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Dog Behavioral Problems
YES! You can train your dog! Learn how to fix your dog's behavioral problems in my new guide "Take Me to Your Leader". Click the guide for more information.
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A Simple Trick for Calming a Hyper Dog
Do you have a hyper dog? Do you want your dog to calm down and start listening to you? Then stop talking!
Seriously, we humans talk WAY to much. Now, I know that one of the best parts of having a dog around is having somebody who will listen to you complain about your mother-in-law and never tell. I know I’ve had my share of deep conversations with my dog. And she knows all about my celebrity crush on Channing Tatum.
However, how much we talk and when we talk to our dogs can actually get in the way of their learning. It can also manifest some real behavioral problems.
When you are talking too much to a hyper dog it’s going to turn them inside out. (and probably make them piddle!) You are adding more stimulation to an already over-stimulated dog.
I have a challenge for you. A 24 hour challenge. For the next 24 hours do not speak to your dog. No fussing over them when you come home. No shouting commands over and over. Just be silent. Sure, keep their leash attached and dragging so that you can control them. But no words.
It’s amazing what this “silent treatment” can do. Your dog will definitely know that something is different. He’s going to wonder what’s up and what happened to all that background noise. And you never know. He might actually start listening to you.
Have you noticed that talking to your hyper dog makes them worse? I’d love to hear from you!
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1-2-3 Red Light! – One of the Best Games to Play with Dogs and Kids
Does your puppy go wild when your children are playing? Do your kids turn into human squeaky toys and run around screaming if your dog chases them? By practicing and finding fun games to play with dogs, kids learn how to act around their canine friends. Oh, and your dog may even learn a trick or two.
1-2-3 Red Light!
This is my favorite of the games to play with dogs and kids
Most dogs get excited when kids are playing. The energy, laughter, and running around is just too much for them. And most of the time it’s OK to let your dog run around with your kids and their friends. But when things get out of hand your children AND your dog need to know how to calm down.
Do you remember the game 1-2-3 Red Light? Everybody is running around and playing until the judge shouts “1-2-3 Red Light!” Now everybody freeze-frames. This is a great game to play with dogs and kids. Your dog will need to know how to sit and or lie down as that’s going to be his “freeze-frame”. While the kids and dog are running around playing shout “1-2-3 Red Light!” You can even blow a whistle if you’d like. All kids freeze as you command your dog to sit or down. The kids will have fun holding their silly positions without moving until you’re able to get your dog into the command. Once all kids and the dog are “frozen” you can shout “GO!”, release your dog and the game starts again.
Have a leash on your dog when you first start playing. That way you can control him until he understands the rules of the game better. If you mix up the sit and down commands between rounds it will be even more challenging for your dog.
By practicing and making a game out of it kids with dogs learn how to act when things are getting out of hand and your dog is learning impulse control by turning himself on and off.
I’ll judge this round!
Do you have any fun ideas for games to play with dogs and kids? I’d love to hear them. Please comment and share below.
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Solve Your Dog Behavioral Problems
Does your dog ignore you? Is he pushy for attention or always seem to be in your way? Does he jump on guests and steal things off of the counters? It sounds like it’s time for a “role reversal”!
Solve your dog behavioral problems with
some simple techniques
I’m very excited to share with you my new ebook “Take Me To Your Leader!”. Inside I give tips and secrets on how to solve your dog’s behavioral problems effectively and non-confrontational.
Today I’m giving away a FREE copy! Just enter your information in the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway ends at midnight Friday.
Success at Your Dog’s Veterinarian Visit
Thank you for checking out “It’s Time to See the Dog Doctor” and “Off to See Your Dog’s Veterinarian” articles offered by Dawn Geremia.
Here Dawn shares her final but crucial step
How to de-stress a visit to your dog’s veterinarian
Teaching your dog obedience can be extremely useful during trips to the vet. Not only does it give you better control over your dog in a public situation, it gives your dog something to focus on during its examination. If your dog is in a SIT position, he is less likely to jump around and to try and avoid what needs to be done. He will be focusing on his SIT, and hopefully, focusing on you!
I couldn’t agree more. When you teach your dog the language of the obedience commands he learns self control, it helps him to over come his fears, and gives him a job to focus on. Many people don’t understand the concept of obedience training. It is not just tricks. It is a language to communicate. You can read more about how important obedience training is in my article “Dog Behavioral Problems?-Don’t Play Whack-a-Mole”.
Thank you Dawn Geremia for sharing such useful information to help both owners and dogs to have less stressful visits to the dog veterinarian!
To learn more about our guest blogger Dawn Geremia, cpt please visit her website First Friends Dog Training. Also, check out her booklet for new moms “Dogs, Diapers, and Beyond”.
How does your dog behave at the vet’s? Have these tips been helpful? Please comment and share below.
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It’s Time to See the Dog Doctor!
For many dogs a trip to the dog doctor is a major source of stress
But a visit to see your dog’s veterinarian doesn’t have to make your dog drool, growl and shake. By following the advice of certified pet trainer, Dawn Geremia, you can help your dog feel more comfortable when it’s time to see the vet. He may even come to like all of the treats and attention!
Dawn first instructs us how to teach our dogs to become comfortable being handled during an examination by your dog’s veterinarian.
Success at the Vet’s Office
Whether your dog is young or old, big or small, before you take him to his next vet’s appointment there are many things you can do to help make the experience go smoothly. By practicing these simple procedures at home, you can greatly reduce the stress level of your dog while visiting with the vet.
- The first exercise is to play with your dog’s feet. While your dog is relaxing, calmly begin petting him. Slowly and gently move down one of his legs. Pay special attention to the foot; touch each toe and each toenail. Touch all of the pads. This may tickle so be prepared for him to pull his foot away! Spread the toes apart and touch in between each digit. If you are successful with the first foot, move on to the next until you have massaged all four. This exercise will come in handy should your dog need a simple nail trimming or something more involved such as the repair of a pad laceration.
- While practicing at home, you can also manipulate your dog’s ears. Gently massage the ears from the base all the way to the tip. Once your dog accepts this, begin massaging the inside of the Pinna (the flap). Do not put anything into the ear as you may cause damage. This massaging technique will help accustom your dog to the sensation of a routine ear examination and cleaning.
- Another area of your dog which needs special attention is his mouth. Many veterinarians will perform an oral exam on your dog. They will inspect your dog’s teeth, gums, tongue, and overall appearance of the inside of the mouth. This procedure can help detect abnormal tissue growth, tartar buildup, gingivitis, broken teeth and many other ailments of the mouth. Begin this exercise at home by gently stroking your dog’s muzzle. Slowly lift his lips on both sides of his mouth and gradually introduce slight pressure to his teeth and gums with your fingertip. Once your dog accepts this procedure, move on to opening his mouth. Do not hold his mouth in an open position for longer than a second or two. You just want to open it gently and slowly, and then allow him to close it immediately.
- Finally, pay special attention to the tail. Amongst other things, manipulation of the tail will allow your vet to take your dogs temperature, perform a rectal exam, and examine a female in heat. Begin by gently stroking your dog’s tail from base to tip. Then apply slight pressure by squeezing the tail as you move from base to tip. Once this is accepted, lift his tail by grabbing the base and slowly lifting. Only lift the tail until it is level with the dogs back. Raising it any higher can possibly cause damage.
While performing any of these exercises, always remember to keep the workouts short and fun. Stay calm and don’t forget to praise, praise, and praise!! Your dog should enjoy these workouts, as should you!
I will continue to share Dawn’s tips to help your dog’s visit to the Veterinarian to be a pleasant experience in the next two upcoming blog posts. Stay tuned to learn how to restrain your dog during the exam and the best way to communicate with your dog when he is nervous.
How does your dog act at the vets? Is he nervous or
does he love the dog doctor?
I’d love to hear about your experiences with your dog’s veterinarian visits. Please comment and share below
Dawn Geremia is a certified veterinary technician and worked in a CT animal hospital for 8 years. Dawn received her “Master Trainer” Certificate from National K-9 School for Dog Trainers where she studied puppy development, behavior modification, obedience training, tracking, soft-mouth retrieval, kennel management, scent discrimination and handicapped assistance. She continued her education by attending the No Limitations School, Mid-west Branch and is now recognized as a Certified Remote Collar Specialist. She states that “This method of training allows my clients to accomplish things they never thought were possible.”
Dawn is also the author of “Dogs, Diapers and Beyond: How to Help Your Dog Accept Your Newborn”, is a member of the International Association of Canine Professionals, the National K-9 Dog Trainers Association, and continues to learn by attending seminars, lectures and conferences throughout the year.
You can find Dawn Geremia and her beautiful dog “Dahlia” at First Friends Dog Training
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Trained Dogs are Happier Dogs!
It’s true. Trained dogs are happier dogs.
Dogs that have been trained have more freedoms, can go more places, and have “broader horizons”. Check out these other interesting dog training statistics.
Dog Training graphic created by Matt Beswick for Pet365 – a UK supplier of dog beds, collars and coats. Click here to view the full post.
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Dog Behavioral Problems? – Don’t Play Whack-a-Mole
For many pet owners solving their
dog behavioral problems can be challenging.
It seems that as soon as one problem appears to be fixed another “pops” up. You’ve stopped your dog from running out the front door, but now he digs in the yard. She used to jump up on people, but now she steals things off of the counters when nobody is watching.
No dog behavioral problem tip, trick, or “booby trap” is going to solve your dog’s problems until you lay a foundation. You need to develop a language with your dog through obedience training.
Most dog owners and even many dog “experts” don’t understand the concept and theory behind obedience training. Some think it’s just tricks “Look my dog can sit; Look she can lay down”. But obedience training is actually a language to communicate with your dog. It teaches self control, responsibility, and allows you to tell your dog what TO do instead of always what NOT to do.
Training is a really a means to communicate with your dog. Think about it. Most people communicate with their dogs as if they are children. Dogs communicate with humans as if they are dogs. The commands are your common language.
In the beginning, many dogs don’t even realize that we two legged creatures are trying to communicate with them. They are just going through life doing their thing. The truth is that NOTHING your dog does she does because she’s bad. She does it because she’s a dog! By developing a language with her you are helping her to understand how to live in a human world.
When your dog learns to Sit and Stay even when being petted or a squirrel runs by you are teaching impulse control around distractions in general.
When your dog learns to heel by your side instead of pulling he is learning responsibility.
When your dog learns to lay down on her bed while you are eating you are teaching her leadership.
By practicing and insisting on the obedience commands you are engaging your dog’s mind, increasing his capacity to learn, and learning communicate with each other.
Don’t play Whack-a-Mole with your dog behavioral problems.
Get to the root of the problem and communicate with your dog through obedience training. You may notice that many of your dog’s “issues” just seem to suddenly disappear.
Have you noticed a difference in your dog behavioral problems since obedience training? I’d love to hear from you. Please comment and share below.
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