure your house is puppy proof in case he escapes his crate. Yes, this is possible.
    • Be persistent. Don’t give up. If your puppy escapes his crate, find a way to secure it. You may have to buy a lock, a clamp or even tie his crate shut.
    Excessive barking, whining and howling are signs of an anxious puppy

    Points to Remember

    • Some puppies can only be left alone for a few minutes before they panic.
    • Your puppy knows that you have left him alone. He doesn’t know when, or if you’ll return.
    • Be positive. Recognize your puppy’s fears and always reassure him when you are planning to remain at home.
    • Teach your puppy to lie down, sit and stay on command. Obedience is often the key that will help him overcome his separation anxiety.
    • When you leave the house for long periods of time, leave the radio or TV playing. Always leave it on the same station. Your puppy will adopt the announcer into his pack and will remain calm when he is alone.
    • Your puppy knows when you are going to leave by your body language. Desensitize him by putting your shoes on and taking them off several times; by picking your keys up and laying them down several times and heading for the door and changing your route several times. Your puppy will soon learn to ignore these things and will be calmer when you leave.
    • If you try all of these things and nothing works, take your puppy to a professional trainer that specializes in puppy behavior. It won’t take long for him to pin-point the problem.
    • As a last resort, ask your veterinarian to prescribe a medication for your puppy that will ease his separation anxiety.

    Once you have helped your puppy overcome his separation anxiety, he will be less stressed—carefree and enthusiastic about life in his pack. You and he will form a firm bond that will create a wonderful long-lasting relationship.

    "KEYS TO MANAGING CANINE BEHAVIOR"

    by Liam Crowe
    CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist
    Bark Busters USA

    Some people purchase a dog with the intention that he or she will be a member of the family, only to discover that the dog becomes the de facto head of the household. How does this happen?

    Dogs are pack animals. A dog’s instinctive behavior is to challenge the pack member above him and, in turn, to be challenged by the dog below. Within the human-dog pack, dogs behave the same way. This can lead to undesirable behaviors, such as charging the door when the doorbell rings, barking, jumping, pulling on the leash and even biting – top reasons millions of dogs each year are mistreated, abandoned or euthanized.

    In fact, controlling dog behavior is a major issue in the United States. An analysis of statistics from a variety of sources and research from Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine indicates that more than two million dogs are brought to shelters each year because of behavior problems their owners believe to be permanent. The vast majority of these animals are “put to sleep,” making death (euthanasia) due to behavioral problems the number one cause of dog mortality, ahead of trauma and disease.

    This means a staggering number of dogs – nearly 70 percent of those given to shelters – are euthanized each and every year; sadly, the vast majority unnecessarily. And worst of all, it’s not the dog’s fault. It’s a human-canine communications issue.

    “Dogs speak a unique language based on tones and body language that is designed to demonstrate leadership. Dogs will instinctively submit to the leader of the pack. And, for dog guardians, that leadership must be communicated in a way dogs can understand.”

    Experts agree that dogs need clear and consistent leadership to feel safe and happy, whether within their packs or with their human families. “Allowing a dog to assume a higher position within the family pack than his temperament is able to handle creates stress, just like a person who is promoted to a position above his or her ability, says Roger Lehier, DVM, of Foothills Animal Hospital near Denver, Colorado. “However, a dog’s need for a strong leader is instinctive, and if in his mind a human companion is not up to the task, the dog will constantly challenge the human for leadership, often in subtle ways.”

    With more than one of every three households owning a dog in the United States – more than 60 million dog guardians in all – thousands, even millions, of people are looking for help to solve their dogs’ behavior problems. Understanding the keys to pack behavior and following a few simple guidelines from experts can help owners establish leadership and begin controlling a dog’s behavior:

    • Win all “challenges” to demonstrate your leadership. Whether the challenge is for attention or for who walks through a doorway first, the human needs to be the pack leader. Because dogs crave strong leadership, if they don’t get it from their owners, they’ll try to take charge. That leads to the bad behaviors mentioned above – each of which is an example of the dog taking charge.

    • Teach your dog to respond to you – not the other way around. One way to establish leadership is – from time to time – to ignore requests from your dog, such as nudges to be petted or played with. To do so, break eye contact. Then, when your dog has “given up,” call him back to you to be petted or to play. When you dictate the situation, the dog will see you as the leader.

    • Communicate consistently in a language your dog understands. When your dog misbehaves, such as chewing on a child’s toy or jumping up on a visitor, stand at your full height and correct the behavior with a forceful, low-toned growl. (At Bark Busters, we use a guttural tone that sounds like “BAH!” This has proven effective worldwide.) As soon as the dog stops, offer pleasant, high-toned praise. This is a form of communications that a dog understands. If practiced consistently, the dog will understand his or her mistakes and respect you as the pack leader.

    • Always lead your dog – literally. In the wild, the leader is always positioned at the head of the pack. Establish your leadership by always leading your dog — up and down stairs, through doorways, and especially on walks.

    Most dog owners simply accept the disruptive or aggressive behavior of their dogs because they think it’s normal or don’t know how to change it. Learning about pack leadership and canine communication is incredibly interesting for most dog lovers. Gaining a better understanding of the dog psyche strengthens the human-canine connection. Learning how to communicate leadership effectively with your dog in a language he or she understands – using voice control and body language – is a critical step in establishing leadership and control, which can eliminate many behavioral issues. Through effective training and communications methods that demonstrate leadership, most dogs can be saved from abandonment or euthanasia, and can become the loving companions we all want.

     

     

    "Understanding the Nature of Typical Dog Behavior"

    When you understand the natural basis for your dog’s behavior, you can more easily learn to modify it.

    by Liam Crowe
    CEO and Master Dog Behavioral Therapist
    Bark Busters USA

    Dogs will be dogs. That’s an important message for all dog lovers. While some behaviors we humans would classify as “bad” are natural, they do not have to be part of the normal routine. Let’s face it. Some of the things dogs do drive us crazy. And yet, digging, chewing and jumping all come naturally to dogs.

    Let’s look at some examples and the origin of the behavior.

    Jumping begins as play behavior among puppies. They jump on and wrestle each other to prepare themselves for adult life when they’ll have to figure out their place in the pack. While most people think that a dog is saying hello when he jumps up, he’s actually demonstrating his dominance. The dog is saying that the house is his and that he is making the rules—or, he may be challenging you to “play” for leadership.

    Barking is a natural form of dog communication. In a pack consisting of only dogs, however, there is usually very little barking. But in human-canine packs—our families—barking can happen all too often. Why? Primarily because we humans are not as perceptive to other forms of canine communications. We tend to miss the more subtle messages from our dogs, so they learn that people “need” to hear barks to respond.

    Answering the front door is another natural behavior. The front door represents the entry to your dog’s den, and he’s inquisitive about who or what is there and what’s happening. This doesn’t mean that barking and pushing should be tolerated. If you can’t have a conversation with a delivery person, or welcome a guest into your home, you as the pack leader need to set boundaries. When dogs are allowed to make decisions for us (as in how to greet visitors), it undermines your authority as pack leader – and typically causes disarray or embarrassment.

    Mouthing and nipping, like jumping, are behaviors that puppies learn as part of play—which is one reason dogs are designed with thick, loose skin that can handle a few nips and nibbles. Pups usually learn bite inhibition from the reactions of their littermates or from older dogs. Unfortunately, people often don’t convey the message clearly that nipping is inappropriate. Many of our reactions unintentionally encourage more nipping.

    Coprophagia, or eating feces, is absolutely disgusting to people. Even so, it is a natural dog behavior. There are two good reasons for it. First, a mother dog will stimulate her very young puppies to toilet by licking their genital and anal areas. When they go, she consumes the excrement in order to keep the nest area clean. This is a puppy’s first exposure to the behavior. Secondly, dogs who persist in the habit may find some nutritional benefit, either from undigested food or from the bacteria that are present.

    These and many other natural dog behaviors are triggered by instinct, so dogs don’t understand that there is any thing wrong with them. They aren’t doing them to make us mad – although that is often the result.

    When you understand the natural basis for your dog’s behavior, you can more easily learn to modify it.

    Dogs learn through experience and association. Additionally, dogs learn through a number of processes, operant conditioning, classical conditioning, inference and imitation are chief among them. The most effective training tactics take advantage of all of these learning processes in a dog-friendly way. Ask your local trainer for more details. With some conditioning, you can eliminate or minimize some of the behaviors you find undesirable – and your dog will still have that charming personality you love.