Posts Tagged Nbsp
Bad Dog Behaviour Could Simply be Anxiety
Posted by dogs@strollers in Dog Strollers on July 15, 2010
Anxiety can be the explanation of the majority of the behavior problems dogs experience. This anxiety can be displayed in many ways, these can range from destroying items in the house by chewing them , barking , growling a lot , grunting , doing their business in the home , attacking because of fear , or by becoming hyperactive. There are a wide range of reasons for this anxiety.
Some dogs are scared of noisy storms or people not known to them, or have an aversion to people of a certain age, race, or gender. Other dogs develop hostility toward other animals or more worryingly toward humans. The simple task of the owner shouting at a dog can turn a commonly carefree dog into a very nervous one.
A dog is by nature a creature of habit , they always lay in a certain spot or play with a specific toy - so if their daily routine is suddenly changed it is likely to make the dog insecure . Good examples are when you are sick and just can’t take them for their normal exercise, or perhaps the arrival of a new born or even simply a houseful of guests . It is so important that in these instances you take a little time to make your dog feel ensure your dog feels safe and calm until they are used to the new ways.
It is important for your dog to have their own spot where they can simply relax – They should have a dog bed or blanket in one area with some toys to keep them amused and make sure they do not get bored. When you have decided on this space it is best not to change it too much as it can be very upsetting for your dog.
Young dogs ( and even aged ones) that are left on their own for long stretches of time can feel separation anxiety. As domesticated pets they do attain a very powerful connection to their masters. A dog suffering from seperation anxiety will generally display the following traits :
- the dog constantly follows you around at home
- the dog tries to stay near to items that smell of you
- when you leave the house they chew personal items of yours
- on greeting you the dog goes beserk and is clingy
- the dog sleeps with you
- this happens if you are only away for a short period of time
So now we know a lot of our bad dog behaviour and dog biting problems are purely anxiety, what is the best way to cure our anxious dogs?
I personally do not recommend medicinal drug as it is not only very pricey it can also lead to nasty side effects. One great way of curing your dogs is aromatherapy, it is an effective, yet safe way to treat anxiety and nervousness in dogs, whether it be because of a thunderstorm or separation anxiety .
The video below gives an aromatherapy recipe you can try on your dogs:
It is important you keep this recipe in a sealed dark glass bottle.
If this is the first time you have used aromotherapy on your dog test a small patch of skin to check there is not a reaction . Instead of applying the oil directly to your dogs skin you could use a diffuser that will slowly release the scent into the air. One important note – this recipe should not be used on or near cats as some essential oils for dogs can be dangerous for cats.
Dog Training Advice And Conditioning Your Dog
Posted by dogs@strollers in Dog Strollers on June 24, 2010
One simple concept is all there is to clicker train your dog , and this is exemplified in the principle of training called operant conditioning. This piece of dog training advice is much in line with the principles that tie all animals together. Whether we realize it or not, humans learn from this same form of training.
Let’s look at one instance of operant conditioning. If you were in a room with two doors leading out, you would want to leave by the easiest or safest one. If one door opened to a stairway that led up while the other opened to the outside of the building with no steps, you would choose the easier way to the outside.
Your dog will keep doing the things he is rewarded for, and eventually he will stop doing things that he gets no reward for or puts him in bad favor with his master. In standard puppy training advice, you are told to reward a dog with praise for doing something he is asked to do. This makes him know that you are satisfied with his behavior.
Your dog doesn’t actually comprehend the words, so whether you say “good boy” or anything else, he won’t understand the words you are saying. The use of the clicker is for the purpose of association.
When your dog does what is expected of him, you click the clicker and he learns this indicates something positive. It is short, sharp, and gets his attention so the clicker is as good as any words you could use.
Training is not replaced by the clicker It is just a tool for simplification and, in the dog’s case, clarification. You might say “good dog” with a little voice inflection that is different one time than another. Additionally, the pure clicking sound is so short that the dog can instinctively understand that the sound means the master approves.
In the early part of training, the dog is given a treat immediately after the click. When the dog associates the treat with the sound, the click alone acts as a reinforcement of approval by the master.
Of course, treats should still be given sometimes to reward doing what is requested, or the dog will eventually stop responding to the commands. When the dog does everything that is asked it is not neccessary for him to be given a treat as a reward.
People respond favorably to rewards for what they do. See how long people will continue doing things if you stop paying people for the services they provide, if you don’t think that this is true.
In this respect dogs aren’t that much different. If they understand that you approve of what they do, it is because of what they receive, which may be a dog treat, a clicking noise, or verbal praise. One key tip piece of dog training advice is remember the reward, whether verbal, edible, or the sound of a clicker.
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