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If your dogs dig, build them a sandbox, let them be dogs:)
This is Maya and her sister Reisling
TRAINING TIPS:
- Chewing – Dogs (especially puppies) should have plenty of safe toys to chew on. Consider Nylabones and Gumabones (soaked in bouillon), rhino or Kong toys (stuffed with peanut butter). Also, an anti-chewing deterrent, applied several times daily, should be used on objects you wish the puppy to avoid.
Appropriate chews: Nylabones (can soak in beef or chicken broth), Bully Sticks (100% beef), Kongs (mix the dry dog food with peanut butter and water. (should be cookie dough consistency) Stuff the Kong full and then freeze, the next morning you have breakfast for your dog and a good hour or two of mental stimulation).
Inappropriate chews: Soft squeaky toys, stuffed animals, tennis balls, rope (these are play toys).
- Digging – Build a digging pit with hidden chew toys. Bury small lava rocked or your dog's poop in the existing non acceptable holes. Give your dog plenty of exercise. See 2 pics above.
- Potty Training – Treat affected area with an odor neutralizer. Purchase a crate and crate train a puppy. As you see him squatting to pee in the house, clap your hands and startle him, then pick him up and take him outside.
(never correct your dog when potty training. Your dog will associate “NO” with going potty in general, he won’t understand the difference between going outside vs. inside.)
- House Manners – 4-foot leash (chain leash if he’s a chewer) to tether the dog for time outs in the house when playing gets out of hand. Plenty of chew toys and lots of exercise.
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Being aware of what your untrained puppy or dog is doing at all times will help prevent him from “practicing” inappropriate behavior.
- Rewarding correct behavior is also critical. Know what your dog likes and reward with that when he/she is being good. Most people ignore their dog when he/she is good.
- Praise a quiet calm non-jumpy puppy. Please, don’t reward you dog for free, or they won’t want to work for it.
Capturing Your Dog's Behavior
When you see your dog doing something good, capture it like this: My dog likes to roll on her back in the grass and when she stands up the grass is all over her; usually she will start to shake, and I would say “good shake” with a happy tone of voice. After a few weeks she will shake on cue. I don’t have to spend a lot of time brushing the grass off. More examples, your dog is sitting, praise her for sitting and give her a treat; your dog is lying down, praise and treat as before. Capture all good behavior.
Your dog’s memory
Do not correct your dog after he is done chewing the kitchen cabinet. You must catch him while he is chewing on the kitchen cabinets. Do not correct your dog after he goes potty in the house.
As you see him squatting to pee in the house, clap your hands and startle him, then pick him up and take him outside. Your dog won’t associate what he’s done wrong if it’s after the fact.
(never correct your dog when potty training. Your dog will associate “NO” with going potty in general, he won’t understand the difference between going outside vs. inside.)
He will only associate what he is FOCUSING on at that moment. Instead of saying “NO” all the time help your dog be successful.
Give your dog plenty of chew toys. Dog’s have approximately a 15 second time-span on which you can correct or praise him. Praising is always better.
Remember, if you capture all good behavior, your dog will be more likely to behave.
Be the Pet Parent!
Karen Anderson 319.215.3336
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