Dog Puppy Behavior Training Help

Three Steps for Puppy Play Biting Solutions

Play biting is a stage of development. Most pups naturally grow out of the stage at about 6 months of age unless people do things that prolong the period. I’ve met some older dogs, 1-2 years old, who still nip and mouth, which poses a true problem. This is an indication that their humans did not understand play biting and unknowingly created a play biting habit. Here are three steps you can use...

Challenges of Raising Puppy Litter Mates

Anyone of the millions of dog owners knows . . .it’s easy to fall in love with puppies! How many of you went to “look” at a litter of puppies, only to arrive home with a new canine addition? These guys pull at our hearts! An even stronger heart tug is when only two puppies are left. Many people make split second decisions to adopt both puppies. People are thinking,”heck, it’s not much more...

Puppy Making you Crazy? Tether that Turbo Girl!

Most of us would not walk an untrained puppy, off leash, next to a busy street. We realize the puppy is not trained, and she may wander into the street and get hit by a car.  We use a leash to keep the puppy safe. Inside the house, it’s a little safer. No cars are going to break your puppy’s legs, and your puppy can’t run away from you and get kidnapped or lost. But she can get into trouble...

When Can I Start Training My New Puppy?

Your puppy’s training starts the minute you bring that little furry critter home! At this age, your concerns will be house training, play biting and socialization. However, you can introduce a young pup to basic commands: look, here, and sit. Just make sure your expectations are realistic, and be kind. Puppies and dogs do not ever need to be spanked! Follow this link to see a video of Harry,...

Should I Get Another Dog / Puppy?

Here’s the deal. Your 7 month old Labrador Retriever is driving you nuts. Walter has so much energy, you can’t seem to wear him out. You take him on 2, 30 minute walks every day, one in the morning and one when you get home from work. He is crated during the day, because Walter would “remodel” your house otherwise. Every evening, you play fetch for at least an hour. You want...

Six Facts You Need to Know to Raise a Perfect Puppy

Fact #1: Forget about alpha and pack. A nine year old child, or a 85 year old grandparent in a wheelchair, can teach and control any dog by following a few, simple, kind rules. There is an excellent, simple way to teach your puppy, and it has nothing to do with alpha or dominance. As neat as it sounds, your family is not in some sort of mythical pack with your dog. You do not compete with your puppy...

House Breaking or House Training? Let’s Call it Potty Area Conditioning

Contrary to popular beliefs, the process of house training is largely governed by a naturally occurring, classical conditioning process. I propose we assign a more accurate, 21st century, label for house training. Let’s name it “potty area conditioning”! All of your actions will alter the natural process of “potty area conditioning”. You may hasten the process, delay the process, or...

Your Choice- Obnoxious Dog or Well Mannered Pet

Every day, I speak with clients about meeting their dogs’ basic needs. Most of us assume our dogs are getting plenty of exercise and stimulation when the dogs are alone (or with other dogs) in a large fenced area. The dog is in the great outdoors, so she must be getting enough exercise, right? Wrong. This is not usually the case, unless you have a turbo Jack Russell Terrier, like the one pictured...

House Training Quick Start Guide

Manage the environment. Close doors, use crates, baby gates, tethers, et cetera. Get a clean bill of health from a veterinarian. The dog should be leashed, confined or supervised at all times while inside. Anytime you cannot directly supervise your dog, use a crate or confinement area to keep your dog and your house safe. If you will be gone for periods longer than the dog can wait, place...

Inappropriate Elimination Questionnaire- for Dogs that were Previously House Trained and Inside Elimination Represents a Change in Behavior

Sometimes I see clients whose dogs were previously house trained, but recently started eliminating inside. The causes can range from medical or dietary issues, attention seeking behaviors,  to anxiety and fearful behaviors. You’ll  need to determine the root cause before you can fix it. Here is the inappropriate inside elimination questionnaire that I use for remote house training consultations....

To Play . . or Not to Play. . . Will Tug of War Make My Puppy Aggressive?

Australian Terrier Puppy Tug is defined “to pull hard” by Webster’s online dictionary. People play tug with their dogs by pulling on an item the dog is holding in his or her mouth. To win at tug, you take the item away from your dog. Many of my clients ask me, “Is it okay to play tug with my puppy?” Good question. I know why you ask. Tug of war is one of those controversial...

iPhone 3Gs Video ** Ouch, My Westie Terrier Keeps Biting My Feet!

Puppies are cute, but not so cute when they attack your sock as you try to fit one on your foot! Ouch! That puppy just bit my toe!! You really cannot teach your puppy when life is happening. Sometimes, you just need to prevent that rascal puppy from perfecting nuisance behaviors. A tether is one of my favorite tools. A tether is a rope with a leash snap attached to one end. To make a tether, attach...