we think that dogs adapt to our family because of what we see on television, but that is not reality. Dogs do similar behaviors for different reasons.

Dogs are born with natural instincts of self-preservation, chasing, biting, being territorial or protective, and a need to be part of a social group. From the Chihuahua puppy you picked out at the breeders to the older Great Dane you rescued, all have specific needs and drives. Depending on the breed of dog, some of these needs may be more intense. They communicate with their body and mouth. All dogs have teeth and are born knowing how to use them. Puppies use their teeth often with their brothers and sisters (litter mates) to let them know if they are playing too hard or have something they don’t want taken away. Dogs lick to show submission, to groom, or to get another dog to regurgitate their food. Dogs hug each other to show who’s more dominant, wrestle to show who’s bigger and stronger, and chase to hone hunting skills. Dogs communicate differently than we do.

We, as humans, are very physical, too. Children are taught to hug and kiss to show affection. They wrestle to play, squeal to show excitement and run to release all the energy pent up in those tiny bodies. When a child runs, it activates a dog’s need to chase and bite.. Children want to hug or kiss on their dogs to show affection and don’t realize they may be making their dog uncomfortable. When children are too rough and hurt us, we stop them and tell them why. Dogs lack the verbal skills to explain and reason with a child. Therefore, teaching both dog and child how to interact accordingly is important! Owning a “safe” dog is more about how the dog is raised (nurtured) and “trained” than the breed.

Dogs and children are not natural buddies. Dogs and puppies view children in their household as lesser pack mates. Children motivate a dog or puppy to bite or nip them by wrestling, squealing, or playing mouthy games. Children do not understand the old adage, “Let sleeping dogs lie.” Children don’t understand a dog’s need for personal space and are unable to pick up on the subtle cues that the dog is uncomfortable. Dogs are just being dogs and reacting the only way they know how. The owner of the dog has the responsibility to keep both children and the dog safe.

Biting statistics are scary! Did you know that most bites that are reported are children 14 years and under. The majority of those children are between the ages of 5 to 9 years, with boys being bitten most often. The scariest statistic is that it’s not the neighbor’s dog biting these children, it’s their household pet.

Training is the answer to making your dog safe around your family and friends? It takes time, effort and money to be a good dog owner. Having a dog is a responsibility and a privilege. Once again, dogs and children have their similarities, having either is a privilege but both are a responsibility. Depending on the breed of dog, that privilege/responsibility could last from 8-20 years. Dogs need time with their pack/family. They are born with a need to be part of a family unit. Your dog wants nothing more than to spend time with you. Spending quality time with your dog.

Money is the daily expense of dog ownership. A lot goes into owning a dog, much more than just buying food. There are usually additional vet bills, remodeling bills, or even lawyer fees, added if you decide to skip the training step…

Effort is a little trickier. Webster’s definition of effort is “a vigorous or determined attempt”. Dogs want a leader to set rules for them to follow. Dogs do not think like we do. They are reactionary animals. We take away and change their sense of security and balance when we are always change the “rules” by not being consistent. Training is a very important part of the positive interactions between your family and your dog. Simply engaging in training starts your family and new puppy or dog on the right road to co-existing happily, this begins to help establish rules and boundaries putting you in a leadership position for your dog.

Children and dogs are similar in so many ways. They both need and want discipline. They both require constant supervision. Both need to learn how to properly interact with each so that everyone can live happily ever after.

Talk Dog Training and Coaching is a professional people and dog training service. We specialize at In-Home training. Coming into your home, getting the whole family involved to address all behavioral issues in the dogs’ enviroment. We give you the tools and knowledge to have a well behaved friend for life.

Return to Bad Dog Training Tricks Home Page.

Puppies use their mouths to explore the world around them. Unlike us who are able to use our hands to do what we need to, puppies rely on their mouths which can cause problems for their owners. The last thing anyone wants is to come home and find their house has been completely destroyed. The great news is that you can train your puppy, or adult dog even, to stop destroying everything he can get his teeth on.

It is much easier to train a puppy for good positive behavior than it is to break an older dog of bad habits. Puppies have a large window of opportunity in which to teach them appropriate behavior, including chewing. You need to set realistic goals for you AND your puppy. Dogs chew no matter what it’s in their genes. What you want to do is show your puppy what items he is allowed to chew on and what items he is not.

Using toys that are made of hard durable plastic will last longer and keep your puppy entertained longer. Items such as Kongs make great long lasting toys for your puppy and they can be filled with bits of treats or dog food. Bones are ok to use on occasion but should not be relied on heavily as most dogs can chew through rawhide bones pretty quickly. If you have kids it is best to avoid any sort of stuffed animal, your puppy will not be able to tell the difference between one of his toys and one of your childs toys. Most stuffed dog toys are easily chewed apart and can become a choking hazard as small pieces, such as eyes and squeakers, can become lodged into your dogs throat.

When your dog is still young he will need to be supervised. Puppies have short attention spans and get bored quick, this leads them to finding other ways to entertain themselves. Keeping your puppy active with playtime and exercise will keep his mind and body busy and lessen the chances of him chewing on what he’s not supposed to. For any day you will be gone for several hours it is also recommended that you crate train your puppy. This will keep him safe and prevent him from being tempted to chew on things he is not supposed to. You can leave him a few of his favorite items in his crate to keep himself busy while you’re away.

The most important thing for your puppy is to be sure you give him plenty of exercise. Puppies have mountains of energy and the more pent up energy they have the more likely they are to get themselves into trouble. If you catch your dog chewing on something he is not supposed to a strong firm “No” will do as a scolding and replace the item or give him an item he is allowed to chew on followed by a “Good Boy” when he begins to interact with the item.

I have owned several dogs, from the feisty rebel to the serene quiet type. Over the years I have learned numerous ways to train dogs and provide not just myself, but others with happy dogs and homes. To find out more about dog training and how you can start, visit my site Online Dog Obedience and learn how to stop puppy chewing now.

Return to Bad Dog Training Tricks Home Page.

Is it better for you to get a new puppy for your new puppy to play with?

It’s done with the best of intentions:

1) It’s time to add a puppy to your family and you want the best for your new furry friend. You have gotten the bed, bowls, and toys…everything for your new friend. You go to pick up your puppy and find that there is one puppy left in the litter that no one has taken home. You watch your puppy playing with his littermate. They are rolling and tussling back and forth, wearing each other out, and a light bulb clicks on in your head. “Our family is busy and there will be times when our puppy is left by himself. I don’t want him to get lonely. I want him to grow into a happy dog”. You turn to the breeder and say, “I’ll take both!” with a big smile on your face…after all isn’t having two puppies twice the fun? …

2) You’ve had Fido for a week or so. Life has caught up to you and you’ve been really busy! When you get home from your long day at work, your buddy is so happy to see you and wants to play, play, play! You’re tired and think, ” I could get another puppy and they could play together all day so they’ll tire each other out and then when I get home it will be “lovin” time.” You start looking for a playmate that night as your puppy chews on your shoelaces. …

3) You have a good dog that has a lot of energy! Whew, he wears you out trying to keep up with him! What you need is a doggy buddy for him to play with all day and burn off his extra energy…You’ll get a puppy for him. Your older dog is a good dog and can “help” you raise the new puppy by showing it how to behave…

Whatever the reason for a multi-dog household, we have to take our feelings out of the picture and look for the best for our dogs from their point of view. Puppies at the age of 7-8 weeks have, hopefully, had the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons from their mother and their siblings. At this age, they are developing personalities and looking for relationships. They are ready to leave their pack and build a bond with you. This is the easiest window of time for that bond to form. You must bond individually with your dog.

It is much easier for a puppy to look to another puppy or dog for the bond of companionship. They speak the same language. It takes more effort for the puppy to connect with something that doesn’t look like him, smell like him, or speak his native tongue. Bonding with a human and learning the human society rules can sometimes be a little difficult. Dogs left alone “to be dogs” are going to do just that… be dogs. They are also going to bond closely, sometimes becoming two halves of a whole instead of 2 individual dogs.

With this situation, we see an increased level of anxiety in the dogs. They become agitated when separated from the other dog, even a distance as close as across the room. They cry when their litter mate is not around. They become manic if one has to go to the vet for an overnight stay. It can lead to constant fighting between the siblings and increased dog aggression. It may even manifest as human aggression because the trust and bond with a human has never been formed. Dogs are reactionary animals. Some of them will land in a humane society where they will be un-adoptable due to their problems. Most people do not realize that this could be a death sentence for the dog. No one wants this for his or her dog’s future, so now, what to do? We must decide what is going to be the best quality of life for the dog.

The “Unthinkable” for most people…Re-home one of the dogs. No one wants to part with a dog that they have fallen in love with. It’s painful and heartbreaking for both you and your dogs. If you have difficulties with the dog already, waiting to see if they outgrow the behaviors can make it VERY hard to find a home. It takes a special person to try to fix a problem dog.

The responsible option is easier on the heart but harder on the owner….spend individual time with your dog. We understand this goes against why you got two dogs in the first place, but in the long run it can be absolute bliss for your family and your dogs! To treat the dogs as individuals means twice the “dog work” for you but also twice the love and devotion. Train each dog separately. Spend time with each one. Let them play together occasionally but you make sure you have more play time with them than they have with each other. They must have their own space to grow and develop that dog/human bond of companionship. You DO NOT have to keep them apart forever but they will need this individual attention for at least the first year of their lives or coming into your world so they look to you for their love and leadership.

Please don’t misunderstand. We are not advocating one-dog households, we each live in multi-dog homes and most of our clients have more than one dog. You can have as many dogs as you want but remember that owning a dog is privilege and to live up to that you have to do what’s best for those that you care for. We can help you raise and train your puppies. The best option is simply to train your dogs so they may live, love, play together and look to you and your family first and foremost for all their needs.

Talk Dog Training and Coaching is a professional people and dog training service. We specialize at In-Home training. Coming into your home, getting the whole family involved to address all behavioral issues in the dogs’ enviroment. We give you the tools and knowledge to have a well behaved friend for life. To bridge the commnication gap and be Talkin’ Dog in no time visit us at www.WeTalkDog.com

Return to Bad Dog Training Tricks Home Page.