Manning Veterinary Hospital

Training Tips | Curing Bad Habits

Aggression/Biting

This is a very serious problem and must be handled as soon as possible by professional behaviour therapists. The worst case scenario for a dog whose aggressive attacks are not brought under control is that a person/child can be injured and the dog ordered to be put to death (euthanased). This doesn't need to be the case. Most aggression is caused by fear. By addressing this problem, you can reduce the dog's fear which will reduce its stress...and you will be happier... not having to worry whether your dog will bite someone.
Early warning signs: Growling and barking at strangers is the earliest sign of aggression. Curing the problem at this early stage is best for all parties involved.

Boundary Control

This involves teaching your dog that it is not allowed in certain rooms or on carpet without an invitation, it is not allowed in the house without an invitation (even if the back door is open) and it is not allowed out the exterior gates without an invitation. This is important for control as well as the dog's safety. It gives you the opportunity to invite your dog inside more often knowing he'll stay in his designated dog-friendly areas.

Dig/Chew/Escape

These activities can be symptoms of a more significant behaviour problem. Dogs usually do these things for a reason. By talking to you and surveying the dog's environment, Bark Busters can normally find the cause and suggest a solution.
Digging
It is not unusual for dogs to dig, although it can be increased with boredom, stress or a diet deficiency. There are many things you can try - all dogs are different, so what works on one dog may not work on another. A combination of training, prevention and safe deterrents is the most effective approach. The following are successful strategies to try:
· Fill in hole and place dog droppings just under the surface of the hole (make sure they are covered). This is mostly for dogs that return to the same holes. You may need to persist for a while.
· Place a balloon or water bomb just under the surface of the hole. This is not to scare the dog but to give it a reprimand as it disturbs the surface.
· For concentrated areas spray Bitter Apple (available from Bark Busters) on the ground and in and on the hole, or burying a rag soaked in either product in the hole.
Your dog needs to be mentally stimulated; most dog toys are for fun and require own participation. Food motivated toys can be an effective way to keep a dog occupied when you are out. The best are Kongs and Buster Cubes available from Bark Busters (see Boredom Busters).
You can only reprimand your dog for digging if you catch him/her in the act. Reprimanding after the event is pointless, never show your dog the hole after the fact. Bark Busters can teach you the correct way to verbally reprimand your dog so that he/she will understand a mistake has been made.
Chewing
Dogs will chew for many different reasons - stress, boredom, teething, or diet deficiency. As with digging, there are different things you can try, depending on your dog and what he/she is chewing. The easiest way to stop chewing is to have the item being chewed give the reprimand by taste. Like people, dogs' tastes vary - what works on one dog may not work on another e.g. chilli sauce will deter some dogs and other might come back for more!
Try the following suggestions:
· Bitter Apple spray (available from Bark Busters) is the most effective, safe and multi-purpose taste deterrent available. It can be sprayed on just about anything as it does not stain and is non-toxic. Other deterrents chilli sauce, tabasco, mustard etc. These may prove effective but are not always practical! Citronella will work for some dogs and it is important to re-coat the item until the desired result is achieved.
· Never give dog old items such as shoes to chew. The dog may not distinguish between that and your new shoes.
· Plastic drink bottles are dangerous and can teach your dog that plastic is okay to chew, which means pot plants, hoses, garden furniture etc are also likely targets.
· Toys such as the Buster Cube will provide your dog with a more interesting and preferable option when he/she is looking for something to do.
Never physically reprimand your dog for chewing or reprimand after the event - the dog will not understand what the reprimand is for. This could cause other problems including aggression.

Jumping Up

'Jumping up' is all about dog-psychology - dogs communicate with body language. To them, height is dominance. Dogs will naturally jump up on us to test their dominance. You've probably noticed they do this to each other as well. Correcting this behaviour will not only keep your clothes or lounges clean, but it will improve your dog's respect for you.


Not Coming When Called

This is one of the more difficult things to teach your dog, particularly if there are other dogs around. However, it is vitally important for your control of the dog... and for your dog's safety. We can teach your dog to be more attentive and aware of you all the time. That way, the dog will be looking for your signal and respond immediately if you want to call it out of harm's way, or simply to move to another location.

Nuisance Barking

A dog that barks at birds, noises, the neighbours and passing pedestrians or other dogs is not a good watchdog. A dog like this is similar to a car alarm that keeps going off for no reason. People will eventually take no notice when it goes off for a legitimate reason and it will annoy the whole neighbourhood.

A Good Watchdog
A good watchdog is a dog that only barks when someone attempts to enter your property or there is imminent danger (house fire, snake in the yard etc). Good barking habits can be trained into your dog easily, providing you are clear about exactly what you want your dog to bark at. By doing this, it will teach you to respond to your dogs bark because it will be a warning sign and not an everyday noise.

When You Are Out
Because dogs are pack animals, they can become stressed when the pack leaves without them (when you or your family leaves them at home alone). Some of the reasons can be:
Separation Anxiety Usually identifiable by barking as soon as you leave. You will need to sneak back, catch the dog barking and reprimand it in the usual way.

Apprehensive/Fearful
Usually found in the nervous, confidence lacking dog that barks out of fear of the unknown. Also the fact that it is the only one home and it is not reprimanded for this barking when the owner is out. Your dog needs to be socialised and you may need to seek professional help to deal with any serious fears your dog may have.
Territorial
This type of dog is normally the dominant confident type and as a rule is not the worst culprit of nuisance barking. However if you have problems with this type of dog, you will need to seek professional help.

Barking Prevention Hints and Tips

When you are home and your dog is outside barking, firstly go out and reprimand, yell 'BAD'. The reason you use the word we have suggested is so the dog will learn these words are directed at it, not at whatever it is barking at. The reason for yelling this is that you will need to be louder than the noise the dog is making. If you use 'BAD' every time your dog does something wrong it will soon catch on. Be sure to praise your dog as soon as it stops what it is doing wrong. Monitor the barking and only reprimand your dog for those things that do not constitute a good watchdog, i.e. birds, noises, the neighbours, passing pedestrians, and other dogs etc.
Barking Prevention at the Puppy Stage
A young pup that barks at people or noises etc is a good indication that you have a budding nuisance barker developing. This is a sign of a nervous pup that worries about everything. A well adjusted pup will not usually start barking until somewhere between 8 to 12 months of age. If you have a pup that is starting to bark at everything that moves, discipline it by growling 'BAD' at the precise moment it starts. Praise it as soon as it responds. Clapping your hands or throwing an object onto the ground near the pup, such as a can of pebbles, (careful you don't hit the pup) and at the same time growling your reprimand word (BAD) should help stop any premature barking.
A puppy that persists even after your reprimand could need some socialising. Bark Busters Puppy School might just be the solution you are looking for.
Pulling on Lead


Scratching/Whining

This is your dog's way to get what it wants, which is to come into the house. If you let it in when it whines and scratches, it will do it over and over because it has discovered 'how the door works'. I scratch, the door opens. This habit can be irritating, particularly if you have guests.
We can teach your dog to sit quietly outside, even with the door open, during those times when it is not invited in.

Separation Anxiety
If your dog howls or barks when you leave or is destructive when you are gone, it may be suffering from separation anxiety.  Your dog will be very stressed-out and will stay that way, each day, until you come home. Your dog needs to learn that it's okay for you to go - it will be safe and you will come home.



Pulling Washing Off Line

Dogs will pull washing off the clothes line because it resembles tug-of-war; it's a great game on windy days, or just through sheer boredom. Some dogs will pull the washing down and leave it, while others will tear it to shreds! The following are successful tactics to try:
· BITTER APPLE Spray (available from Bark Busters) can be sprayed on an old towel or rag and left by itself on the line. The bad taste is the reprimand; this should be repeated regularly until required result is achieved.
· HANGING a plastic bag full of water is effective on some dogs, while others see it as a game. Trial and error will quickly tell you what will work for your dog.
· MENTALLY stimulating your dog is important. See digging notes for toy and behavioural correction advice.
· PLACE a balloon filled with water in a pillow case hung from the line, or just fill the balloon with air to startle the dog at the time its doing the wrong thing.