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Common Dog Problems

My puppy eats everything!

Puppies love to chew on anything. This behavior cannot be changed - but it can be redirected by focusing on the positive. When you catch your dog or puppy chewing on something inappropriate, don't scold. The pup will only learn to clamp its jaws down or hide from you while it eats forbidden things. Don't chase the dog all around screaming at it. Puppies often think that this is a game of chase and will want to continue - playing "catch me if you can" is natural fun for pups.

Instead, praise the puppy for showing you the item and for allowing you to gently take the item away while offering a food treat as an exchange. Then reward the pup with the food treat. Eventually you can taper off the praise for inappropriate things such as cigarette butts, litter, shoes, and gloves. At the same time, increase the praise for good things such as dog toys - your pet will begin to self-select the "good" items to pick up since they garner more praise!

The end result of this response is a puppy that will not run away from you - and will eventually bring items to you such as toys, dropped keys, the newspaper, etc. Take the natural instinct for chewing and chasing and turn it into something positive.

An additional benefit to praising your puppy for bringing things to you, no matter what they are, is that someday the pup will find something dangerous - a box of rat poison for example. At that time instead of running away from you at top speed with the rat poison clamped in its jaws, the puppy will stand calmly and allow you to remove it - this could save your dog's life someday so get started praising your puppy for bringing things to you.

Please see our books and the focus on Dog Toys for much more information.

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DOG TOYS!

My puppy bites my fingers!

Nipping is really all about testing - testing your will for dominance and testing their new teeth. The very best way to put a stop to biting and mouthing of fingers and hands is to speak in dog language! The next time your dog nips you, make a high-pitched yelp like a dog that has had a toe stepped on. Your pup will be very concerned! Take that time to "change the subject" by throwing a toy or launching into a training session.

Scolding your puppy for finger nipping really doesn't work. When dogs play with each other, there is plenty of growling and threats - bluffs mostly. Your dog will think that you are just raising the stakes and that makes him want to keep playing the nipping game.

Some trainers advocate grabbing the dog's tongue or lower jaw as punishment for nipping. This too is ineffective because the dog will just try to outdo you in the nipping game.

Finding kindly adult dogs for your puppy to play with helps with nipping quite a bit - older dogs simply will not tolerate being nipped with a puppy sharp new teeth and will put the puppy in it's place. This is a very important step for your pup since often they simply don't know how painful their bite is until they are "told" by another dog!

Another important point to keep in mind with nipping is prevention. You will find that there are certain times when the puppy does most of it's nipping - when playing with toys, when it has not been exercised in a while or when it's glad to be reunited with you, most likely. At these times, simply keep your fingers away from the dog's mouth! Take the dog outside to burn off some energy and/or simply don't pet and stroke your dog when it is already over-stimulated. Often, nipping is a way for the puppy to tell you that it's anxious about something - that you will take it's toys away or that you will leave it alone again, most likely. Follow the above tips, help your puppy to burn off excess energy with a brisk short walk and use common sense - you will see improvement with nipping fast.

Please see our books, ebooks and the training aids section for more information.

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My dog is way too hyper!

During the first three years or life, physical activity is essential for good health and happiness. A dog's exercise needs do diminish with age but during puppyhood and the young adult years, exercise needs are very high. Dogs that do not get to move around enough tend to be overweight, frustrated, bored, destructive, willful, overly boisterous, and arthritic later in life.

Dogs that are cooped up all day get yelled at a lot! Don't set your dog up for problems - make sure to exercise your dog until it is tired, a few times a day. Big time commitment - yes, it is. Be sure you can handle it before getting a dog!

Remember that if you will not be home to spend many hours of active quality time with a dog every day, please don't get one. Your neighbors would thank you and so would the dog.

A last thought about hyperactivity - did you get the wrong breed of dog for your lifestyle? Hunting and herding dogs are extremely active by nature and that can't be changed. Talk to a professional animal behaviorist about this important question if you are feeling overwhelmed by your dog's energy level.

Please see our books and the section on exercise toys for more information.

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My dog pulls too hard on the leash!

There are several ideas to help with this - dog-training classes are the very best idea. You and you dog will learn exactly how to behave while on a leash so that walking with your dog is pleasurable and safe for all members of the family.

Dogs are rather insensitive around the neck by design - during a dog fight, most of the wounds are inflicted around the neck so there is not an abundance of sensitivity there to begin with. Many breeds have very thick, muscular necks, especially fighting breeds.

A device that really helps with dogs that pull hard is an over-the-nose head collar. Dogs care a lot more about pressure on their nose than around the neck. Before resorting to a medieval "pinch" or "prong" collar to control your dog, do consider an over-the-nose head collar such as the Gentle Leader or Halti Halter.

Please see our sections on apparel and on training aids for more information.

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My dog hates other dogs!

Dogs exposed to a variety of other dogs early on in life are not likely to develop this kind of aggression. This can be a big liability for owners and makes the dog much less enjoyable to walk and take places. Often, dog-aggressiveness is based on insecurity or mishandling and can be permanently overcome with the help of an experienced professional animal behaviorist.

In other cases, the aggression is built into fighting breeds that have been genetically engineered for centuries to attack and kill other dogs! In that case, a professional consultation is of utmost importance before the dog commits a tragic act and incurs the legal wrath of a victim's owner. Lawsuits involving not just veterinary bills but emotional duress, pain and suffering are increasingly common and should be avoided at all costs!

If you own a dog that wants to attack other dogs, do something about it now before it's too late. Your local Humane Society your veterinarian and the Yellow Pages are good sources of professional behaviorists to assist you with this potentially very serious problem.

Our books have much more information on dog behavior.

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My dog escapes and runs away!

First of all - is your dog spayed (for females) or neutered (for males) - If not, have this done right away. It's unfair to keep your pet in a constant state of sexual frustration. The surgury is safe and nearly painless so do it - ask your vet for confirmation of this, and visit your local animal shelter for proof that pet overpopulation is a huge problem. Allowing your pet to breed is just irresponsible and ultimately causes much suffering.

The main cause of escape and straying is, quite simply, boredom and anxiety from being left alone too much. Can you have a local helper walk your dog during the day to alleviate this? Can you come home at lunch and walk the dog or can your dog go to work with you some of the time?

Some people have good luck getting a second dog to provide companionship to the original lonely dog, but this may not be successful. Proceed with care if you wish to do this. Some jealousies may erupt and there is the possibility that you will just end up with two bored and lonely escape artists in your yard.

Your fencing or confinement system may be inviting a challenge - is the fence high enough and sturdy enough? Applying a skirt of heavy wire, partially buried around the bottom of the fence may help if the dog digs his way out.

Can the dog be confined inside the house in a dog-proof room or indoor kennel area? Often, being inside the house gives the dog the secure feeling that he needs to just sleep the day away instead of escaping. If your dog's house manners are not up to par, consider training and crate training to make this possible.

It's very important to be fully aware that keeping your dog confined to your property is your legal responsibilty as the dog's owner. Dogs roaming free may legally be shot dead if they harass livestock. Dogs who cause traffic accidents or harm to personal property put their owners at grave risk of lawsuit for damages and expenses. Your dog is at also risk of being stolen or maliciously harmed when he runs loose - please do not allow this to happen, for the sake of your dog, your neighborhood and your wallet!

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