Does Your Dog Have Separation Anxiety?

Do you have problems with your dog missing you too much when you must be away due to work or other activities? It is actually not that uncommon of a problem, although it can certainly be distressing for both dogs as well as their owners.

If your dog goes off his nut when you go to work, shopping or whatever, he could have what’s called Separation Anxiety. Children can experience this behavior as well and the advice on how to help them are quite similar. Here are a few tips to help you cope with your dog.

What are the signs of Separation Anxiety?

If your dog is chewing, digging and scratching they are showing signs that they are trying to escape. While barking, pooping and peeing and excessive salivating are signs of fear and anxiety. These are the classic signs.

What causes Separation Anxiety?

It is usually caused by lack of proper training, starting with socialization which can cause a lack of confidence. It could also be due to mistreatment by a previous owner, extensive confinement or even too much bonding. To a lesser extent, it can be caused by genetics. But mostly it’s due to something that you can control.

How can you treat Separation Anxiety?

Many believe that crate training at an early age is the way to prevent Separation Anxiety. With or without a crate, make sure you don’t make a big deal over leaving, say a quick goodbye and go. You don’t need to give him a heads up, he will start worrying about where all his love has gone when you’re away.

Also try and teach your dog not to associate certain behaviors of yours with your leaving the house and being away for hours. Dogs are very good at associating certain actions with certain outcomes. You may have noticed for example that as dress for work, or pick up your car keys, your dogs begins to get anxious.

Try to change your behaviors a bit, like putting on your makeup 20 minutes before you go. Or, when practical go outside as you would when you go to work, start the car and wait a few minutes, then come back in and give him a treat. Eventually he will associate the starting of your car with a benefit rather than a bad thing.

Make sure they have lots to do when you’re gone. Leave his favorite toys and treats. The interactive dog treat dispensers are great for this as you can regulate how many he has and it keeps him busy trying to get at them. When your dog knows that he has access to treats, he won’t care so much that you’re gone. Also leave on the TV or radio when you’re gone. There are even special CDs you can get made especially for dogs, or you could record your own voice.

Don’t turn every homecoming into a party. Greet them and take them outside to do their business immediately. If you make it into too big of a deal, they are going to realize that it’s more fun when you’re home.

Separation anxiety is something that should improve over time. However, if it does not, or if your dog shows signs of extreme aggression when he is let out, seek a professional trainer and/or see you Vet for further assistance. In extreme causes a calmative type medication may be prescribed for you dog by your Vet.

It’s up to you to pay attention to your dogs behaviors and seek out training methods that will help him overcome his problems. All he really wants is your love and affection.

Alex is an avid pet lover who has had more than her fair share of pets throughout her life. She has taken her experience with pets and her love of writing and published Henri’s Online Dog Obedience School where you can sign-up for her pet tips and tricks e-newsletter or visit Henri the Hound, the place to go when you’re looking for awesome gifts for your furry friends.

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The Do’s And Don’ts When Socializing Your Puppy

As an owner of a new puppy, it is vital you socialize the dog as soon as possibly so they become familiar with other things. This will go a long way toward eliminating the possibility of them developing anger and aggression towards dogs down the road. To help you have the most success as a dog trainer with your puppy, here are a few do’s and don’ts to guide you in the right direction.

When it’s time for your pup to interact with other animals or people you must make sure that this is done as calmly and peacefully as possible. You do not want to make your pups first experiences scary or confusing. Ensure that your puppy is in a safe environment that he will not be frightened in.

It’s a whole new world for these little fellows, so start them out gently. Start with family members and friends, the more people they meet the less likely they will be frightened by them in the future. Once they have mastered meeting people, introduce them to the dogs of your friends and neighbors as long as they are calm, healthy and happy dogs themselves. It’s all about your puppy feeling safe.

Step two is to take them out in public whenever you can while they’re still impressionable pups. Go to parks and playgrounds or bring them shopping to pet shops. Essentially just get them meeting and greeting people and pets they don’t know.

Here are a few things to steer clear of. Number one is don’t put this training off. You need to socialize them when they are young in order for them to get the most of it. They’ll learn it easier and will retain it better.

Avoid putting your pup in stressful situations where they may not feel safe. If you must go in uncharted territories, for example when traveling, give them a safe place to be by themselves but at the same time keep an eye on you. Don’t let them go close to strange animals you don’t know. You never know how another dog is going to behave if you don’t know them and it only takes one attack can traumatize your pup and change its behavior forever.

If your puppy is showing signs of fear, the last thing you want to do is inadvertently reward this behavior by soothing them. Biting is often associated with fear and the last thing you want is for your puppy to develop a biting problem.

And finally, you need to stay patient. Socialization is an extremely essential component of their growth so don’t rush them. Just like humans, dogs learn at their own speed and they will learn much more if you follow their lead and not try to force too much on them at once. Patience and consistency is the way to go with puppy training (It works well in everyday life too!)

If your dog is not socializing well with others despite all your attempts, you might want to call in the top guns. Check out other in-depth training practices that will teach you much more than the basics covered here

Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a penchant for writing and pets. She has a long and special history with pets and has studied what will work and what doesn’t when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out her other pet related articles;Why Physical Force Won’t Work When Training Dogs or Do Dogs Have Human Emotions.

Canine Early Education – Sending Your Young Pup Off To School (Part 4)

Most training courses teach something called “social handling,” which might sound like thinking up your dog’s name on Myspace or Facebook, but which really means the dog’s physical handling. Dogs that are handled often and gently learn to accept being touched. Looking inside the ears, touching the teeth, and handling the paws and toenails is part of this process and is essential for grooming, which includes combing, brushing, and checking for fleas, ticks, burrs and tangles in the hair. Unlike humans, however, your dog won’t insist on going to a highly expensive beautician.

An untrained puppy can cause major headaches. Getting yours trained can prevent him from hurting himself and others. No more jumping on neighbors or chasing cars around the block. A well trained puppy will just sit or lay down when you start to pet it.

Difficulties in training usually come from the home. Is is vital that the course also discuss the possible family issues with owning a puppy which usually includes improper training.

Look For The Best Puppy Training Available

It is best to find you trainer through referrals and good reputation. If you know owners of well-behaved dogs, ask them. Getting first-hand information and feedback is better than just looking some ads.

You can also call around to local veterinarians and ask who they recommend. Veterinarians regularly see and can easily differentiate between the well-behaved and badly-behaved pups. The badly behaved pup is the one who tried to take a bite out of the veterinarian’s hand.

When you have a few names and phone numbers, go ahead and make some calls. Ask where they conduct their training. Is it in a public place that might be a hazard to a puppy or do they have a private, enclosed training yard? What steps have they taken for the participants’ safety, particularly for small dogs? When do they recommend puppies begin training? What vaccinations do they require? Inquiring minds need to know!

It would be great if they would allow you to observe a class. Watch how the trainer conducts the class and how the students react. Do you think you and your dog would enjoy this class?

As you watch, remember that every trainer and instructor has his or her own training techniques and style. Some trainers use clickers; others use positive methods, such as food treats but no clickers; and some use other methods entirely. You must choose what feels right for you and your dog.

I learned about dog training hand signals from Ed Randall’s site where you can find out all about dog training and what it can do for you.

How to Ease Separation Anxiety With Dog Behavior Modification

Dog behavior modification can be complicated. Dogs are social animals and as such delight in being with their humans. When left in solitary they often become agitated, suffering from an attachment disorder, known as separation anxiety. Canines who suffer from separation anxiety often reveal their anxiety by excessive, barking, whining, digging, gnawing and soiling.

The notably effective cure for separation anxiety contains dog behavior modification. There are couple manageable tips that can help.

1. Crate training is certainly practical in separation anxiety. Many canines respond well to confinement in a small location because it makes them feel reassured. Remember, the crate or “safe place” is an area where the canine feels unthreatened and comfortable; never use the crate or “safe place” as punishment.

2. Notice the hints of distress. Owners need to spot the warning hints of distress: panting, pacing, whining, trembling, digging, declining to eat, ears tucked down and back; all these add up to anxiety.

Owners cannot honor these behaviors by saying “You’re okay!” Before the canine becomes agitated, owners should calm the behavior by speaking to the pet, stroking it or grooming. If the pet still becomes anxious when the owner exits, they must ignore the action and not over the pet. Fussing or sympathizing unconsciously rewards the nervous action.

3. One of the best tricks for dog behavior modification is exercise. The more you exercise your canine, the more nervousness is relaxed, hence, the less your canine will gnaw your furniture when you are away. There is an absolute correlation with anxiety minimization in people and exercise. The same goes with dogs. Take your canine for a long, and I mean a LONG walk. It will be a great nervous tension help for you and your pet. Think of the relationship you will have and the amazing health benefits!!!

Separation anxiety can be cured with dog behavior modification. Separation anxiety can be severe and all-consuming to some dogs. Other dogs can adjust with just a couple tips.

If you find your pet is a an extreme case, seek a veterinary evaluation by a behaviorist. They may need pharmacological assistance in addition to the dog behavior modification. Hopefully, the above tricks will benefit and in no time your pet will be relaxing while you are away.

5 Tips for Lead Training Your Dog

Any dog owner knows how difficult it is to walk a dog that pulls on the leash or simply refuses to walk. While basic dog training for any breed should involve lead training, the larger breeds in particular need to learn this as puppies. There’s nothing more unpleasant than trying to take your Husky or German Shepherd out for an evening stroll and having them fight the lead all the way.

With that in mind, here are five tips to make lead training your dog a little easier . 1.Start young. It’s far easier to start with puppy training in Toronto than it is to teach an older dog not to pull on the leash. While not impossible, it’s best to start out with a young dog that hasn’t yet picked up any bad habits. You can easily accustom a young puppy to the lead and he will be happy to treat it with respect for the rest of his life, but the trick is not to wait too long.

Start your puppy off with a collar and then progress to the leash and you’ll find that the entire process is far easier on both you and your dog. This can be one of the first puppy training methods that you use.

2. Be gentle. This is not a time to be rough. Whether you are working with a puppy or an adult dog, obedience is not going to come about through intimidating your dog. That’s why it’s important not to use a choke chain on your dog while lead training, as this will give it the wrong idea about leads. Dog training should be done gently, with respect for your canine and you’ll find that he responds better.

3. Go slowly. There’s no need to leap into walking down the street with your dog. Training can be done slowly and it will be much smoother for it. For example, start with the collar only at first. Once the puppy is used to this, you can progress to attaching the lead. Try doing this while the puppy is being fed so he’ll associate it with something good. Then, once he’s used to having something attached to the collar, you can start picking it up. Don’t rush and you’ll be fine.

4. Nip bad habits in the bud. It’s important not to let your dog training go the wrong way. If your puppy is starting to pull on the lead, you’ll need to make sure you stop that little problem right away. A firm “no” and a little tug on the leash will usually work when used consistently, but you’ll have far more success with rewarding the right behavior. Which brings us to our next tip . . .

5. Praise and reward. Dogs want to please their humans and yours will be no exception. Even a few words of praise will go a long way toward making your dog want to continue the behavior. The great thing about this method of puppy training is that you can’t go wrong! As long as you are consistent with the reward or praise, your dog will rapidly learn the new behavior . . . in this case, walking on a lead.

There are a lot of advantages to having your dog trained to use a leash and not pull. For one, you’ll be able to enjoy walks out with your dog and so will your canine friend. It’s also safer, as any dog obedience class will teach you, since you don’t need to worry about your dog getting loose and running out into the street when he’s walking happily beside you.

Training Your Dog to Sit Up, Heel & Lie Down

Assuming that your little guy is familiar with the Sit command, he is now ready to move forward to the Lie Down command. This Intermediate Training behavior is simple to implement for most dogs and should be easily integrated into his routine.

First, command your little pal to Sit. Take his favorite treat and move it a bit closer to the ground prior to allowing him to take it. Don’t allow movement from the Sit position. After he has this process learned, move the treat a bit farther away but still keeping it on the ground. Uh Oh! Now, he must lie down in order to reach this little goody. When he does this, simply say, “Lie Down.” Be consistent and eventually you will be able to fade out the treat completely. Patience is a must — he may try to get up but simply keep him in the Sit position until he has mastered the entire technique.

Leash pulling, lunging at other pets or people are examples of ugly behavior. You don’t want this for your little guy. Teach him to stay next to you by walking him in a small area in one direction, keeping the leash slack. Change directions occasionally and eventually he will understand where you are going and that being by your side is a good thing. But, you know by now, that dogs love to sniff and explore. So, give him a little grace from time to time to enjoy his world.

After your little friend is consistent with the Sit behavior, training him to Sit Up is a snap. Choose a bit of food or his favorite treat, hold it over his head while he is in a Sitting position but low enough so that he can reach it. Continue this maneuver but raise the treat a bit higher each time so that he must stretch for it but still remain seated.

Once consistency is in place, hold the treat even higher. He will be unable to take it unless he raises his front paws from the ground. When he does this, use the verbal cue, “Sit Up” and reward him in this position. Eventually, he will become conditioned to this cue and you can start to fade out the treat and use your hand only, still saying, “Sit Up”.

The Intermediate Behaviors Training will be a fun challenge for both you and your dog. Be consistent, patient and gentle with your little guy. He only wants your approval and acceptance.

Dog Jumping – How To Stop It In Two Simple Steps

It’s so embarrassing… Your friend stops by for a visit and, before you know it, your dog has jumped up on him to say hello. This type of behavior isn’t just annoying – sometimes it can be scary too. Especially if your dog is large, or your guest is afraid of dogs.

Teaching your dog to not jump on people is really important, and it’s really not hard to do. That’s good – because no one likes being assaulted by your dog, not matter how cute he is! Those sharp nails hurt, not to mention the muddy paw prints on their clothes. And though most dogs are just jumping because they’re excited, others are actually doing it to show you who’s in charge. Here’s what I mean…

It’s true – the main reason dogs jump is because they are just plain happy to see you! Their adrenaline is pumping and they are excited about something. This happens when you come home after being gone for awhile – or when someone comes over to visit.

There is also a less common, but more serious reason dogs will jump on you.

Dogs are pack animals, and each member of the pack has a ranking. The “top dog” is the alpha dog. There are many ways dogs show who is ranked higher in the pack — for example, the alpha dog eats first. He goes through the door first. He also shows he’s superior physically. He will do this with other dogs by putting one or both paws over the other dog’s shoulders — and he will do this with you by jumping up on you.

You have to understand, you are a part of your dog’s pack too. If he’s jumping up on you at other times (not just when he’s excited) it’s likely he’s expressing dominance over you.

If you find that this is happening, you need to realize that you’re dealing with more than a simple jumping issue. Your dog thinks he’s your pack leader. It’s time to brush up on your alpha-dog techniques. Better yet, get some outside help. Since this is a more complex issue, you are going to need to make some serious adjustments to your overall relationship with your dog.

Fortunately, most “jumpers” are just doing it because they are excited. It’s not hard to stop this type of jumping. The most important thing is to be consistent. You can’t let your dog jump on you when you’re playing, and then get mad when he jumps on you as you walk in the door. To stop jumping, you need to teach him that it’s never okay to jump up on you.

This simple two-step technique is one that many trainers use to stop dogs from jumping.

The first step is very simple. You just ignore him whenever he jumps up on you. This means you withdraw all attention – even negative attention – so no yelling, shoving, or corrections whatsoever. The idea is to give him the cold shoulder.

How do you do this? Whenever he jumps on you, immediately turn your back to him. Your posture should tell him that this behavior just is not acceptable. Fold your arms, turn your back to him and turn your face away. Avert your eyes. Since dogs use body language to communicate with each other, he will know exactly what you are saying.

This isn’t a matter of ignoring the jumping. You need to completely ignore your dog. Don’t look at him, yell at him, or acknowledge him in any way. Trust me, without the encouragement of your attention, he will calm down very quickly.

Step two is very important. It’s a matter of timing, so even though you’re “ignoring” your dog, you have to pay close attention to what he is doing.

As soon as your dog stops jumping and has all four paws on the floor, you are going to praise him… a lot. Be wildly enthusiastic. He will see that by staying on the ground, he will get your attention. Don’t worry that he was jumping just a few seconds ago. He will associate your praise with NOT jumping.

This technique is simple, but it works. Give it a try today. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your dog learns. All he wants is your love and attention. By making sure he doesn’t get it when he’s jumping, he’ll soon become the well-behaved pooch you’ve always wanted.

Steps to Toilet Train Your Dog

The last thing any dog owner wants is a lot of nasty messes to clean up all over the place. If you take the time to toilet train your dog, you’ll not only avoid stepping in an unpleasant surprise as you head to the bathroom at night, you will confine all mess to a specific area. However, it does take some time and patience to teach your dog, particularly if you are starting with an older canine.

How to Toilet Train Your Dog

Your dog instinctively prefers to stay clean. If you watch a puppy that has been tied up or left in a kennel, he will automatically defecate away from where he eats and sleeps. You will be able to use this to your advantage when training your dog to use one particular spot for his or her physical needs.

Step One: Creating a Bathroom Area

It’s a good idea to choose one specific spot where your dog will be eliminating before you even bring the puppy home. The best way to do this is to pick a spot, perhaps in the corner of the yard where your dog will be comfortable defecating. Some dogs prefer to do their business on grass, while others will actively seek out dirt. If you know ahead of time which type of area your dog prefers, this will help you prepare a nice spot.

Step Two: Establish Living Areas

Your dog will instinctively avoid defecating or urinating within living areas, so you’ll need to make sure he understands that the entire house is considered a living area. If you are crate training, you can simply move the crate from room to room, while keeping the dog inside. Otherwise, establish one spot as a sleeping and playing area and then begin to move the dog’s bed and toys from room to room until he has accepted that the house is his home. Be sure to progress slowly so the dog has a chance to get used to each area.

Step Three: Be Regular

Dogs do very well on a schedule and this goes for a feeding schedule, as well. If you are starting with a small puppy, you’ll notice that he needs to eliminate after each feeding. So, once he has eaten, simply take him to the assigned toilet area and let him do his thing. Your dog will catch on very quickly that this is where he should be defecating. Puppy training requires consistancy and patience.

Step Four: Rewards and Consistency

It will take some time to toilet train your dog. Be sure to allow him frequent access to the toilet area and never leave your dog too long in his crate or alone in the house, since this will result in training issues as your dog won’t be able to hold it.

Rewards every time your puppy uses the assigned elimination area will help increase his interest in the toilet training. You don’t necessarily need to use edible treats, simply responding with a fun toy or verbal praise is often more than enough to let your dog know that you are pleased with him.

By staying patient, not getting upset when your dog slips up and being sure to let him know that you are happy when he uses the toilet area, you’ll find that most dogs pick up the idea of house training rather rapidly. Confusion or being shut up indoors can cause delays in the learning process, so be sure to be consistent and calm about the whole thing. Your dog wants to please you and by using his natural instincts, you are encouraging traits that will come naturally to your pet.

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