Dog Behaviour & Training

Some Problem Behaviors : Digging, Jumping etc

*bad habits are not broken, they’re replaced :  new habits: GOOD HABITS.
Remember, Learning takes place through Positive Association only.
Scolding or repremanding will only confuse your dog by giving:  wrong type of attention.

Dogs r just behaving instinctively & naturally when they dig, guard food, mouth, jump up etc etc.

So its up to you to change the behaviour of your dog to something you can both live with.
MANAGE  over  CURE sometimes.
NOT ALL TEXT BOOK CASES

When we have a Behaviour we dont like we must consider :  3 ELEMENTS:
– Genetically acquired traits (instinct, drive, inherited)
– The environment & the learning the dog has been exposed to
– The current situation or status of the animal

Early Treatment:
As a general rule, the earlier we begin treating behaviour problems the easier to treat successfully.
MUST look at problem when it STARTS,   DEAL  when it starts,   therefore higher chance SUCCESS

                                               

JUMPING: (a typial k9 greeting behaviour)
Lets think about why it happens?
*attention seeking   and/or    excited behaviour
*Sometimes to entice us into a play session
*Sometimes to solicite food
*Sometimes to greet us when we’ve been away

In the wild,   (dogs that know each other) DONT greet by waving or shaking hands
INSTEAD   when   dog returns   (from being away),  other members of the pack SNIFF round the dogs mouth.
In same way puppies sniff around their mothers mouth   (ie: regurgitate food after a hunting expedition.)

These same instincts lead them to JUMP UP  at us
Because our faces are  UP HIGH
IN order for them to interact with us,    they like to be at our FACE LEVEL.

Reasons to stop jumping😐
small child             frail or elderly
knocks someone over or scratches them?
What if?  wet & muddy and you’re dressed to go out?

Prevention:
Remember: we encourage this behaviour each time we reach down to give him a pat
Remember: Positive Reinforement to a Negative Behaviour will ensure he repeats it over an over, with you and everybody else

When hes a puppy: TRY getting down to his level to greet him & play with him
(so he never learns to jump up in the first place.)
Continue so he doesnt feel like he need to jump up for your attention.
Dont think he’ll grow out of.
As with all dog training, you must be consistent:  if you dont want your pup to do it as an adult he cant do it as a pup.
Make sure visitors know the rules. Politely request they dont encourage him or pat him if he’s jumping
Tell them to  ignore him or turn their back.

4 ON THE FLOOR
= reward and your attention

2 IN THE AIR         = no attention, no rewards & ignored
Another great way is: the 5min rule :  Want him to know U coming home is no big deal
Try ignoring your pup for 5mins each time you arrive home & reunite.
That means no eye contact, no speaking to him, no touching etc

DIGGING  (Alsoa natural behaviour:)
DOGS DIG. have done for thousands of years
Your message should be: its not that you’re digging but WHERE you’re digging.
Dont worry, couple things you can do.

Remember, In the wild, digging occurs when dogs are:
seeking shelter and/or to hide their pups  (so its totally natural, instinctive behaviour.
Sometimes, dogs dig because they smell things or think they hear things down there.

 

Causes:
– Genetic (is the dog a terrier or part terrier?)
– Escape (is the dog attempting to tunnel out)
– Boredom  (does the dog need more exercise or stimulation: Environment Enrichment)
– Self Rewarding (Is it part of a game. Does the dog appear to dig for the fun of it)
– Separation Anxiety (does the digging only occur in the absence of the owner?)
– Shelter Seeking (does the dog have a warm kennel to sleep in? Is he able to get out of the sun & stay cool?)
– Maternal (is the female dog in season, pregnant or experiencing a false pregnancy?)
– Over feeding (is the dog burying food or bones?)
– Observation/Imitation (did the behaviour begin after recent gardening or similar activity?)

Prevention:
Sorry – there isnt one. Its a natural hardwired behaviour.
Leaving your dog inside when gardening can help, (diggers enjoy it more when its a group activity.)
Only other preventative measure :  never let your dog in the yard without supervision.

Treatment:
Remove the dog from the environment when he cant be supervised.
Restrict access to the area (fence off etc)
Interrupt the behaviour (great for puppies)
Provide alternative place to dig (sandpit etc)
Booby trap
Fill hole in with puppies own faeces (must be fresh)
Bury rock or chicken wire in hole

Cure:
Build your dog its own Digging Pit or donate a corner of your yard to the cause.
Redirect all his digging to the Digging Area/Pit.
Sand Pits make great digging areas (and it brushes out of the coat easily).
If you’re on a budget, you could a platic childs pool/shell and fill in with sand.
Ensure you make the pit nice & deep, and a good size too.
Surround the sand with a wooden frame so that it stays put and doesnt migrate to your garden.
Encourage your dog to dig in his sand pit by burying his favourite toys or knuckle bone.
Bury toys or knuckle bone at different levels.
Dont let him see you, you want THEM to make the discovery (it just magically grows there).
Join him for a spell of joint digging to encourage the behaviour.
Reward him when he digs in there.
Be creative: vary it a little & keep him guessing: some days theres a lot in there, other days: a little.
This will keep him coming back regularly to see whats there today?
After a while, WHY would he dig anywhere else? Its a TREASURE CHEST in there!

Dog Bless Everyone,
Leah & Angela OMeara
(Hound Dog Daycare – specialists in Pet sitting Brisbane and Dog Daycare)