Dog Training: Stop Destructive Dog Chewing

Training a dog to not chew on things can be a challenge. Dogs are predisposed to chewing on things. Chewing helps them relax, it gives them something enjoyable to do and it feels good. Destructive chewing is when the dog is chewing personal possessions and other items in the household besides his dog toys and chew toys. Puppies chew on things because they are teething. If your adult dog is chewing the wrong things or destroying your home, then the root cause is usually boredom, frustration, loneliness and anxiety.

Correct your dog only when he is caught in the act of chewing something he shouldn't. When you do catch him in the act, quickly take away the incorrect item and immediately substitute it with a "squeakie" toy, rubber bone or other favorite toy of theirs. Give your dog suitable chewing toys; they are going to chew either way, but by giving them something that you find appropriate, they can chew all they want. You can also buy toys such as “Kong” toys which food can be placed inside. It is also help to find interactive toys which give your dog something to do for an extended period of time.

Lastly,make sure your dog is receiving plenty of attention from you. A lonely or bored dog will tend to “act out” just like a child. Sometimes, that means chewing your favorite shoes!

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Talking dogs

Walking Your Dog on a Leash

One of the biggest problems that dog owners face is leash training. Your first step to take with leash training your dog would be to have him acclimated to wearing a collar. You will need to buy a dog collar that fits your dog without been too tight, but enough room so that you can get two fingers in between the collar and your dogs skin comfortably. Start attaching a leash and let the dog drag it around the house a little to get used to it. Once he is used to it, you can begin to pick the leash up. When you have the leash in your hands, it is important to get your dog used to the idea that you are somehow connected to one another. He needs to get used to the feel of you holding the end of the leash, so it's a good idea to put it on him and walk around the house with him awhile. It is important to leave enough slack between you and your dog, as this allows the dog to walk alongside you.
Walking beside you on a leash is the next step in your dog training program. It is common for a dog to pull during walks, as this will give them a sense of authority and control. If left unchallenged, it gives your dog the idea that it acceptable behavior and he can go anywhere he wants. Immediately stop walking if your dog pulls on the leash. It may take multiple walks before you notice your dog is no longer pulling on the leash. Make sure you are rewarding him for good behavior with lots of praise and treats.
In the course of training your dog on the leash, you may also wish to incorporate the verbal commands that go with walking a dog such as “come, sit and heel”. Once he is responding to basic commands you can progress to more complex training.

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The Jumping Dog

A dog that is allowed to jump up on you because he is a puppy will not understand why he is not allowed to jump up on people when he is a larger adult dog. A dog jumping up on someone can be a safety issue.

If you want to discourage your dog from jumping on people when they come in the door, have them totally ignore the dog and turn their back to him until he calms down. When he has calmed down, then have your guest calmly pet him and reaffirm the correct behavior.

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Stop Your Dog From Barking

Of all the ways dogs communicate, excessive barking is one of the most annoying. A dog must understand that excessive barking is not suitable conduct and will not be tolerated, nor rewarded, in any way. Before using your dog training skills, you really do need to figure out why your dog is barking to begin with before you can correct the problem. Learn to discriminate between barking which should be discouraged and barking to alert you. Your aim here is not to stop a dog from barking completely, rather it is to stop a dog from barking excessively.

Some dogs bark for attention. Here are some ways to help deter this behavior:

1)Socialize your dog as much as you can with other dogs.
2)Make sure that the dog is getting daily exercise.
3)When you are at home make sure that you spend some time with your dog so that he does not need to bark to get your attention.
4)Don't start yelling at him when he barks, avoid eye contact, do not look towards him and use your body language to help get the point across to him that you do not want to be bothered right now.
5)Train your dog to be quiet on command and always keep in mind to praise your dog when he obeys your command.

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About My Dog

Zoe is a 6 year old high energy Boxer who is just starting to slow down. She is our pride and joy. Her personality keeps us entertained as well as her unconditional love. Zoe has been a part of our family since she was 11 weeks old. She is truly a loving companion to have around.