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Dog owner doodles perceive their dog as their child. We all know one or two of them! There are those who talk to them like children, reward them with unearned privileges, provide them with extensive and expensive wardrobes and, worst of all, make countless excuses for them.

Unfortunately, they’re not doing their canine companion any favors. In fact, more often than not, by not realizing what they are doing, they are creating destructive little monsters and terrorists!

On the other hand, there are dog owners who really understand their dog’s inherent behaviors. They love their pet as much as each other, but realize there must be limits for the relationship to co-exist peacefully. For that to happen, they have to know and understand their dog, so that they can prevent problems and inappropriate behavior from occurring.

Handling a potential problem is easier than having to remedy it.

Formal training is a vital element in modifying a dog’s natural behaviors so that they can all live happily under the same roof. Positive reinforcement, non-punishment Puppy Kindergarten and Obedience training classes teach you how to communicate with your pet in a way they understand.

Let’s start by understanding why dogs do what they do. The most common complaints are chewing/mouthing, digging, barking, and housebreaking.

Chewing/Mouth

Your dog is a chewing machine. However, your dog doesn’t chew on your furniture, pillows, shoes, and hands because he enjoys seeing your reaction. They just like it and need to chew!

They chew and bite their mouths because that is what dogs do. Having no hands, they use their mouths to explore and satisfy their need to chew. Since they can’t read the rule book, you also can’t sit down with them and have a cup of coffee to discuss what is appropriate to chew/put in your mouth and what is off limits. you must teach them the difference between what is yours and what is theirs, what is right and what is wrong.

Dogs learn by association and consistency. The easiest way to slow down and eventually stop your dog’s chewing is to replace the inappropriate object with an appropriate object and give him the “grab” command. Don’t use food, because they will make the association that they are being rewarded for inappropriate behavior. Your goal is to teach them what is allowed to chew.

Another hassle-free way is to make sure inappropriate objects are not where they can be accessed or reached. Basically, restrict your puppy or dog’s “right to use” to only areas where they can be supervised, until they show you that they can be trusted.

Use gates and barriers to limit their access to the entire house and you’ve reduced problems considerably. As your pet shows that he has “earned” the privilege of having more freedom in the house, he simply removes the barriers.

It is also valid for countertops. Do not leave food accessible. Dogs are natural scavengers. For them, if it’s within their reach, it’s fair game. Supervise your dog when he is in the kitchen until you can trust him.

Excavation

There are six main reasons why dogs dig. They dig when they are bored. They dig to provide a safe haven, such as a den. They dig to find or hide things. They dig when they are hot. They dig because something in their genes tells them to dig. Also, they dig because they see us digging and they want to help.

Leaving your dog outdoors, unattended will invite the first two reasons. A bored dog gets into trouble more often and much faster than one that is being exercised and interacted with. Don’t leave your puppy or dog alone outside for more than a few minutes. Don’t give them time to get bored and get into trouble. That solves a lot of problems.

Provide a cool, shady spot for them to retreat to in hot weather. Fill a plastic kiddie pool with a few inches of water. Many dogs appreciate a refreshing bath.

Give them enough attention-getting things to keep them busy for a while. Just don’t expect it to last long. They will eventually look for something more interesting or challenging.

If your dog is inherently programmed to dig, for example, most Terriers (hence Terra, Latin for earth) and Dachshunds (German for badger hound), remember that they were bred to dig, to hunt underground vermin. If you have a long-haired, thick-coated dog, such as a Chow-Chow or a Husky, you’ll find him digging to cool off. Bloodhounds like Beagles and Bassets follow their noses. If they smell something interesting down there, they want to dig it up!

And then we have intact males that will dig a hole, climb a tree or a fence, basically do whatever they have to do, to get to that pretty female down the street. Her body and mind are crying out for them to pass on their extraordinary genes to the next lucky generation. Neutering your unaltered male will make life much easier for him and for you. He can even save his life. Undisturbed stray male dogs have been known to lose their brains and think nothing of challenging a car! The result, most of the time, is not in your favor.

For some dogs, a litter box, specially designated area, or even a sand-filled wading pool helps quell the urge to dig. Teach them by association, this is the only area they are allowed to dig. Occasionally bury treats or toys to give them something fun to find and keep them interested in that area.

And for the dog that wants to “help” you when you’re in the garden… thank him, but don’t let him! The easiest way to do this is to not let them see you dig. It only encourages the behavior.

Excavator owners have found that keeping their pet’s nails trimmed helps a lot. They don’t like how it feels.

bark

Talk later; dogs bark… it’s all about communication. They bark to chat with each other. They bark when they are happy, have an opinion about something or are afraid. They bark to greet and warn. Some breeds, like some West Highland Terriers, bark simply because they like the sound of their own voice.

This is where your dog’s obedience training will help you! Teaching your dog a couple or three barks is fine, but when you say “enough!”, it’s time to stop. The sooner you instill this in a puppy, the better it will be for both of you.

Housebreaking

The speed with which most dogs get used to taking care of outdoor business only happens when their owner is consistent with their training program. Inconsistency in this training most often means inconsistency in behavior. Dogs love routines and schedules. It makes them feel safe. Set a schedule and stick to it.

Unless your dog has a medical condition, is very young or old, the problem is that you are not consistent. Puppies usually get the message in one to three weeks, depending on their age. Considering that puppies do not have control over their bladder and bowels, accidents will happen. You have to understand that they need to be taken outside more often. A general rule of thumb is that they can “hold” it for about 1 hour for every month of age.

You also need to remember to be consistent about taking them outside immediately when they wake up in the morning… it’s usually best to take a puppy outside at that time. You need to take them outside after meals, after drinking, right after naps, and right after playing rough and tumble around the house.

Have a special word or two, so they associate what’s on the agenda for that particular outdoor trip. Doesn’t mean game time!

Do not interrupt them until they have finished. When the mission is accomplished, use a lot of praise, praise, praise, and then immediately return inside. They have to associate that word or words with the bathroom issue!

Bottom line: Now that you understand your dog’s behavior a little better, you can work on managing situations and behaviors before they become problems. It will make life easier and happier for you and your dog.