Archives for Behavior tips

Anti-Jumping

Anti-Jumping

June 13, 2018 | Comments Off on Anti-Jumping

[print-me] Why Dogs Jump Dogs jump up to say hello, quite simply. They don’t know how humans prefer to be greeted, and it never occurs to them that they might knock us over or ruin our clothes. Thankfully, consistent anti-jump training can quickly solve the problem for good. For this exercise, you’ll act as an on/off switch. When the dog is four feet on the floor, you’ll be “on” (verbal praise, petting, bending down to greet the dog, etc.). While the dog is jumping, you’ll be “off”(stand up, completely disengaged, no verbal attention, even in the form of “NO!”, turning
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Afraid of the stairs? Or of getting into/out of the car?

Afraid of the stairs? Or of getting into/out of the car?

June 13, 2018 | Comments Off on Afraid of the stairs? Or of getting into/out of the car?

[print-me] Note: These exercises can be adapted to entering and exiting cars and other motor vehicles. Is your dog afraid of steps and stairways? Perhaps past experiences led the dog to associate steps with something unpleasant, frightening and/or hurtful. Perhaps the dog was yelled at for going up or down a stairway, or had fallen down stairs during his formative weeks, or was pushed down the stairs. Maybe the dog has never encountered stairs before. Some people respond to such fears by forcing the dog up and down the stairs. But this approach doesn’t always provide the dog with an
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Keeping your High Energy Dog Happy & Healthy

Keeping your High Energy Dog Happy & Healthy

June 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Keeping your High Energy Dog Happy & Healthy

[print-me] Congratulations on adopting your new family member! Your new dog is a dog that will need some additional time and thought put into their daily exercise and training routine due to his/her energy level. Below are some ways that can both keep your dog happy and healthy and help you to avoid behavioral problems that can arise from lack of mental and physical stimulation in high energy and working dogs. Feeding Meals Turning meal time into work time is a great way to give your dog a job to do and keep him well behaved and mentally fulfilled. So
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Submissive and Excitement Urination

Submissive and Excitement Urination

June 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Submissive and Excitement Urination

[print-me] Submissive Urination Submissive urination occurs when a dog feels threatened. It may occur when he’s being punished or verbally scolded, or when he’s approached by someone he perceives to be threatening to him. It’s important to remember that this response is based on the dog’s perception of a threat, not the person’s actual intention. Submissive urination may resolve as your dog gains confidence. You can help to build his confidence by teaching him commands and rewarding him for obeying. You should also gradually expose him to new people and new situations and try to make sure all of his
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Separation Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

June 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Separation Anxiety

[print-me] Treatment for Mild Separation Anxiety If your dog has a mild case of separation anxiety, counterconditioning might reduce or resolve the problem. Counterconditioning is a treatment process that changes an animal’s fearful, anxious or aggressive reaction to a pleasant relaxing one. It’s done by associating the sight or presence of a feared or disliked person, animal, place, object or situation with something really good, something the dog loves. Over time the dog learns that whatever he fears actually predicts good things for him. For dogs with separation anxiety, counterconditioning focuses on developing an association between being alone and good
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Helping Your Dog Overcome The Fear of Thunder And Other Startling Noises

Helping Your Dog Overcome The Fear of Thunder And Other Startling Noises

June 5, 2018 | Comments Off on Helping Your Dog Overcome The Fear of Thunder And Other Startling Noises

It’s not uncommon for dogs to be frightened of thunder, firecrackers or other loud sounds. These types of fears may develop even though your dog has had no traumatic experiences associated with the sound. Many fear-related problems can be successfully resolved. However, if left untreated, your dog’s fearful behavior will probably get worse. The most common behavior problems associated with fear of loud noises are destruction and escaping. When your dog becomes frightened, she tries to reduce her fear. She may try to escape to a place where the sounds of thunder or firecrackers are less intense. If, by leaving
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The Fearful Dog

The Fearful Dog

June 4, 2018 | Comments Off on The Fearful Dog

[print-me] This dog is a dog who has been fearful while in shelter and has taken longer than most to adjust to new situations. This dog should be given a significant amount of time to decompress and adjust once in the adopters home before adopters attempt to bring the dog new places or introduce new people or animals. Understanding and responding to the dogs’ body language will be very important in helping this dog adjust comfortably to his/her new home. Dogs who are fearful may attempt to communicate and/or show their fears in a variety of ways including; panting, pacing,
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Desensitizing Dog to Head Halter

Desensitizing Dog to Head Halter

June 4, 2018 | Comments Off on Desensitizing Dog to Head Halter

[print-me] Do the following exercises in order without skipping steps. The goal is to keep the dog comfortable the ENTIRE TIME. You want this to be like learning a trick. As the dog gets better and more excited to continue on, we progress through the steps. If the dog at any time is uncomfortable, go back a few steps to where the dog is comfortable and work that step a few more times before moving on. Hints & Tips Use no more than pea sized treats since you will be using so many Each head halter will be fitted by
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Loose Leash Walking

Loose Leash Walking

June 4, 2018 | Comments Off on Loose Leash Walking

[print-me] Things You’ll Need A standard leash, not a retractable or extendable leash. A bag full of treats he loves! A Gentle Leader chest harness can be a very helpful tool in teaching loose leash walking, especially for strong or bigger dogs. Do not use a standard harness that clips on the dogs back or you may be encouraging pulling. Also do not use any choke or prong collars. Those are not necessary and can be both painful and dangerous for your dog. Get Walking Fill your bait bag with treats, and put your dog on leash. You’ll want to
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