DogTrainingPlace

Dog Injuries Due To Leash Straining

“Who is walking whom?” This question pops into my mind whenever I see owners being dragged down the street by their dogs. Leash pulling usually becomes a complaint only after a large dog has finally succeeding in pulling its owners off their feet, with resultant injury or embarrassment.

Most cases of leash pulling involve dogs that have accommodated to the discomfort of a choke chain, pinch collar or even a leather collar. Some of them cease pulling only long enough to cough, some even regurgitate or take a few deep breaths, then continue struggling forward.

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Digging Problems & Your Dog’s Desire For Garbage

To discourage garbage raiding, get a garbage can that has a locking lid. Or, simply put the garbage can in a place your dog can’t reach, like under the sink. If you attempt to correct your dog when you catch him raiding the can, chances are that all he will learn is to avoid going on a “garbage hunt” when you’re around. You’ll essentially have created an owner absent garbage hound.

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Car Chasing

Although very dangerous behavior, car chasing is very rewarding for the dog. Dogs love to chase anything that runs, and the faster it runs, the better. To extinguish the behavior, you must negate the reward of the chase. Car chasing is most often done by dogs that have the run of the property and are not exposed to many cars.

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The Psychotic Dog

A psychosis is defined as a mental disturbance of such degree that there is personality disintegration and loss of contact with reality. The line between neurotic and psychotic behavior is not well defined, even by psychiatrists and psychologists. Two prevailing criteria can be added to the definition of a neurotic dog to describe, for this purpose, a psychotic behavior. These involve circumstances in which the dog’s behavior is dangerous to himself or to the safety of others, and in which the dog appears to be unaware of the behavior during and/or very shortly thereafter his actions.

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Incessant Dog Barking

Dogs bark for a number of reasons. Sometimes these can be good reasons such as to warn of an intruder or to express fright or pain. Sometimes these can be “bad” reasons as far as humans are concerned – attempts to sound menacing or simply to get attention fall into this category. Whatever the reason for a dog’s barking, it can often be considered a nuisance by the dog’s owners and their neighbors alike. Because of this there are several methods employed to control a barking dog.

Training

By far the best method of controlling incessant barking is to train the dog not to bark or, more specifically, to bark only at the appropriate times. There are several ways to accomplish this, but dog trainers usually agree that traditional reward and reprimand systems are the most effective and the kindest to use.

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Over-excitability And Inhibition Behavior In Dogs

Over excitability is the term used to describe most of the problem dogs we see, especially when they are stressed by new surroundings, strangers, other dogs, social isolation, physical restraint, stimulation, and sudden loud noises. At the other end of the spectrum of behavioral reactivity, we see highly inhibited animals that react to stress by total inaction or slow, stiff movements, and apparent depression, seeming to lose contact with environmental stimuli. The problem usually occurs while the owners sleep at night, or when the dogs are left alone, especially for a long period of time. The stress of being ignored, even if the owners are there, stimulates the mother to introverted behavior (self-mutilation) and stimulates the extremely excitable son toward extroverted over-activity.

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Offering Less Treats Go A Long Way

Start to ask more of your dog for less of a reward. Continue to use the treat in your hand for all of the position changes, but do not give it to him every time. Instead, vary the time when you give the reward to him. This is also a good time to start varying the type and amount of reward you offer. Ask a friend to approach your dog and offer three treats. Initially, have your dog sit for a bit of kibble, then sit and lie down for kibble, then sit, lie down and stand for kibble. Eventually, you want 10 position changes or so for just one bit of kibble.

To phase out food, simply keep the food in your pocket and with an open hand signal your dog. You will find the treat (hand) movement has become a hand signal and that your dog was actually responding to your hand movement with the lure. The dog therefore learns hand signals very quickly. You can offer kibble from your pocket as a reward. Make the reward much better than what you used as a lure. If he does not follow, simply try again.

The Neurotic Dog

A neurosis may be defined as a functional nervous disorder with no sign of disease of the central nervous system. Psychoneurosis is described as an “emotional maladaptation” due to unresolved unconscious conflicts, and may also be used to describe the condition of many so-called neurotic dogs. This means, to recognize a neurotic dog, we must identify some defective nervous behavioral functions, while ruling out physical injury or disease, such as hydrocephalus, brain tumors, etc.

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Behavioral Problems Associated With Parasitic Disease

Some of the problem behaviors in dogs are a result of an infection from parasite. These include internal parasites such as roundworm and tapeworm, flea infestation, ear mites, and Hypermetria.

Many dog owners are not aware that most parasite infection such as roundworm infestation is a condition that requires immediate veterinary attention. The fact is that it is important for all puppies to be dewormed as well as vaccinated against distemper and hepatitis. Most problems related to internal parasitism involve owners who do not know about the adverse effects of digestive malfunction, but still expect a young dog to control his loose stools, be able to housetrain successfully, and learn all the more complicated lessons of being an ideal household pet. When the puppy does not respond well to the training, the owner sometimes reacts by isolating, punishing or rejecting the pet socially. The resulting confusion and mismanagement of the pet often produce a wide spectrum of behavioral maladjustments.

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Nervous System Types & Stress

Dogs of any breed, size or type can suffer from stress. In fact, a certain amount of stress is necessary for a healthy life. Hunger produces a form of stress that motivates us to find food, which is a healthful activity. However, a pet dog that receives a doting owner’s petting and praise on demand all weekend tends to build an insatiable appetite for constant social gratification. Once he is left alone, particularly for a long period of time, the dog is frustrated by a frustrating problem where he cannot find his “emotional food.”

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