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Dog Behavior – Biting |
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Even the cutest, sweetest puppy can bite if provoked. Unwisely, some owners actually promote aggression as a symbol of power in their dogs. Even the smallest dog bite is a problem. On average about 1 dozen people die each year from dog bites. High on the list of dog bite victims are children and mail carriers.
When picking out your pet, make sure you know as much information as you can learn about the breed you are choosing. When your pet is young, make sure you are getting him socialized with other people and pets. Try different situations slowly and on a regular basis as he gets older.
Make sure your pet knows the basic “sit,” “stay,” “no,” and “come”. Don’t play aggressive games with your dog like wrestling and tug-of-war. Always keep your dog healthy, and watch for signs of illness. Make sure their vaccinations are always up to date. Obey leash laws, and make sure your dog is licensed.
Spending time with your pet is important. Dogs that are left alone often have a greater chance of developing behavior problems. It is a fact that neutered dogs are less likely to bite.
To avoid being bitten, always be careful around strange dogs. Children must be taught to NOT approach strange dogs. Children should be taught to ask permission from a dog’s owner before petting the dog. Don’t run past a dog. You don’t want to give them a reason to become aggressive. Never disturb a dog that’s caring for puppies, sleeping or eating. If a dog approaches to sniff you, stay still. If the dog thinks that you are not a threat, it will go away. If a dog threatens you, stay calm. Don’t scream. Try to avoid eye contact, and stay still until the dog leaves. If you are knocked down or fall, curl up in a ball and put your hands over your head and protect your face.
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Housebreaking Tips |
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1. Scheduling:
Put your dog on a consistent schedule of feeding and exercise. He will need to eliminate shortly after each meal. Take him outside as soon as he wakes up in the morning, after eating, play sessions, naps, and last thing at night.
2. Proper Diet:
Be consistent with his food. Table scraps can thwart your housebreaking efforts. No milk – milk causes some puppies to get diarrhea.
3. Praise and Reprimand:
Be sure to praise puppy when eliminating outdoors. When puppy has an accident indoors, you must catch him in the act of eliminating in order to correct him. Then shout loudly “No”, immediately take him outside to finish eliminating. Do not drag, yell or hit him while taking him outside after the accident.
4. Proper Confinement:
Do not give puppy the run of the house. Confine to one room or a kennel. Avoid closing doors on puppy, use a baby gate to confine him to one room. Do not tie the puppy up in the house.
5. Helpful Hints:
Does puppy have accidents in the middle of the night?
(Maybe you are feeding too much too late. Also remove the water bowl during the night.)
Eliminating after coming in from outdoors?
(Go out with puppy, be sure he is eliminating, not just playing.)
Eliminating in the same spot?
(Be sure to thoroughly clean the area to remove odor.)
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Kennel Training |
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There are many advantages to kennel training your puppy. For instance, housebreaking is accomplished much faster with a minimum of hassle for you and your puppy. Generally a puppy does not want to mess in the area in which he sleeps and eats. If you follow the general guidelines of housebreaking, your puppy should be housebroken within a week or less, with a minimum of clean-ups for you. If you are a working pet owner, the job of housebreaking your puppy is more difficult, however, not impossible. It will take longer to accomplish housebreaking your pup because essentially you will have to wait until the puppy gets a little older and can hold his bladder and bowels for extended periods of time. However, the advantage to the kennel in this situation is the fact that all you have to clean up upon returning home is the kennel pan instead of the entire kitchen floor. Also, your furnishings, woodwork and belongings are still in one piece! The kennel provides a safe, secure area for your puppy, away from household hazards and prohibits the puppy from destroying woodwork, wallboard, furniture, ect. You can return home relaxed, knowing your puppy is safe and so are your possessions. The advantages of the kennel trained dog are many, as you will experience as time goes by.
When training a new puppy to “kennel”, you may want to line the bottom of the kennel pan with newspapers until he is house broken. However, do provide a large towel or small blanket that you can place in one corner of the kennel for the puppy to use as a bedding area. If puppy shreds the towel or blanket, remove it until he accepts the idea that chewing his bedding is unacceptable. To prevent boredom, provide the puppy with a Nyla Bone or other sturdy toys in his pen. This should help to prevent the chewing and shredding of his bedding.
Find a location in your home where the kennel is out of the way, yet not totally secluded from household activities. Never use the kennel as punishment. Do not banish the puppy to the kennel for improper behavior. The kennel should always be associated with happy, comfortable, secure feelings for the puppy. Once you put the puppy in the kennel, do not take him out if he starts to whine and cry. If you are sure that he doesn’t have to go outside, allow him to have his tantrum. Eventually, he will lie down and sleep. Once you start to take the puppy out of the kennel because of his insistence, he will insist louder and longer each time. As your puppy grows older, you will notice that the kennel becomes his private retreat, a place to sleep, relax or eat his meals in a place that he actually likes to be.
When purchasing a kennel for your puppy, determine the puppy’s height and weight when full grown, then purchase the size kennel that will provide your dog with the most comfortable amount of space, yet not oversized. Kennels are available at any pet store.
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