Dog Behavior
& Basic Training Topics
Last Updated: 10/22/2007
A dog's behavior can be caused by many
things. This can include undetected illness. As such, no behavior
modification program should begin without first taking your dog to a
veterinarian for a complete physical examination. Feel free to provide a
printed copy of this page and ask if it would be an appropriate technique for
you to try. The training/behavior suggestions provided by L.E.A.R.N. are not
intended to be a substitute for an in-person, professional evaluation of your
dog's behavior. These are
intended
for dogs in good health and of sound mind and stable temperament. Articles
on these behavior topics have been written by Jill Miller and Giene Wicker.
Click here
for a list of Obedience Schools/Trainers, MS
Word or PDF
My name is Giene Wicker and I am the owner of The Dog Den, LLC. We teach group classes in Fitchburg, Madison's East Side, Verona, Columbus and Janesville. We also have doggie daycare at our Fitchburg location! During private lessons and behavioral consultations I consult dog owners on how to work with their dogs. Issues range from simple household manners to different types of aggression. I work with many breed rescue groups and shelters in Wisconsin. I have 2 black Labs and one black Lab mix (2 kids and 4 cats also!). For a specific question not mentioned below, please e-mail Giene.
Jill Miller is the owner of Courteous Canines dog walking service (http://www.courteousk9s.com), which serves Middleton and Madison's west side. She is also a trainer at Mad City Dog Training (http://www.madcitydog.com) in Fitchburg, teaching primarily puppy and basic obedience classes. As a former foster home who enjoyed fostering rambunctious adolescent dogs, as well as owning two challenging and active Labs herself, Jill has gained much of what she's learned about dog behavior first hand.
Table of Contents:
- Things to think about before bringing a new dog home.
- What are some good chew toys for my Lab?
- Why can't my dog be house-trained?
- How do I stop my dog from demand barking or "talking back"?
- How do I stop my dog from jumping?
- How do I keep the cats safe from our dog (or is it the other way around)?
- Is it normal for my Lab to be so mouthy?
- Help! My dog is afraid of men.
- Introducing pets to a new child.
- Choosing the best dog food.
- What do I do about possession aggression?
- How to deal with dogs that won't let you use "their" furniture
- The truth about dogs with bite histories
- Learn how one foster family dealt with separation anxiety
- Placing dogs with children
- Pets and Allergies - Can your furry friends actually help prevent them?
- Is your dog a thief?
- Stop my dog from mounting...
- What do I do when my dog counter surfs?
- To dig or not to dig
- PDA - Puppy Displays of Affection (licking)
- The importance of door manners
- Barking
- Storm Anxiety
- Crate Training Basics
New
Dog:
So you're thinking of making a rescued Lab part
of your family - congratulations! The
fact that you are working with dog rescue shows that you have given adding a
dog to your family some careful thought. The purpose of this article is to share with you some other things to
think about.
Chew Toys:
Learn more about rawhides, Kongs, sterilized bones, Buster Cubes,
Molecuballs, and ice cubes.
House Training:
What to do before you get started, why it's important to "catch them
in the act", how to use a key phrase, and of course lots of praise.
Demand Barking:
If you clapped your hands and someone gave you $20.00 for each clap,
you'd start clapping your hands all the time - right?. If one time you
didn't get the $20.00, you'd start to clap harder and much louder, wouldn't
you? Find out how this compares to dogs who bark to get their own way.
Jumping:
You're expecting company, but your guests aren't looking forward to being
met at the front door. Why? Because
you can't get your dog to stop jumping on people! Find out what you
can do about this.
Cats:
Unbeknownst to humans, dogs have fought for thousands of years to keep
mankind from falling under the rule of cats. It is a war so secret, so
covert that it could be happening in your own living room. (Ever see
the movie Cats and Dogs?) Your mission, should you choose to accept
it, is to help keep the peace.
Mouthy Lab:
Nipping, play-biting, chewing...My goodness I have a mouthy dog!
They're like kids, always putting something in their mouths. Learn the
how, why, and what now of this behavior.
Afraid of Men:
Is your dog sexist? What can happen when dogs aren't properly
socialized or maybe suffer from a traumatic event involving certain people?
Pets and Babies:
Ten
little fingers and ten little toes...and four paws?
How do you prepare for bringing home a new baby, when you have a dog
(or cat) at home already?
Choosing the best dog food:
Educate
yourself about what to feed your dog. Check out our list of
recommended foods, and find out what works best for you and your own
dog...
Possession Aggression
Many of us know, or even own, a dog that is beautiful with
every other dog, unless there are toys around. These possession issues
toward other dogs can be really, really tough to deal with. Learn more ...
How to deal with dogs who won't let you use "their" couch
Ok, tell the truth. Who "owns" the furniture in your house?
The dog? You? No matter which one of you has first rights to the couch, there
can be a happy medium ...
The truth about dogs with bite histories
It's a something that most dog owners have in the back of their minds – the horror of
finding out that your dog has bitten someone. In some cases
you know that it is a possibility, in other cases you're completely stunned that your dog
could do something like this. While you're reeling from the information, trying to decide
what to do, here are some things to consider.
Placing dogs with children
Learn the warning signs of possible aggression in newly
adopted dogs ...
For more information on recent studies that show that pets may actually help prevent allergies in children more than they cause them, check out the Spring 2004 edition of Healthy Pet magazine or visit the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Website at www.niaid.nih.gov/newsroom/releases/petallergyrsk.htm or www.niaid.nih.gov and search under pets and allergies.
Is your dog a thief?
What do socks, a math test, shoes, clean laundry, and hats have in common?
They are all objects that have been stolen and chewed on by adult dogs in my
home. One expects that puppies will steal and chew on things, but they are
supposed to grow out of that, are they not?
Stop my dog from mounting...
The image of a dog mounting an object,
is a part of many off-color comedian routines, cartoons, and TV sit-coms.
However, it's a real situation that most dog owners encounter and it is
embarrassing. Fortunately it is possible to reduce or eliminate the
occurrence of this awkward behavior.
What to do when your dog counter surfs
Counter surfing can be one of the most difficult
things to train a dog not to do. Almost every time a dog jumps, she is
reinforced by what she finds up there. It doesn't matter if you yell
at the dog, physically punish her, give her a time out, or any thing else -
she still got the Thanksgiving turkey and man oh man, it was good while it
lasted!
To dig or not to dig
Dogs like to
dig. Some dogs dig at blankets or bedding. Some lucky dogs like to dig at
the beach. Most dogs that dig, though, dig in the yard at home.
Unfortunately yards are where humans like to dig, too.
PDA - Puppy Displays of Affection
It's a
fairly common sight - a dog lovingly licking his owner's face or hands. As
humans we like to think that the dog is kissing us because they love us. While it has not been proven that dogs do not
"kiss," it has
not been proven that dogs do kiss.
The importance of door manners
Dogs who have the habit of bolting out of doors set themselves up for the
potential of a variety of bad things. At best the dog will get a scolding
for running around. Unfortunately, many dog owners can attest to the worst
as well - dogs who got out and wound up in dog fights, knocked neighbors
down, got lost and were never found, or were hit by traffic. It is vitally
important that our dogs know what is expected of them whenever a door is
opened.
Barking
There are many different reasons why dogs bark.
"Hey! There's a dog outside, don't you see it!?" "Hey! There's a leaf
blowing in the wind!" "Hey! Give me that tennis ball!" Since there are
different reasons why dogs bark, there are also different ways to stop or
prevent it.
Dog Fears, Storm Anxiety and the Anxiety Wrap
Some dogs are ultra sensitive to the approach of thunderstorms. It is easy to get frustrated when your dog literally thinks that, "The sky is falling!" all spring, summer and fall, but the "Anxiety Wrap" may prove to make all of your lives happier and safer during these times. Please visit the following links, and feel free to download the PDF listed below for more information.
Crate Training Basics
Wondering where to even begin? Let our helpful guide help you and your canine friend learn the ropes of crate training.
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