11/06/2020
Discover The Top 7 Things You Need To Teach Your Dog So They Are Peaceful And Disciplined
Chapter 1: Walking Your Dog
Walking your dog is one of the most standard aspects of having a pet dog that people think of. If little Timmy wants his Lassie, mom or dad will sit down with him to explain that having a dog is a big responsibility. Lassie will need fed and walked, and she will have to stay out of trouble. That's Timmy's job.
What happens, unfortunately, in many households, is that dogs are actually not walked enough. This is a problem in many ways, because not only is exercise an integral part of any being's well-being and happiness, but because a dog's mental health is actually dependent on the act of a walk.
If you are having behavior issues with your dog, look at the lifestyle you lead together. Does your dog get to go on walks at least twice a day? If not, then you are personally responsible for your dog's declining mental
health. If a dog isn't given the proper chance to roam around and keep its mind healthy, it will begin to develop maladaptive behaviors and bad habits.
What happens when you are stuck in the same three rooms day in, day out, for weeks, months, and years, only allowed to poke your head out
briefly a few times per day to see the sun? You will probably go stir crazy, and it is no different for your dog, and probably a lot more severe. Exercise is the main ingredient in maintaining a healthy and balanced life for your dog.
Otherwise they will begin to develop nervous habits and bad behaviors that are all your fault.
Walking your dog can be a difficult process, specifically if they aren't used to you or if they are a large, powerful breed who likes to pull and run ahead of you. It can make exercising them for their mental health into a challenge
for your own! Fortunately there are answers.
Sometimes what you need to do the most for your dog is to get them a harness that is fastened over their chest. In severe cases, one might help if fastened over their mouths, but I find the chest harness to be the most human
and effective.
This harness will help you control their pulling with more ease and prevent them from going ahead of you. Make sure that when you embark upon your walking journey, they know that they are following you and you are leading them. Do so by walking ahead of them, and if they pull ahead, halt them and have them stop so you can walk on.
The ideal in a walking situation is that the dog knows you are the leader of their pack and you are able to walk side by side with a mutual respect. The dog will have to trust your leadership and respect you as the person whose rules they are born to follow. Doing so will require your patience and an ability to form lasting habits that benefit the physical and mental health of your animal companion. However, the end results are worth it.
Chapter 2: Socializing Dogs
Dogs are undeniably social creatures, and crave companionship and com-
fort from their human companions and other animals that may be within
their home. However, if a dog isn't raised with a specific person or animal,
they may become aggressive when met with other beings that ideally they
should get along with.
Unfortunately, this can cause a lot of stress and create tension between
the dog and their human. It is better to understand these behaviors for
what they are – the dog hasn't been properly socialized. Unfortunately,
there isn't a whole lot you can do once the dog has become set in their
intolerance for a certain animal or person, or children, so it is best to
move the dog from situations where they may feel compelled to act
aggressively. This is for the safety of you, those in your household, and the
dog itself.
If a dog is intolerant of children, there isn't a magical cure that will
suddenly break the spell keeping said dog from bonding with your new child.
If there is any possibility of aggression, remove the dog at once. Some
dogs are pushy and unsure of new children, but with time they can grow to
accept the child.
All of these problems can be avoided in the formative years of a puppy's
life. Puppies will grow to love anything put in front of them and guard and
protect it as their own. Dogs are not born killers and aggressors of cats or
children – this is something they learn throughout their lives or become
intolerant of because they aren't used to certain situations. If you want
your dog to be a well-adjusted being that isn't a threat to other animals or
children, you will need to start young.
Many dogs are kind and patient even as they age, but the older they get
and the more they dislike change and new things, the harder it is to get
them to behave acceptably with other creatures they aren't used to. It's easiest to socialize your dog while young. If you do, they will only get more
friendly and accepting as they age.
Chapter 3: Stopping Chewing
Chewing is one of the most natural things a dog can do. They are born to
chew, gnaw, and hunt. However, problems can occur when their chewing
habits get out of control. Maybe they have anxiety because they aren't
being exercised enough, or maybe they are just too young to know what
they should be chewing and what they shouldn't be.
Even human babies go through the teething phase in their lives. Teething
occurs when a baby is beginning to get their teeth. In puppies, their tiny
puppy teeth begin to make way for the growth of their deciduous teeth,
which is completely natural, and understandable when you consider how
uncomfortable it is to be growing completely new teeth.
Be sure to give your pup plenty of praise when you see them doing the
right thing. If they are chewing on their toy, let them know this is a great
thing. When you have extra time, reward them with some play and really
get them wound up. If you're lucky, they'll be too tired to chew anything
but the toys you've provided for them and soon they will get into the habit
of only going to the toy they know is safe to chew!
Chapter 4: Housebreaking
Everyone who takes on a dog knows that at some point they are going to have to
deal with the dog's need to relieve itself. Unfortunately, some dogs are better than
others at letting their human companions know when it's time to go. However, if
you are willing to listen for the signs, it shouldn't be a problem.
The best thing you can do for yourself and for your dog is to get on a regular
schedule when you can take them outside to do their business. Some smaller dogs
may even be able to train on a cloth so that if they do go inside the house, they
have a proper place to do it. It is as simple as showing the dog where to go when
they are having an accident in the house.
The trick is to make sure to take the dog where they are comfortable relieving them-
selves. Don't take them to different areas every time during the housebreaking
phase of their training. Make sure they know they're in a safe place to do their
business and they will, and once they do it right praise them to high heaven, because
they respond better to positive reinforcement than to anything else.
Puppies shouldn't be punished for having accidents, because this will just create a
complex with them and how they deal with their bathroom habits. It's better not to
draw attention to it at all, because generally by the time you notice what they've
done, they'll be on to the next thing. If you catch them in the act, just calmly put
them in the area they're supposed to go, and they'll get the hang of it in no time!
Chapter 5: Food and Aggression
Food aggression is a very serious problem in dogs, especially because it can begin
to spill over into every aspect of the dog's life. If they can get away with being
aggressive about food, then who knows where or when the aggression will stop?
Dogs rely on a pack mentality, and in their packs the leader is the one who decides
who eats what. Because you must be acting as the pack leader for your dog, they
will have to understand that you are the giver of the food they receive and feel humble about it. The best way to do that is to have them sit or wait for their food before
you give it to them. Then they will know that you are the one who decides when
and what they eat, and not feel quite as possessive over it. That will cut down on
food aggression.
If a dog has been traumatized by improper feedings or is generally insecure about
where their next meal may be coming from, you are going to have to get yourself
on a disciplined schedule to provide consistent meals for your dog. This will help
them understand that they need not feel insecure about the next time they will get
to eat, and it will limit their food-based aggression.
It may also help to make sure that as you are getting the dog's food prepared, that
you make sure they are not in the room with you. They can hang out close to the
area you are in, but they shouldn't be in your face while you're doing it. Another tip
is to walk them before they eat so they know to see the food as a reward that they
have worked for. That way they will not be worried that they aren't working hard
enough for their food and get insecure about whether or not they will get it again.
Chapter 6: Barking
Barking is one of the most annoying and also the most natural habits a dog falls
into. A dog can become overly quick to bark at anything however, if they aren't
walked frequently enough. Dogs who aren't exercised become neurotic and un-
happy in their environment, and their anxiety makes them hypersensitive to external
stimuli and insecure about many things. This can even relate to food security.
If your dog is in the habit of barking too much, try not to yell at the dog. This, to
them, often becomes a game. If they've made a fuss with you after they have tried
to raise a fuss, you have given into their intention. They think that perhaps you are
also sounding the alarm and agree that their barking is necessary, and being met
with your own loud noises. This is obviously a mistake, as it will not prevent the
dog from barking.
Barking is a form of excitement that dogs express, and if you don't want them to be
overly excited, the key is to make sure they are not overly stimulated within their
senses and that they are exercised properly every day. Anxiety is the most common
cause of commotion, and regular exercise can vastly improve a barking problem.
The best way to keep your dog from barking about things they don't need to bark
about is to withhold affection from the dog if they are not using their voices appropriately. If you don't want them to bark, don't reward them, pet them, or even acknowledge them when they are overly excited and barking. They will soon see the
act as futile and give it up.
Chapter 7: Nipping
One of the most natural things a dog does, especially when they are a puppy, is to
nip and bite out of play. It is a common practice among litter mates, and it is how
most animals in the wild learn boundaries. If they aren't properly socialized they
will not learn what hurts and what doesn't. This can make it difficult for them to
make new friends.
If you'd like to make sure your puppy isn't going to be too rough, and would like to
prevent them from nipping and chewing, there are some things you can do to help
your situation. First, don't keep playing if what the puppy has done is painful.
Otherwise they will always think that it is something acceptable for them to do.
Instead of continuing play, don't move your hand any longer. Their litter mates
would usually cry and ignore the pup if their playing was too rough and painful for
them to want to proceed, so that is what you should do too. If your puppy has hurt
you, don't move. Ignore the pup. If they still don't seem to be getting the point, you
can simulate a similar yelp and freeze immediately when things get too rough. This
will help your puppy learn boundaries and be able to play with you in a consistently
friendly manner.
They will eventually get the idea, but if they violate your trust during playtime and
cross boundaries more than a few times within the period of play, you should not
engage them any further. In fact, ignoring them would be your best option, and
they will learn that what they've done will take their beloved attention away. Next
time they play, they will eventually learn to be more cautious and gentle when dealing with delicate human flesh
If dog training were easy, everybody would have dogs. They are kind and loyal
companions who are capable of immense love. Their relationships are rewarding and
hard to imagine humanity without. Everybody wants to be loved unconditionally
and dogs have the ability to do just that.
Unfortunately they are a completely different species and deserve us to always try
our best and give them nothing but patient kindness and guidance. Animals that
give us their best deserve nothing but the same in return. Although dogs are a
common pet, they should not be treated as a commodity, and certainly never treated as though they should understand our strange human ways and language. They are in our homes because of our decisions, not theirs, and we need to do right by them.
That said, this book should provide you with some pivotal clues on how to coexist
with your animal companions and teach them respectfully how to flourish in your
home. They will not come into our lives with an inherent human sensibility about
how things are and should be done. They will follow their instincts and hope for
the best. And, with this book, that is what you will give them. Because they deserve
nothing less than our best.
“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
