For us humans, it can be a bit difficult to identify with the doggie habit of licking one another in greeting. We don’t do it, after all, and though our tongues come in handy for things like ice-cream eating and sucking that last dollop of peanut butter off the knife, we certainly wouldn’t welcome a visitor into our home by giving them a long, lingering lick on the cheek (unless you were brought up to embrace certain social mores currently unheard of in Western society). Dogs use their tongues to explore the world. A dog’s tongue is as important (and useful) to him as our eyes and hands are to us: it’s a multi-purpose utility tool, used to taste things, explore the presence of new people and animals, express submissiveness, and to let you know that he values your companionship and friendship. Licking is a completely natural behavior for dogs, and most of the time, the experience isn’t something to worry about: the odd lick from a warm, moist tongue on your hand or ankle is, at worst, tolerable (and, I must admit, I actually find it pretty adorable when my dog licks me – but then again, he’s trained not to overdo it, so I don’t have to worry about the smothering capacities that a 100-pound male Rottweiler’s tongue possesses!) Some dogs just take things too far though, and this is where problems can set in.

It’s not pleasant to be persecuted in your own home by a far-reaching, agile, mobile, and slobbery tongue: some won’t let you get a moment’s rest, but will pursue you from bedroom to hallway to lounge to kitchen, making sporadic dive-bombings of affection on your toes, ankles, calves – anywhere that flesh is exposed and available. And for a tall dog, the available terrain is much more varied, and thus, enticing – ever had a long, wet dog’s tongue lathering your bellybutton as you stretch up to those elusive top shelves? When unexpected, the resultant shock is more than a trifle unbalancing! Plenty of dogs won’t restrict themselves to your skin alone, either, and owners of these dogs will attest to the always-visible consistency of dog saliva on clothing: whether your outfit is black, white, or any of the myriads of shades in between, there’s nothing like a viscous patch of dog slobber on a freshly-laundered hemline to advertise your ownership status (and your dog’s personal level of demonstrativeness) to the world at large. And once it’s dried, it’s there ’til the next laundry run: the physical evidence of a dog’s friendship is like egg white. It’s there, it’s dried on, and it’s not coming off until a combination of suds, hot water, and vigorous effort is applied. And all this because your dog wants to say “I love you”! But there’s often a bit more to it than just plain affection. As with all animal behavior, the logic behind licking is usually more complex and subtle than you might think, and the same gesture can have multiple meanings dependent on circumstance, your dog’s state of mind, and the other behaviors being exhibited at the same time.

So, although we can postulate until the cows come home (or until your dog stops licking – whichever comes first) as to why your dog’s licking you, such generalizations aren’t always 100% accurate: it’s partly up to you to determine the reasoning behind the actions. And, since you know your dog better than anyone else, you’re the ideal candidate for the job. If your dog is licking you because he’s feeling affectionate and wants to let you know, it’ll be pretty easy to figure out whether this is the case or not.

His body language will be relaxed, and although the circumstances will be variable, the surrounding mood will generally be stress-free and happy: for example, when he licks you on the shoulder or ear from his vantage-point in the backseat as you’re driving him to the park, or lathers your hands and wrists with goodwill and devotion when you return home from a hard day at the office. “Puppy love” is by far the most common cause of licking: it isn’t anything to worry about, and it’s simple to ‘cure’ him of the habit if the behavior is a problem for you. (We’ll get to that further down the page.) Another not-infrequent reason for repetitive, owner-targeted licking is that your dog’s feeling anxious and stressed. If there are things happening in your dog’s life to cause him unhappiness or tension, he’ll often show it through obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and licking is a pretty common manifestation of these. Some dogs will lick themselves, others will lick you – it’s really a case of individual preference. It shouldn’t be too hard for you to pinpoint the cause of your dog’s less-than-relaxed mindset: is he getting enough attention and mental stimulation, or is he cooped up inside for long hours each day by himself? Does he get enough exercise and outdoors time for sniffing, exploration, and general exuberant tomfoolery? Do you pay him lots of attention when you’re at home, or tend to greet him hurriedly before rushing off to your next commitment? These are all things that you’ll need to consider, before adapting your lifestyle to address the issue accordingly. Depending on the circumstances surrounding the licking, and the overall quality of your dog’s life, you may need to make some general adjustments of your own to ensure that, when the licking does stop, it’s because you’ve treated the cause, not the symptoms – otherwise, you’re just trying to take away a valuable outlet for his negative emotions, which is unrealistic (and unfair on your friend, too). Perhaps you need to come home more often during the day. Perhaps you need to get up half an hour earlier in the morning to give him a more substantial pre-work walk (it varies from dog to dog, but as a general rule of thumb, most dogs function best and are at their most relaxed with an hour and a half’s exercise each day). Or maybe you just need to spend more time with him in the evenings, playing, grooming, training, and just hanging out together.

Make sure you’re paying attention to his demeanor (does he seem content?) and his activity levels before you try to get rid of the licking behavior as a stand-alone problem: even though he can’t talk, he can still use his tongue to try and tell you something, and this might be what’s happening here. Having said that though, most of the time excessive licking is simply due to excessive exuberance in your dog: he’s happy, he loves you, and he has to let you know right now. When you want to get the point across that his licking’s getting a bit too much for you, a simple change in your body language will convey your message loud and clear. All you need to do is withdraw the outward display of your affection for him to understand that, actually, you don’t like it when he covers your skin in a composite of saliva, dog-food particulate matter, scraps of debris from his fur, and general oral-cavity detritus. In plain English, this means that you just have to turn yourself away from him: when he starts to lick, get up and move away instantly. Make sure your face and eyes are dramatically averted from him: face in the complete opposite direction. Preface this with a revolted-sounding “No!” if you like (I say “No lick!” but you can use whatever comes naturally. Just keep the phrase short and easily-identifiable so your dog quickly learns to recognize it). At this point, he’ll probably get up and follow you. Wait for him to do so: the licking should start again soon. When it does, repeat the process. Withdraw all signs of affection from him again: turn away, get up and leave, and don’t pay him any attention or talk to him (apart from another “No!” in a disgusted, I-can’t-believe-you-haven’t-got-the-message-yet tone of voice). It’s likely that your dog will be persistent.

He’s not to be easily deterred; you’re the undisputed centerpiece of his life, after all, and he needs to let you know this whenever the opportunity should present itself. You just need to outmatch him in persistency. Be consistent with your actions, and the message will sink in. Don’t feel that you have to shout or react negatively – the simple withdrawal of your love (or the appearance of this, anyway) is quite enough. A word of warning: some people really like it when dogs lick them, even if the dog concerned is not their own. If visitors to your house (or admiring passersby on the street) greet your dog and allow him to lick them, you’ll need to intervene or else they’ll undo all your good work. It’s best if you can explain ahead of time that you’re training him not to lick, and then explain the appropriate response for them to take if he should start to lick them. This way, you can be sure that your dog’s not going to be corrupted into unwanted behaviors again – and that he’ll learn to express his affection in other, more desirable ways. For more information on licking and other problematic dog behaviors … You’ll probably want to check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s a comprehensive, A-Z manual for the responsible dog owner, and deals with just about every canine behavior and training technique under the sun, from aggression to digging to whining to dog whispering to obedience work.

The post Licking: affectionate, disconcerting, or just plain disgusting? first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Before you examine the different ways on how to stop dog barking, you need to first understand that barking is a very natural behavior for dogs. They bark as a way to communicate with you. If you want to stop your dog from barking, you must first recognize the underlying cause as to why he is barking. Dogs bark for many reasons. They could be afraid of something or they are simply welcoming you home. They also bark as a form of deterrence to scare off uninvited guests. They are also more likely to bark when they are in unfamiliar territories.

Having the Best Dog Training Help is Important If You Want A Well Trained Dog.

Constant barking can become a problem as it annoys the neighbors. You definitely do not want to be known as the resident who disturbs the peace! Many dog owners make the mistake of yelling at their barking dogs to quiet them down. Their efforts prove to be futile because the dogs will only perceive and hear the yelling as a form of barking, and they in turn get more agitated. Here are three easy steps that you can take to stop dog barking.

Entice Him with a Treat

The easiest way to get a dog to stop barking is to break off his attention from the perceived threat. Shift his focus onto you; he trusts you! To do this, you should have his favorite treat in close proximity. He will quiet down as he tries to sniff and examine the treat with his tongue. Praise him constantly for being silent and obedient. Repeat this step the next time he barks, and only feed him his treat five seconds after he has remained silent. Increase the duration each time and he will stop barking excessively. Always be consistent with your praises and rewards.

Check Out the Situation

Remember, a dog does not bark for no apparent reason. It is usually triggered by an event, such as someone ringing the doorbell. Rather than seeing his barking as annoying, you should know that he is only trying to protect you. Give him the assurance that you trust him by going up to the door and checking out the situation. Of course, you may already be expecting house guests, but do it nonetheless. Then, execute the Hush command or get him to sit down quietly. When he does that, be sure to praise him for his good behavior. Introduce the house guests to your dog gradually so that he doesn’t get stressed out. You may also get the visitors to feed him his favorite treats.

Allow Him to Socialize and Play Around

Keeping a dog in his cages for a prolonged duration is as good as torturing him. They become bored and they store excess energy, which are released through barking. Dogs love to scamper around, so be sure to let him out several times a day. Allowing your dog to socialize reduces the chances of him barking excessively because he is used to having strangers and foreign objects around him.
These are three excellent tips on how to stop dog barking. While you may never be able to get your dog to stop barking, you can get it to stop barking excessively. Carrying out these trainings will require much time and effort on your part.

The post Stop Dog Barking – How To Stop Your Dog Barking Instantly! first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dogs are creatures of habit and once they pick up a bad habit they have a tendency to repeat it. Bad habits can be detrimental to the dog’s health and cause him to be in danger. If your dog is displaying negative behavior, you must quickly intervene before they become a bad habit. Here is an excellent dog training guide that will help you groom your dogs into perfect pets!

Having the Best Dog Training Guide is Important If You Want A Well Trained Dog.

If Your Dog Has a Tendency to Bite

During playtimes, your dogs may nip other canines. However, this is a very natural behavior. Your dog may in turn bite you because they perceive this as acceptable behavior. To eliminate this behavior, you can first give them chew toys. Supervise their sessions with the toys. Fill a can with some coins so that you can hear the clinging sound when you shake it. When your dog bites the chew toy, shake the can to shock him. Gradually, he will stop his biting behavior.

If Your Pet Likes to Eat Its Own Feces
If your dog feeds on its own feces, he has a high risk of developing health problems. Dogs tend to eat feces when they are bored or hungry. Feed your dog well and with special diets that will give the feces a pungent smell when passed. As the owner, it is your responsibility to eliminate its stool when your dog is done.

If Your Dog Loves To Chase

Dogs find it a thrill to chase after moving objects or persons. You will have to eliminate this behavior because you may lose him when he runs off. He can also get into an accident when he chases after a car. Partner up with someone, who will be the runner. Give him a water pistol. When he begins to chase your partner, the latter should suddenly stop and turn to squirt water in your pets face. This will shock your dog. Repeat this training until your dog no longer chases after things or people.

If Your Dog Barks Excessively

Identify the reason why your dog is barking. If he is seeking your attention, you must not give in to his cries. You will only be encouraging him; he knows that all he has to do is bark and you will give him due attention. Instead, ignore his barks until he stops. Then, go to him and cuddle him. This tells him that he is being rewarded for being quiet.

Another excellent tip to prevent your dog from barking excessively is to get him to exercise. A dog barks when he is bored. If you engage him in physical activities, he is less likely to bark. A worn out dog will need to recover and replenish his energy. Thus, it is a good idea to bring your dog out on a long walk before night time. This way, you don’t have to worry about him disturbing the peace at night.

These are some common tips that most dog owners look for in a dog training guide. If you seem to have a problem managing your dog’s behavior, you can try to apply these techniques.

The post The Perfect Dog Training Guide – Eliminate Bad Behavior Fast! first appeared on Puppy Blog.

Dogs are creatures of habit and once they pick up a bad habit they have a tendency to repeat it. Bad habits can be detrimental to the dog’s health and cause him to be in danger. If your dog is displaying negative behavior, you must quickly intervene before they become a bad habit. Here is an excellent dog training guide that will help you groom your dogs into perfect pets!

Having the Best Dog Training Guide is Important If You Want A Well Trained Dog.

If Your Dog Has a Tendency to Bite

During playtimes, your dogs may nip other canines. However, this is a very natural behavior. Your dog may in turn bite you because they perceive this as acceptable behavior. To eliminate this behavior, you can first give them chew toys. Supervise their sessions with the toys. Fill a can with some coins so that you can hear the clinging sound when you shake it. When your dog bites the chew toy, shake the can to shock him. Gradually, he will stop his biting behavior.

If Your Pet Likes to Eat Its Own Feces
If your dog feeds on its own feces, he has a high risk of developing health problems. Dogs tend to eat feces when they are bored or hungry. Feed your dog well and with special diets that will give the feces a pungent smell when passed. As the owner, it is your responsibility to eliminate its stool when your dog is done.

If Your Dog Loves To Chase

Dogs find it a thrill to chase after moving objects or persons. You will have to eliminate this behavior because you may lose him when he runs off. He can also get into an accident when he chases after a car. Partner up with someone, who will be the runner. Give him a water pistol. When he begins to chase your partner, the latter should suddenly stop and turn to squirt water in your pets face. This will shock your dog. Repeat this training until your dog no longer chases after things or people.

If Your Dog Barks Excessively

Identify the reason why your dog is barking. If he is seeking your attention, you must not give in to his cries. You will only be encouraging him; he knows that all he has to do is bark and you will give him due attention. Instead, ignore his barks until he stops. Then, go to him and cuddle him. This tells him that he is being rewarded for being quiet.

Another excellent tip to prevent your dog from barking excessively is to get him to exercise. A dog barks when he is bored. If you engage him in physical activities, he is less likely to bark. A worn out dog will need to recover and replenish his energy. Thus, it is a good idea to bring your dog out on a long walk before night time. This way, you don’t have to worry about him disturbing the peace at night.

These are some common tips that most dog owners look for in a dog training guide. If you seem to have a problem managing your dog’s behavior, you can try to apply these techniques.

The post The Perfect Dog Training Guide – Eliminate Bad Behavior Fast! first appeared on Puppy Blog.

The former category focuses on behavior modification, usually disregarding typical and natural behavior of dogs. 1. However, the main supporter of the technique was William R. So, this technique can be explained by operant conditioning principles.

Negative reinforcement is the process that strengthens a behavior because an unpleasant situation is stopped or avoided as a consequence of that particular behavior. They also claim that training collars (choke, prong and shock) are harmless because dogs have a high threshold of pain.

These people also claim that positive trained behaviors are not reliable under variable circumstances.

Although very common, those claims are not true. 3. Mixed techniques use both positive and negative reinforcement. While choke collars are common tools, it seems that mixed techniques are friendlier to dogs than traditional training.

Several champions of canine sports have been trained under a mixed approach using positive as well as negative reinforcement. Perhaps the main reason for the use of mixed techniques in those sports is that some behaviors, such as leaving an attack sleeve, are very difficult to train without negative reinforcement.

Although trainers who use mixed approaches also use positive reinforcement, they usually avoid using food as a reinforcer. Some of these people also tend to use non-violent procedures. Detractors claim that there is a lack of solid arguments in these techniques. However in the mainstream community, this might not be a viable solution, unless you want really angry neighbors, who are annoyed by your constant whistling. Dog training whistles have evolved from our need to train the dogs, to listen to our commands. Invented by Francis Galton in the 1880s, the dog training whistles, also referred to as Galton’s whistles, are a great tool to get your dog’s attention. While some have peas and others do not, there are others which combine two whistles into one, to have dual frequencies for producing different dog whistle sounds. Based on the length of the cylinders, the pitch of the whistle varies.

However there are no magical powers that will pull your dog to the sound or make it respond to the whistle commands. So for the ‘sit’ whistle command, give the verbal command followed by the whistle sound that the dog learns to associate the command with it. I really don’t know how many of you have faced this situation, but when you are sick and lying in bed, sad and depressed the sound of pattering paws and the touch of a wet nose and the feel of the soft fur of man’s best friend, surely lifts up our spirit and makes us forget our illness for the time being. You are right, I am talking about the therapy dogs who are trained to bring joy to all those who are sad and depressed, who are sick, and who need company when human company push them away. Dogs have a healing power in them which can make us forget all our worries, no matter how grave they are and even if they cannot solve the problem, they can at least make us forget about it for some time. Show them who is the master. Some dogs can take advantage of their master’s soft behavior and try and behave in a stubborn manner and that will make training it difficult.

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