ALL dogs bark, but as with digging, some breeds bark, howl and generally vocalize more than others. Keep this in mind when choosing your pet.
- If your dog barks excessively, try immediate correction and diversion to another activity. However, if your dog perceives a human’s verbal reprimand as welcome attention or even a “bark-a-long”, he may decide to bark more. Try teaching a “speak” command;
- Once this is learned, teach “quiet”;
- Divert your dog’s attention by taking him to another room, and after a few seconds of quiet, reward him for his silence.
What do you do if you aren’t home to hear the barking—but your neighbors are?
Unfortunately, a lot of problem barking occurs when you aren’t there to hear it, but your neighbors are. Separation anxiety is often the cause of such barking. If your dog is outside during the day:
- Block his view of the neighbors’ properties so that visual cues will not start him barking (of course, sounds from a neighboring yard may still set him off);
- Try a bark-activated collar that delivers a whiff of citronella (generally unpleasant to dogs) when the dog barks.
If barking becomes a real neighborhood nuisance, and even professionals can’t help, you may have to choose between giving up your dog or having him debarked, a surgical alteration of the vocal cords to reduce the volume of sound. Debarking is controversial because many people consider it inhumane. It should be considered only when the other alternative is euthanasia.
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DOGS often jump up on people simply as an enthusiastic greeting. Avoid talking enthusiastically or waving your arms when entering a room; this just encourages the dog’s behavior.
Instead, immediately command the dog to sit, and then reward this behavior.
Unruly dogs jump up on owners and generally do as they please. Try to avoid having to constantly use the negative commands “off!” or “no!” Instead:
- When the dog jumps up, move back and say, “Sit”;
- When he complies with your command, crouch down and reward his quiet behavior by calmly stroking his sides.
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CORRECT your dog if he starts digging in inappropriate areas, but since digging is an instinctive activity, provide him with a fenced-in, free-dig zone of his own and teach him the “dig” command.
In your absence, limit his access to other areas of the yard. Provide other outlets for his physical energy.
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THE dog’s habit of eating his own or other animals’ stools, called coprophagia, is particularly disgusting to people. Your dog, however, sees no problem with eating excrement, and herbivore feces may even provide nutrients.
However, various internal parasites also may be ingested in this way. While numerous theories have been advanced to explain coprophagia, treatment is the same.
- Confirm with your vet that your dog’s diet is adequate;
- Ask your vet for an additive for your dog’s food to make his stools distasteful;
- Clean up immediately after your dog defecates;
- Place cat litter boxes out of reach to remove temptation;
- If your dog tries to eat feces while on a walk, correct with, “No!” or “Out!”.
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TO some dogs, a fence is just a brief obstacle on the way to adventures in the neighborhood.
- Sterilizing dogs will make them less interested in roaming;
- Since an open gate is the usual escape route, be sure everybody knows that it must be shut securely;
- If your dog is tempted by visual cues, try to block his view with landscaping or solid fencing;
- Making sure your dog is well-exercised and has amusing toys will also help keep him in the yard;
- If you have a persistent climber or digger, consider stringing electric pet fencing along the top or bottom of your fence to deter him.
While this practice offends human sensibilities, a dog’s perspective is different. He is exploring and enjoying new tastes and smells.
However, beyond the mess that the dog can make, garbage may contain dangerous chemicals, bacteria-laden food and sharp objects that can cause serious harm. Deterrence works best.
- Securely latch garbage cans and remove them from the dog’s area;
- If you catch your dog in the act, say, “No”, and reward his compliance with praise—not food;
- A head halter can be a great help when walking your dog in areas where litter or refuse is present. With good reflexes, you can usually steer the dog’s head away before he picks up a piece of garbage;
- If your dog is faster than you are, say, “No!” or “Out!”.
Your dog will naturally be interested in human food. It tastes and smells good, and besides, his humans are eating it. But that cute, begging puppy very quickly becomes a nuisance as his size and appetite increase. The only way to stop begging is to never reward your dog with that one little snack because he looks so adorable.
Occasionally giving your dog a taste from your plate provides strong reinforcement for a behavior you want to stamp out. So when your dog begs, put him in a “down” or “sit-stay” position some distance from the table.