Puppy Obedience

Train Your Puppy Effectively to PREVENT Behavior Problems!

By Wisteria Goldens

http://www.WisteriaGoldens.com

Legal Notice:- The author and publisher of this Ebook and the accompanying materials

have used their best efforts in preparing this Ebook. The author and publisher make no

representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or

completeness of the contents of this Ebook. The information contained in this Ebook is

strictly for educational purposes. Therefore, if you wish to apply ideas contained in

this Ebook, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.

The author and publisher disclaim any warranties (express or implied),

merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The author and publisher shall

in no event be held liable to any party for any direct, indirect, punitive, special,

incidental or other consequential damages arising directly or indirectly from any use

of this material, which is provided “as is”, and without warranties.

As always, the advice of a competent legal, tax, accounting or other professional

should be sought. The author and publisher do not warrant the performance,

effectiveness or applicability of any sites listed or linked to in this Ebook. All

links are for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy or

any other implied or explicit purpose.

Table of Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Biting Behaviors ............................................................................................................................. 4 Whining, Howling and Excessive Barking ..................................................................................... 6 Problems with Chewing .................................................................................................................. 7 Jumping On People ......................................................................................................................... 8

Pulling and Tugging On a Leash .................................................................................................... 9 Untimely Urination ....................................................................................................................... 10 Not Heeding the Owner’s Call ...................................................................................................... 12 Escaping and Roaming ................................................................................................................. 13 Begging ......................................................................................................................................... 14

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................... 15

Introduction

If you own a dog, it is important to incorporate a good training program while raising them to

PREVENT bad behaviors before they start. Just about every puppy, no matter what breed, will

have some bad habits and behaviors you will have to break and get rid of if not trained as a

puppy or if the puppy is allowed certain behaviors that are not preferred as an older dog, such as

jumping up on you.

It is necessary to make sure that you are sending the right message by eliminating any behavior

that is deemed inappropriate and can eventually lead to bad manners or harm to your dog.

There are different ways to deal with each of the unacceptable behaviors from your dog.

Whatever you do, make sure that it is a positive experience in order to create effective change in

the behavior.

Since there are different behaviors for each occurrence, you will find that some will require

unique solutions. Of course, you will have to take into account the breed of your dog. There are

some behaviors that are characteristics within each breed, so those will have to be dealt with

accordingly….such as having a herding dog as a pet. We used to have an Australian Shepard

that liked to ―herd‖ company into the house when they arrived to visit.

Starting your puppy on the wanted behavior in the beginning is the key to getting them to do the

right thing and have good manners. If you wait until later, it may be difficult for you and your

dog to get things together. It is confusing to an older dog why they are no longer allowed to

jump on you, when you have allowed it since they were a puppy.

It is important to incorporate proper training and teaching for your dog. Even if it’s not your first

one, you still need to go through the process with every one you get. Make the environment for

them a pleasant one and you can have a happy dog. Dogs do well when they understand what is

expected and receive consistent praise for doing what is asked.

You want your dog to be your best friend and make them a member of your family. You want

them to be that special companion.

You want to have a happy dog. In turn he will make you happy. Once they are bonded to you,

they are attached and there’s no turning back.

Dogs are man’s best friend for a reason. They provide companionship and joy. However, they

have to be trained properly in order to do that….no one wants to be around an unmannered dog.

While you are training your dog it’s important you have patience. It will take time for your dog

to learn what you are wanting and what he needs to do in order to make that happen.

Biting Behaviors

Even though play biting is considered as a normal puppy behavior, you should also keep in mind

when dogs get older, it could pose a serious risk to others including yourself.

It may be cute in the puppy stage, but as they grow, it’s not cute anymore. You have to start

when you still have a puppy to get them to change their behavior regarding biting.

As a puppy, biting is a learned behavior that comes from their mother and littermates. They like

to interact with each other, which will include ―play‖ biting. If there is one puppy that is overly

aggressive, the others will get after the aggressive puppy for being too rough. As they continue

to play with each other, the puppy will learn to subside with the biting. You can continue this

training while they are still a puppy when they are with you.

Here are some tips that you can take to get an advantage:

Let the puppy know that you hurt when they bit you. You can be stern and say ―Uh-Uh‖

or ―ouch‖ to let the puppy know it hurt you. The puppy will know that they have gone

too far and they will think about what they’ve done.

Slowly take your hand away. Doing this too fast can cause more damage.

If they bite you again, repeat your verbal reaction. Step away from the puppy for a while.

They will realize that you don’t appreciate what they did and will figure out that you

don’t want to be around them.

Give them a toy to chew on.

Reward the puppy when they are good and not biting you.

Be consistent when you are training them to stop biting. Continue to let the puppy know

that bites are not acceptable.

Your puppy should take an obedience class. That way he can interact with other dogs as

he gets older. He will learn about limits with humans and other dogs.

As your puppy gets older and grows into a dog, he needs lots of physical activity,

including regular exercise. Also, give them a chance to play outside so that he can get

some fresh air. Make sure he gets to walk and play fetch.

Keep them on a schedule with their physical activities. They will get used to doing

things and will come to enjoy doing them.

Always supervise young children with the puppy. The puppy may still be in the learning

stage and may bite the child. Puppies have sharp teeth and while only playing, can hurt.

Refrain from aggressive behavior with them. This can influence them to continue biting.

This includes: playing with the puppy where they chase your hands or feet it encourages

play biting. Do NOT swat or grab their muzzle playing either.

If they continue to bite despite your best efforts, contact your veterinarian or a dog trainer

for assistance.

Whining, Howling and Excessive Barking

There are times when whining, howling and barking are normal for your dog. However, if you

have a dog that constantly whines, howls or barks, it can become a problem. Not only can it

become a problem for you, it can also become a problem for your neighbors if you live in an

apartment or a subdivision. No one wants to receive constant complaints.

Here are some ways that you can deal with a dog that is constantly creating havoc:

Find out why the dog is whining, howling or barking so much. They may be hungry,

thirsty or both. Make sure that the dog is always fed and always has water. Don’t forget

about supplying the dog with toys so that they can stay busy.

Goldens do not like being by themselves. They get upset when no one is around and it

―can‖ create anxiety for them. In addition to being lonely, they get stressed out and

starting making all kinds of annoying noises.

Even if you are at home with the dog, they need to learn how to be alone. Don’t make it

a habit of always catering to them when they whine. If you do, they will expect you to

come every time. You’ll have a difficult time breaking the habit.

Sometimes a dog will make noises because they need to use the bathroom. The three

times that you need to know to take them is after they eat, after an activity and after a nap

or when they are waking up in the morning. There will be other times, but once the dog

gets trained, you will be able to understand their cues.

After you have provided food, water and toys for the dog, they should be quiet.

However, if they are not, don’t be afraid to let them know that their behavior is not

acceptable.

Problems with Chewing

Chewing is natural, starting from puppies all the way to a dog. Dogs think that chewing is

normal. However, it is not necessarily correct, especially if it is your furniture. If you notice

your dog is chewing, you will need to correct the problem as soon as you notice it. Give a firm

―Uh-Uh‖ command and take away the unacceptable item and replace it with an acceptable chew

toy.

Make sure your dog has a variety of dog toys that they can chew on. Using these toys can teach

them what they can chew on and what they cannot. Kongs filled with nutritious treats can also

satisfy the need to chew and give them an activity at the same time.

Do not let your dog play with ―old‖ socks or shoes. They can’t tell the difference between old

ones and new ones and therefore, some of your new items may become unwanted play toys.

Chewing on the toys will also keep their teeth and gums healthy. Consistently encourage your

dog to play with the toys.

It is also important the area where the dog plays is kept free of clutter. For your part, make sure

that there are no shoes or other items that can provoke them to start chewing on them.

Sometimes when a dog continues to chew, it is maybe because they are bored or lonely. Look at

your routine and interaction with your dog and make sure they are getting the attention they

need.

Jumping On People

Dogs like to jump up on people. However, there are some dog owners who actually encourage

this kind of behavior. They should keep in mind not everyone likes dogs and their dog should

not jump up on everyone they encounter. Even though they are cute when they are still puppies,

it can really pose a problem as they become full grown dogs.

The problem with this is as the dog gets older, they weigh more. The more the dogs weigh, the

more dangerous jumping on people can be, especially for children and senior adults. Also, there

are people who don’t like dogs, they certainly will not appreciate your dog jumping on them and

possibly knocking them down.

A child could be seriously injured due to the weight of the dog. The dog owner could be in

serious trouble, regardless if it’s their child or not that got hurt. Whether it’s an adult or a child,

you could find yourself with a lawsuit if you have not trained your dog not to jump on people.

The best time to teach him not to jump on other people is when the dog is still a puppy. It’s

easier to train them as a puppy vs. retraining them if the dog were older. Once you allow them to

jump on other people, it can be difficult as the dog gets older to break this behavior. They have

learned this is acceptable and breaking this habit can be difficult and confusing for the dog to

understand.

The way to do this is when they try to jump on you wave your hand above and across the top of

their head, step back away from them and tell them ―off.‖ Praise them, ask them for a sit

command, and then give them the attention they are wanting.

Make sure that everyone in the family knows the rules and does not encourage the dog to allow

jumping on them. It can be confusing if you have one person allowing it and not. The whole

family must be consistent, regardless of who it is.

Pulling and Tugging On a Leash

Another behavioral problem that dogs can have if not properly trained from puppyhood is pulling

and tugging on a leash. This is a behavior which is usually started and allowed by dog owners.

Train your puppy to walk on a ―loose‖ leash. There are several ways to do this, but the easiest it

to just stop if the puppy pulls. Do not start again, until the leash is loose. It doesn’t take many

times until the puppy realizes they do not get to continue on their walk until the leash remains

loose.

If you have a dog that is really struggling with learning walking on a loose leash, try a body

harness or gentle lead leash. They help to protect your dog’ neck if he is pulls strongly. As you

are walking the dog, give them a treat for staying your side.

Some other tricks: If they pull ahead of you, change directions so that they will end up behind

you. This should be done before the puppy gets to the end of the leash. Do not allow the puppy

or dog to pull you. While they are still young, they need to learn how to walk the right way.

As they get older and larger, it’s crucial that they are walking correctly. As you correct him, do

not yank or pull on their neck. Just make a gentle movement and they will respond. Using too

much force can cause the dog to become agitated.

Untimely Urination

There are two types of untimely urination, excitement and submissive. When offering your

puppy love and affection, the dog urinates. When you scold your dog he urinates. Urination

while greeting or being punished is a common dog behavior. The first step toward resolving this

problem is to realize that it is completely natural.

Excitement Urination

Excitement urination is the result of infant muscles that simply cannot hold their urine when the

puppy gets excited. They can get so excited when he sees his owner he temporarily loses control

of his bladder. Since they are still small, they tend to not control their bladder. In fact, they may

not realize what’s happening. The one thing you don’t want to do is get angry with them. That

just makes it worse for them and for you. They will continue to urinate because now they know

they have upset you. The vast majority of dogs simply outgrow this problem as they become

stronger and gain control of their muscles.

What you can do help is implement prevention. Help him from getting excited about certain

things. If he is excited when you come home, make sure you are not provoking it. Don’t greet

your dog with a high pitched, excited voice in seeing them. Keep everything calm in greeting

them when first coming home.

Continually expose him to whatever it is that is making him excited and urinating. The more that

you do it, the less excited they will get, which in turn, will stop the urination.

As they get older and grow bigger, they will be able to control their bladder better.

Submissive Urination

Submissive urination falls into a completely different category. Dogs have several behaviors

designed to reduce violence between them. When challenged, a submissive dog must display

some or all of these behaviors to display its lower pack status and to prevent an attack.

Submissive urination is most commonly offered in this type of greeting. By wetting, the dog is

merely acknowledging the other dog's superiority.

While all dogs are capable of offering this behavior soft-tempered, sensitive are most prone to

submissive urination. Whenever he perceives a threat he eliminates before anyone gets the idea

that he might have a dominant bone in his body. To him, this behavior is perfectly acceptable

and required.

When friends come to visit, the puppy is worse than usual. If a guest attempts to bend over and

pet the puppy it triggers the behavior.

Fixing the problem starts with understanding what signals trigger the puppy’s reaction. First,

dogs assume that direct eye contact is a challenge. For a submissive dog, even a moment's eye

contact can be intolerable. Eye contact from above, indicates that the other dog is taller, and

heightens this reaction. For some puppies, a person towering over the top of him is guaranteed

to cause a submissive gesture.

Another signal that dogs perceive as a challenge is bending over or touching their head, neck or

shoulders. Dominant dogs often display their control by placing their neck or a paw over another

dog's neck or shoulders. When a human pats a dog on the head, a submissive dog perceives it as

a display of dominance and they are likely to roll over on its back and wet.

To change this behavior, avoid those situations that instantly trigger urination. When you first

get home avoid eye contact, not bend over to greet your dog, and in general ignore the dog for

the first few minutes. If you do not trigger the reaction, try some very calm words of greeting

and gradually add physical affection over the next few minutes. After the physical affection, if

your dog still has not eliminated, tell him "good boy" and give him a treat.

The use of food for successful greetings is an important ingredient for success. Since physical

petting may actually cause the behavior to happen, food as reinforcement is a logical alternative.

Another advantage to using food is urination and eating is very difficult for a dog to do at the

same time. The dog's response to the food competes with the urge to eliminate, and strengthens

the correct behavior.

Guests to the home should be encouraged to pretend the dog doesn't exist. If they absolutely

must greet him, confine the greeting to outdoors. Barriers such as baby gates can allow the dog

to get used to the person's presence before actually greeting them. While this reduces his

tendency to eliminate at first sight, you must still eventually deal with the actual greeting. When

you remove the gate, it is a good idea to discourage him from rushing quickly at people and

jumping on them, (teach the ―wait‖ command) as it puts him in a position that is likely to trigger

the submissive urination.

For the owner and puppy, the solution to this very common problem is a combination of things.

The owner is going to reduce the likelihood the puppy is going to greet people incorrectly. He

will do this by asking guests to ignore the dog. He is only going to allow uncontrolled greeting

outside where and accident won't damage the carpet. Whenever the puppy performs a correct

greeting he is going to use food and limited affection to reinforce the behavior. The owner is

also going to give Rocky some time to outgrow the problem.

Not Heeding the Owner’s Call

It is important for dog owners to realize how important it is for their dog to come to them when

called to do so. When they fail to heed the owner’s call, it can be dangerous. If the dog is active

and does not come when called, they can run into traffic and get hit by a car.

Unfortunately, there are dog owners who allow their dog to roam free without a leash and

without being solid on their recall command. This is not a good idea. The owner should always

have the dog on a leash, unless they are in a protected area and the dog is solid on his recall. In

fact, many urban areas require that a dog is on a leash or the owner could face fines.

Begin to teach your puppy to ―come.‖ At first place puppy a short distance from you and then excitedly

call his new name. You can also play this training game between two people calling the puppy back and

forth with the ―come‖ command. When he gets the idea and begins to ―come,‖ don’t forget to reward the

puppy with verbal praise and a little treat…eventually weaning off the treat. His attention span is short at

this time, so play new games for a few rounds and then wait to play again in a few hours or so. The Come

command is important – you want the puppy to come when you are outside and ready to go in and the

puppy wants to stay outside and play! You also want to them respond to the come command immediately

in order to keep them from dangerous situations with needed.

As your puppy grows you will want to make sure they understand to still come at long distances away

from you. To teach the come command at long distances, put them on a long rope – a light clothes line

for instance, and use the command.

Your dog will always be in the learning stage. It’s important that each process of teaching and

training is something that is positive. That way, they won’t hesitate to come to you whenever

called.

Each time you command the dog to come, give him a reward. It does not have to be elaborate.

Encouraging the dog can include high praises and petting. You can also provide them with dog

treats. Just as long as it’s something that makes them feel good and they enjoy. As with all

training you must be consistent with it.

Escaping and Roaming

You should never allow your dog free outdoors to roam in the neighborhood. It can pose a

danger to your dog. In most places, you are required to have a leash on the dog. If you allow

this to happen, you could possibly face a fine.

But, there are some dogs that will work an escape plan by themselves. One of the things that you

can do is eliminate the need for them to want to get away. Most dogs only dig or jump fences to

get out of their yard when they are bored or lonely. Make sure you provide toys (Kongs are

interactive toys), along with water, food, and shelter.

If you have a dog that has a lot of pent up energy, make sure they are getting plenty of exercise.

Sometimes getting another dog for a companion also helps.

Begging

As with all bad manner behaviors, the easiest way to prevent this is to not allow it to start at all.

One of the primary reasons to train your puppy not to beg is so you can maintain a healthy and

balanced diet for your dog. Many people see a begging puppy with longing eyes to be

'irresistible' and so will offer scraps of food which often isn't in line with the dog's diet and can

quickly change a happy and healthy puppy to being overweight.

When you are sitting down to dinner, take your dog to a specific spot and tell them to stay. It

may take some time to achieve this, but eventually they will stay when you tell them. It's okay

your puppy watches you having dinner, but don't be tempted to give them anything from your

plate. After you have finished, you should praise your puppy and reward them with their own

delicious dinner. This is exactly what happens in the dog world. The alpha dog eats first and

then the rest of the pack.

Remain consistent with this process every time you have a meal. Don't waver, as otherwise you

will quickly undo all the hard work you have already put in.

Your puppy has a very powerful nose and so they will naturally follow pleasant smells in the

hope of finding food. However, human food is not good for dogs and there are many things that

your dog should not eat that are common in your diet. For this reason, discourage your dog from

begging in the kitchen.

When training your puppy not to beg, you can use the 'sit', 'stay' and 'down' commands. These

are all great ways to reinforce your authority and prevent your puppy from starting to beg.

One very important thing to note when training your puppy not to beg, is that this is one time you

should not use food treats as a reward for good behavior, as this goes against what you are trying

to enforce.

Voice commands are also very effective to stop begging behaviors, and often a strong 'Uh-Uh',

will cause the dog to go down into a sitting position.

Be extremely persistent and patient when training your puppy not to beg. As long as you

maintain the stance that your puppy receives nothing when they beg, they will soon realize that

this behavior brings no rewards. Don't give in and you won't have to deal with this as a behavior

problem later on.

Conclusion

You can help your dog change their bad behaviors by consistently working with them, but more

importantly by not allowing the behaviors to develop at all. Train your puppy to have good

manners from the start. Consistency is the key in any successful training program. Stick to your

rules and don’t allow anyone else that comes in contact with the dog to deviate from what you

have taught.

Once your strategies and training is etched in stone, your dog will start to get used to them and

eventually will get rid of any bad behaviors that have developed. You will have a difficult time

with a dog that does not want to follow your orders. Spend time developing your relationship

with your dog and establishing the leadership he needs.

Having a well-trained dog that will allow you to enjoy your dog more and he to bond with you

and have trust in you as a great leader.

Dogs are like children—they need guidance, leadership, nurturing, love, and support. At the

same time, they must realize that they have to accept the rules of the home in order to be a

productive member of your family.

Visit Our Blog to Learn More at www.WisteriaGoldens.com/Blog!