Looking After Pets

The root of practically all dogs with behavior issues, particularly barking, is often due to the animal’s feelings in regard to loneliness and isolation. They will often resort to whatever tricks they can just to be under the spotlight.

Dogs bark in order to get other creatures to pay attention to them, especially when they are wearing halloween costumes for dogs. They do not care if the attention is someone coming over to see what they are making noise at, someone coming to penalize them, or someone just staring at them. As long as they get a response their bark has worked.

Punishment isn’t an option.

Trying to swat a dog that is barking is usually fruitless. Canines are fast and smart and consider it to be playtime. They may quit barking when you are walking around gesturing with your arms but the minute you ignore them they will begin carrying on again to get you to play with them.

Just letting a barking dog in at night may make your neighbors happy that night, but it will likely mean the dog will bark every night you put it out. The dog is getting its desired attention and has learned that it can control your actions.

What happens after determines what happens before

If you feed your dog every time they start barking in vane that they can’t bark when their snout’s full you are just going to wind up with a fat dog who’s used to having you at their beck and call. The dog learns that anytime it wants food all it has to do is bark.

Rewarding a dog for barking at strangers that walk on up to the residence may look like a good idea because it makes you feel a bit safer but it can quickly and easily become a neighborhood annoyance. You don’t want a dog to bark just because it sees someone move. You want them to bark only when someone enters your yard and then they should only bark 2-3 times, just enough to let you know you have visitors and to let them know a dog lives here.

I know from experience that even the best dogs aren’t always well behaved and do have behavior problems.  Try and imagine trying to deal with 2 English Mastiffs, and a little Yorkie Poo.  They’re virtually impossible to handle when they’re all together which is quite frequently.  However, you can learn the tips that I did and how I discovered how to control my dogs better than I have ever managed to before!  Some of the things I am going to tell you about is coaching, positive re-strengthening, and consulting with your vet to reign out possible health issues. 

One of the first things I had to do to help me out with my dogs was find a dog teaching program.  My hubby was not to enthusiastic on the idea, but after they were obedience trained he was quite satisfied because they were no longer dragging him through the yard.  So that small coaching helped out tremendously.  I think that coaching can help dogs of any age or size.  They even help with dog behavior issues. 

The next thing that I did to help address my dog behavior problems were to start with positive reinforcement.  I know that could be a simple mental issue to address the difficulties, but it does work reasonably well.  I discovered that when they misbehave if I ignore them and not show any love of any sort towards the dog it manages to switch their perspective quite quickly.  Most dogs do love having attention given to them and without that attention then they sometimes will correct the unacceptable behavior swiftly.  However, you may remember that when the dog does something good you have to give them love immediately.  I usually give a pat on the chest which according to classes that I have went to makes them feel pleased with what they did.  I’ve used treats as a reward at certain times especially when coaching them to come after I let them off of the leash. 

While those solutions usually work for working with your dogs behaviour you might have to consult with your vet to help address the issues.  I’ve had to do that for my cat even because her behaviour is so terrible.  Sometimes as is the case with my cat he prescribed medicine for her.  That could be what your dog desires to fix any behaviour issues that keep repeated.  Remember that your often your dogs behaviour may be caused by health concerns so be certain to check with your vet before trying anything more. 

So if your dog has behavior issues you can try a selection of things.  Some of those things include consulting with your vet about possible health problems, positive strengthening, and dog coaching.  A combination of all those things perhaps needed which is what I had to do with my dogs.  Principally the training and positive reinforcement which seemed to help out the best since they were only puppies, but in your older dogs it perhaps that they are experiencing health issues so you do have to take into consideration the age of your dog before taking any steps to correct the behavior. 

I’m living in North Carolina with my excellent man and 2 beautiful kids.  I have two English Mastiff puppies, a Golden Labrador, and a Yorkie.  I also have two cats who came to us as strays.  I like sewing, crocheting, and managing to look after my zoo at the house.  Since I have so many pets I have a strong interest in animal issues.