Bark is part of dog’s natural and normal behavior and communication. Dogs can bark for good and befitting reasons, like as when they are flocking sheep, hear strange sounds and when outsider enters your house. Many of us desired our dogs to warn us against uncommon things and become watch dogs. But your dogs can also bark unsuitably which will lead to dog barking problem. Approximately, almost 1/3 of dog owners reported the excessive barking of their dogs based in two scientific surveys. We need first to know why they are barking in order to control their behavior.

Warning or alert barks are the kind of barks encourage by several owners. They wish their dog to warn them against the occurrence of a hazard or doubtful stranger. This is sometimes perceived as a severe level of dog barking problem.

Frequent low in pitch and integrated with growls are called aggressive barks. We’re required to recognize alerting barks from fearful barks. Barks that seek attention are always used by dogs to catch up your attention.

Sharp and short barks due to excitement are another form of dog barking problem. These are the usual barks if your dog gets too stimulated with the play or food. Frequently, a brief intermission will bring your dog into order.

If you heard that your dog appears to be responding other dogs barking, this is called a self-identification barking. Bored barkers plainly want an exit for their daily energy and a more exciting surrounding.

Anxious or lonely barking happens if your dog is undergoing separation anxiety. As he becomes more anxious and excited, barking can grow to self-reinforcing. Anxious barks inclined to get higher in pitch as he becomes more distressed. This can be particularly distracting to your neighbors.

There are various reasons for barking and some barking is a natural behavior while others are classified as dog barking problems. There are some conditions in which barking involves morbid or disease.

By: Trevor Somerville

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

One of the most important things to teach your dog is how to walk on a leash. This is a good way to establish authority over your dog and let him know who is in charge. It is also a good way to bond with him and allow him to see sights other than just your backyard. Another benefit is it provides a great way for both you and your dog to get some exercise.

Start Leash Training When Fido Is Just A Puppy

The best time for a dog to learn this is when he is still a pup. However, it is never too late. Place a snug (but not TOO tight) collar on your puppy, then add the leash. Let him walk around dragging the leash and even allow him to eat while wearing it. Pet him while he is wearing the leash.

Do this for a few minutes each day and he will eventually not even notice it.

Remove The Leash When Leaving Fido Alone

Never leave him alone while wearing the leash. It could get caught on something and there could be tragic consequences. Always be close at hand when your dog is wearing his leash.

Here We Go

When it is time to take him for a walk, be sure that you have a good grasp on the leash. He may bound out the door and take off. If he is a big dog, the leash could be pulled out of your hand and he may be down the street before you know it.

Remember that you should maintain control. Never allow your dog to pull you. If he does, stop. Do not take another step until he releases the tension on the leash. He should never walk ahead of you.

Work In Progress

For awhile, leash training will be a work in progress. It may take some time for your best pal to get the hang of it. Just practice every day for a few minutes so that walking on a leash will become routine. You will both enjoy your walks once the training is out of the way.

Take your time, be patient with him, and stay calm. Don’t yell at him or drag him mercilessly down the street because he has ticked you off. He wants nothing more than to please you.

By: Ronda Tuckness

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Dogs are not born with soft mouths, but they can learn to bite softly if taught properly, which means plenty of information and communication from you and from other dogs.

Interacting with other dogs is critical to teaching your puppy bite inhibition. When two dogs play together and one bites too hard, the other one cries and runs away. This behavior helps to teach the biter to play-bite softly.

Normal puppies can and should play-bite continually in social interactions, because biting and mouthing are normal canine behaviors. Puppies and young adolescent dogs have a physical and psychological need to use their mouths. Remember, dogs use their mouths the way humans use their hands.

Soft mouth exercises need to begin as soon as you get your new puppy. Puppy teeth are sharp, but their jaws are underdeveloped so these exercises should not be painful to you. When your puppy is mouthing your hand or fingers, monitor their bite pressure. If your puppy bites too hard, screech “OUCH” very loudly and look at your puppy as if she just ripped your hand off. Then leave the room and ignore your puppy for several minutes.

You need to make a strong impression on your puppy that if she bites too hard, she will end up playing all by herself. Being very social animals, most dogs and puppies will not opt to play by themselves. Be prepared to repeat this exercise over and over again so that a trend emerges…Bite too hard, play by yourself!

This exercise is even more effective if all the people that come into contact with your puppy implement it with one exception. Young children should never teach soft mouth exercises. When you puppy starts to get overexcited and begins to bite too hard, have your children leave the area so you can do the training.

When your puppy is consistently demonstrating better self-control, you can start to monitor even the moderate to light pressure bites. Now, if your puppy is putting her mouth on you with even moderate pressure, screech “OUCH,” leave, and ignore her for a few minutes. Then go back and try again.

Remember, you must give your puppy plenty of outlets for her mouth and jaws. Stuffed Kong toys, frozen wash cloths, chew toys soaked in broth or chicken stock, and tug-of-war games are just a few great ways for your puppy to use her mouth and jaws in an acceptable way. If you say no to one item (your hands or your clothes) you must say yes to another (her toys).

And always manage your puppy’s behavior. If she is biting and mouthing you excessively, this is a clear signal that she is bored and needs to release some energy. A good dose of aerobic exercise should remedy this.
On a final note, never reinforce your puppy’s biting or mouthy behavior. Your attention, be it scruff shaking, grabbing her snout, or smacking her nose is all reinforcement to your puppy and will make the problem worse.

Biting is a normal stage that puppies go through, and when properly managed, never needs to become a big issue down the road.

By: Eric Letendre

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Dog Quote: Oh, that dog! Ever hear of a German shepherd that bites its nails? Barks with a lisp? You say, “Attack!” And he has one. All he does is piddle. He’s nothing but a fur-covered kidney that barks. ….Phillis Diller

Training your dog to not pull on the leash

One of the most common problems people have with their dogs is pulling on the leash. There are many reasons why this can occur, and quite often it is nothing more than excitement on the dogs part. If this is the case, allowing the dog a few minutes to simmer down before taking it on his/her walk can often stop it.

Once again, the dogs pack mentality can come to play with the dog assuming leadership over its owner as the leader of the pack. This comes back to the basics of dog training where the dog must be aware of who the master is.

Failure to get this basic dog training technique under control can lead to all sorts of problems, particularly if the dog gets off the leash. In the presence of other dogs, and sometimes young children this problem becomes pronounced.

One of the basics of dog training is for the owner to establish him or herself as the leader of the pack otherwise no training can be effective.

Once this has been established you can start the process of getting your dog to walk calmly beside you with or without a leash. And that process can only start if you are able to get your dog to sit calmly while you put the leash around its neck. That is the very first step of training your dog to walk without pulling in its leash.

Once you succeed in that task, you can move on to the next step where you can get your dog to walk beside you without a leash and be assured that he/she won’t run away.

And from there you will not be one of those people where the dog is taking them for a walk.

Stop Your Dog Jumping on People

Dog Quote: They have dog food for constipated dogs. If your dog is constipated, why screw up a good thing? Stay indoors and let ‘em bloat! ….David Letterman

Jumping on People

No matter how much we might enjoy our pet jumping up to greet us, there are many people who dislike having a strange dog coming up and jumping on them. For many people it can be a frightening experience as not everyone is a dog lover.

Besides that, many people just don’t want dirty paw marks over their clothing.

It can also create major problems if a large dog were to jump up on a child or an elderly person.

Dogs will generally jump up on people because they are overly excited and pleased to see them – even if that person is a stranger.

Many people inadvertently encourage this behavior by rewarding the dog with attention after the dog has jumped up on them. The dog then seeks similar reward from other people whether they like it or not.

This is detrimental to the proper training of the dog and all members of the family must realize that they’re doing more harm than good by encouraging their dog to jump up on people.

Consistency is important in all forms of dog training, where members of the dog’s family will need to exercise discipline and accept that training will be all the more difficult if the dog is allowed to continue with this behavior.

Failure to do so will lead to confusion with the pet not knowing what is right or wrong.

An alternative to having your dog jump up on you and other people is to teach it to sit and lift it’s paw when greeting you for a handshake or similar tricks where the dog will be rewarded with attention.

By: Michael Copper

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Just like human beings, certain dogs can be aggressive by nature. This aggressive behavior could lead to severe conflicts between the dogs and their masters. Such behavior is instinctive among many animals, but can be controlled. It is in fact necessary to control it for the well being of your dog. Dog to dog aggression is quiet normal and a dog aggressive to other dogs is more frequent within breeds than between them.

But where is the line between playful antics and aggression? Let us take a look at a few things that determine that.

Growling is the most common sign of aggression which needs immediate attention. You can take steps by trying to get your pet together with other dogs in your neighborhood, including ones of its own breed. Some pets reveal territorial aggression, which often results in chasing cars or people passing by. This could create problems, not only for you, but also for your immediate neighbors. This type of territorial aggression may require certain additional measures like citronella or electronic collars. Even aggression training can prove helpful. Since these issues can make both you and your dog unhappy, you’ll need to find some effective ways to control it.

Another kind of problem is fear aggression. This can be caused due to the fear of a particular person, another animal or even from a particular situation. Your dog may simply not understand how to handle such a situation and instinctively become aggressive.

Even pain can be responsible for aggression in dogs. A dog under any physical pain is likely to be short tempered and will charge at anyone who annoys it or even gets close to it. Under such situations, the best thing you can do is to leave him alone and give him time to recover from his injuries.

Your dog may become irritable or even angry, which can also have negative impacts. Your already irritated dog will hardly show any patience and may turn aggressive when approached. At such times, you should give him some time to rest and should be left alone until he calms down. You should also avoid bringing another pet into your house, as it may not be able to control his anger and could attack. Specialty training collars may prove helpful in situations like these.

Some trainers intentionally teach dog aggression, which is a big mistake. Most of these trainers are inexperienced and are not sure of what is the correct way to train the aggressive dogs. Similarly, it would be foolish of the pet owners to expect the dogs to be tender and gentle after having given them vigorous training. It is very important to understand that it is difficult for dogs to unlearn what they have learned in the past. Like humans, habits die hard in dogs too! Ridding them of aggressive behavior may be very difficult. So it is best to avoid training them to behave aggressively.

By: Steve Searls

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Aggressive problems actually quite a normal problem of almost any dogs. Even other animals or we as human do a lot of time display aggressive behavior.

It is instilled by nature as an automatic response for protection of existence. However normal, it is for dog to show aggressions, it is mostly unacceptable on a lot of time. Normal Aggression behavior such as growling, barking, and even biting are sometimes mistaken by the owners as “vicious” or “psychotic” which sadly resulted in the dog being put down. This happen because human and dog do not have the common communication channel.

From the Dog view, a friendly stranger behavior may seems like a threatening and intimidating behavior which give the dog all the motives to protect himself or the pack he is in. Before we can solve your dog aggression behavior, we need to understand the different type of aggression normally displayed and then we will deal with each one of them:

Dominance aggression:

Dominance aggression always happen when dogs are trying to established their place or status in the family. This occurs as your dog is a pack animal and he will view your family members as part of the pack and he will try to establish the hierarchy ranking of each member.

Since a lot of time children are at eye level with the dog, it makes it easier for him to confront them first before trying his way to go up higher in the hierarchy. This might happen also because the owner behavior towards the dog that diminishes the owner ranking to be lowered than the dog.

For examples:

During play time, owner promotes the dog to be at higher ranking in the hierarchy by allowing the dog to overpower him in a game of wrestling with the dog. Or during eating time, where the owner permit the dog to eat first and have a place on the dinner table or consenting the dog to sleep on the owner’s bed. These behavior and activities without the owner’s awareness, establishes the dog higher ranking and therefore encourages aggression behavior in the dog.

To stop your dog dominance aggression, you need to re-establish his position in the family. He must understand that he ranks last in the family. Establish routines for him and only reward him if he does them well. You have to eat first before him and you should never permit him to be in a superior position such as being on top of you during playing time.

Fear / anxiety aggression:

Fear or anxiety aggression happens as a need for self defense and a natural reaction for the need to protect its existence from any harm. Of course this is triggered by the perception of the dog of threatening situation or possible harmful action taken by you or strangers.

For example, a passerby might be passing by rushing to get into the bus and was running toward you and your dog. Your dog might sees this stranger as posing possible threat which can be potentially dangerous to him.

If this is the case, you need to expose him more to people and different environment or situation. This means you have to take him out more often. Remember to put a leash or muzzle in the beginning when you are taking him out for a walk. You do not want him go out of sight. This is for his own well being and for the safety of general public.

Possessive / protective aggression:

Possessive or protective aggression is almost the same to fear aggression however this type of behavior normally associated to guarding the property that the dog feels belong to him. This can be guarding your family, or your house, his food or toy. This could in a way be a helpful type of aggression, as this type of aggression normally prevents your house from robbers or burglars.

The solution to this aggression type would be to powerfully establishing your position as the dog master that complete obedience is required from him. Eliminating totally your dog aggression behavior is not possible, but directing them is. So conducting proper training session with your dog is important
It is a great misunderstanding that aggression is cause by the breed of the dogs, which causes some states or even countries to ban certain breed of dogs or required them to wear muzzles whenever they are out in the public.

There are no bad dogs but there are many bad owners and bad breeders. Learning where aggression behavior comes from and how to prevent it may help us to enjoy the breed we love.

By: Leo Enoch

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Leash training dogs can be seen as unimportant by new dog owners. While getting your puppy or adult dog used to being on leash is fairly quick and simple, taking the time to properly train your dog to behave and walk politely while on a leash will result in great advantages in the near future, especially if your puppy is expected to weigh 50 pounds or more.

Common Leash Training Questions

I receive at least a dozen questions every week from new dog owners who want to know about leash training. Amongst other things, they inquire about the best and worst types of dog leash, how long they should walk their dog and how to get the dog to stop pulling.

You’ll find a list of common leash training questions below. You should keep in mind that there is more than one right way to train your dog, no matter if you’re talking about leash training or other types of training. It is perfectly fine to mix and match your own training ideas with the advice below as long as you keep it 100% positive. Negative dog training should never be an option and it is highly discouraged.

Here are a few basic leash training questions to get us started:

1. How long should I allow the leash to extend when walking my dog? Most dog trainers agree that your dog (puppy or adult) does not need anymore than 5 to 6 feet of leash to roam around when you are walking your dog. This distance allows plenty of room for you to keep control of your dog and the overall situation. It also gives your dog a chance to explore and sniff out the area along the way.

2. What should my leash be made of? Most leashes available for sale in typical pet stores are made of nylon. This material is easy to wash and nylon leashes come in a variety of colors. One downside to nylon leashes is that they will burn your hand if the dog makes sudden movements away from you while the leash moves through your fingers.

I recommend leather leashes. To be more specific, a 6-foot leather leash is the perfect leash. Being made of leather, it will last a long time and it will not burn your hand if it is suddenly pulled. By using such a leash, your grip can stay firm and you can have better control over your dog.

3. Are chain leashes a good idea? The advantage of a chain leash is that it is practically indestructible and you will likely not see the end of its life. However, chain leashes are even more dangerous than nylon leashes as the chain could really hurt your hand if the dog were to yank on it and your grip were to slip.

4. What width should my leash be? To keep it simple, your leash should be between ½ inches and ¾ inches wide. Always try to avoid heavy or bulky leashes.

By: Dani Waser

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Solving your dog barking problems can be a challenge that almost every dog owner will face at some point in time. Now thought you are probably asking what can I possibly do that would even remotely help me solve my dog barking problems. Well it is rather easy to find a quick and easy solution to your dog barking problems and I thought I would share what I found to be one of the most effective ways to control this behavior.

The best way that I have found to help me in my issue is to ensure that my pet knows that I am the boss and he has to abide by my rules. Now this might seem fairly simple and straightforward for some people, but it is a lot more difficult to do this than people realize. One of the things that you have to realize is that your pet is going to try to be the dominant until someone else proves that they are the dominant in the house. The best way to instill this dominance is with obedience training.

Obedience training will help you prove to your pet that you are the dominant and that he needs to listen to you and do what you say rather than the other way around. Now some people might argue that the classes are time consuming and very costly which can be true, but if you utilize some of the online training courses you can save a ton of time and money because it is a work at your own pace style of class with the same results.

By: Jimmy Fisher

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

Dog barking problems can by very frustrating. They can also cause problems with neighbors especially if you live in an apartment complex or extremely close to your neighbors. You have been receiving multiple complaints about your lovable companions barking, what can you do? There are some things that can help.

First you must understand that barking is a normal behavior for dogs. It is their natural form of communications. Dogs can bark for good reasons. They will let you know when a stranger is approaching or when they sense danger. If your dog is barking excessively and with no known reason his behavior has went from normal to being a real problem.

Dog bark collars are great devices and can come in real handy for your excessive barker. These collars go around your pets neck just like regular collar, but they have a box that sense the vibration of your dogs bark and punishes the animal. There are three types of these collars available. The first one is the most humane. It is called a citronella bark collar. This collar releases a scent that most dogs find very unpleasant when it sense the dog barking. When the dog understands that his barking causes the scent to be released, he will usually stop the inappropriate behavior. The second type of collar is called a sonic bark collar. It releases a discomforting high pitched sound when the animal barks. Like the citronella collar, when the dog realizes that his barking is causing the sound, he will stop. The most inhumane form of these collars is the shock collar. It delivers a painful electric shock when the behavior occurs and should only be used in the most extreme of cases.

If the bark collar does not work, you can also use a device such as a muzzle. This could be helpful at times when you are trying to sleep and your dog is barking excessively. Again, it should only be used in the most extreme cases.

These devices should be helpful with dog barking problems. Of course the first thing you should try before using any of these devices is good old fashioned training. Good Luck with your pet.

By: David A. Taylor

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!

By the time you finish reading this article, you’ll have a better understanding of fear aggression in dogs. Plus you’ll also know several dog training behavior modification techniques to use when dealing with this problem in your dog.

What Causes Dog Behavior Problems Like This One?

Fear aggression in dogs can have many causes. Certain dog breeds, like the herding breeds, are more prone to this problem than others. Neglecting to socialize your dog when he’s a puppy can contribute to canine aggression towards strangers. Past abuse may also be a factor.

Even if puppy socialization isn’t an issue, many dogs go through a “shy” period when they hit adolescence at around six months. It’s important to keep exposing your pup to lots of situations to avoid him becoming wary of new people and new animals.

Dog Behavior Modification Techniques

If your dog is already displaying fear aggression, here are six steps for dog training behavior modification you can use to desensitize your dog to strangers. What you’ll be doing is teaching your dog that strangers are great!

To start, you’ll need a few volunteers to act as strangers. You dog also needs to be on a leash so he’s under your control at all times.

First, you need to identify your dog’s favorite treat. It shouldn’t be something he gets on a regular basis. Steak, liver, chicken, cheese, hot dogs, whatever it is, it should be something he absolutely loves.

Second, the only time he gets this favorite treat is when a stranger is present. You’re training your dog to associate this wonderful treat with a stranger being around.

Third, figure out what is triggering your dog to show canine aggression. He may be OK if strangers are outside, but not in the home. He may be scared of all men, certain men, or kids. Do sudden movements, or somebody getting too close agitate him? Observe him carefully to see what sets him off.

The fourth step is to expose your dog to a stranger. Stay inside your dog’s comfort zone. You want to move slowly so you don’t provoke him to an aggressive display. Your dog should know a stranger is around, but he shouldn’t be overly concerned about it.

Fifth, as soon as your dog is aware of the stranger, start feeding him treats. Sixth, before the dog starts getting aggressive toward the stranger, you either have the stranger leave, or your and your dog will leave.

It’s very important that your dog is continuing to eat the treats. If he won’t eat, then the stranger is too close. If the dog isn’t relaxed enough to eat, you’re moving too quickly with the dog training behavior modification.

Remember that you aren’t rewarding your dog for doing something right. What you’re doing is changing his emotional state.

More Tips For Dog Behavior Modification

You’ll continue to work within your dog’s comfort zone, varying the distance the stranger is from your dog. The stranger may be six feet away one day, eight the next, seven after that. As long as aggressive dog behavior isn’t seen, you’re doing fine.

Continue these steps for several weeks. Now you’re going to start working outside your dog’s comfort zone by having the stranger come a little closer, maybe five feet away. Keep working to reduce the distance your dog is from the stranger.

You can see that this is a long, slow process. It can be tempting to try to move along faster, but if you push too hard, you can undo all your hard work. Keep the training sessions short, and end the session if your dog is getting nervous.

Do yourself a favor and find a good dog training course. This can be a very helpful aid when using dog behavior modification techniques. You’ll want to look for one that includes a free consultation with an experienced dog trainer so you can get help, if necessary.

By: Darlene L. Norris

About the Author:

#1 Recommended Dog Training Product!