Does Your Pooch Need Dog Behaviour Training?

Many dog owners put up with a lot of bad behaviour before deciding that their canine companions could use dog behaviour training. At times, training like this can help dogs cease annoying behaviour like chewing or jumping up on their owners. However, sometimes training can help dogs learn how to behave before something terrible happens – like a bite or injury. To know whether your dog needs behaviour training or not, ask yourself the following questions.

- Does your dog seem overly hyper at certain times, such as when you get home? Of course dogs are going to be excited to see their owners, but if it takes your dog longer than a few moments to settle down, he or she might benefit from dog behaviour training.

- Does your dog act aggressive toward other dogs or people they don’t know? It’s fine to have a dog that barks when he or she hears strange noises, but if your dog is really aggressive and you worry about what he or she is capable of, some discipline could really come in handy. Many dogs simply need some training in combination with socialization and praise from their owners to get over problems with aggressive.

- Is your dog anxious when you leave? Many dogs have a problem called separation anxiety that can often be corrected with behaviour modification and training. Sometimes, separation anxiety can cause serious issues like self-mutilation, destruction of household items, etc. Some owners have come home to find doors completely torn down and chewed up, mattresses destroyed, clothing and shoes demolished, and more. Dog behaviour training can help with this.

If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, your dog might really benefit from a training program that helps him or her learn the correct way to behave.

Dog Agility Training – Overcoming the Obstacles

No matter the age of your dog, when beginning dog agility training the obstacles the dog has to overcome must be respected. Such as, very young dogs or very old dogs may have limits based on their age when faced with new dog agility equipment.

An older dog may be unable to perform due to stress on its aging body. A puppy has not  matured enough to comprehend the training principles, since it may face mental and physical obstacles in agility training.

When raising an older dog, you should remember that a dog that is in the age range of eight years is a senior citizen and may face obstacles during agility training. The breed of the dog also plays a factor in its aging process. A larger breed will age more rapidly than a smaller breed of dog.

When training a puppy for agility, it is best to start out small and as time progresses begin to increase the dog’s training. Since it may not be ready for the pipe tunnels, the use of boxes on the floor may be best to begin. Begin by allowing your puppy to cross boards and bars that are earth bound, rather than up off the ground.

When the puppy is hesitant during agility training, begin by creating a playtime that is full of fun experiences to acquaint the puppy with the newness of dog agility training. As the puppy grows, its attention span will grow, also, and it will become more physically able to go the next step in agility training.

A dog of any age will of course need to be evaluated for agility in specific obstacles that the dog may face during agility training. For example, if the dog is overweight, it can get in the way of its ability for physical performance, just as any other health condition can present a problem of poor performance abilities.

Many times all that is required is that the dog be conditioned to reach the standard required for agility training. Perhaps if the dog already has experience in canine agility training, all it needs is a refresher course to get back on track.

While in agility training, the dog is doing much more than just roaming around outside or lying around in the house. When participating in dog agility training, the dog is doing a quantity of hard work and may need to build up its endurance, as does a human when they are in sports training.

You must also keep an eye on the dog for any injuries and have the dog seen by a veterinarian if you notice anything irregular, since it is possible to push the dog farther than it own capabilities, and accidents do sometimes happen. Dog agility training is an extremely active sport that does place stress on the dog while he is training and you must be aware of this aspect for the dog. It is possible that your dog will not be able to handle diving into agility tunnels, making a 180-degree turn or a triple jump. Always keep your dog’s health in mind when considering whether or not to get him involved in agility training.

What is Dog Behavioural Training?

Dog behavioural training is a process in which you or a professional trainer teaches your dog better behavior. Many people who notice behavioural problems with their animals decide that some sort of training is necessary, and it can really benefit your dog. If you’re still not certain whether this is for you or not, below you’ll find some more information on dog behavioural training and how it can affect you and your dog.

Behaviour That Might Require Training

If you’ve noticed bad behaviour in your dog, he might require training. Most of the time, dogs simply don’t know what behaviour you want them to project…it’s not because they’re actually being ‘bad’ or that they’re out to get you. Some problems owners have noticed include chewing up things around the house, using the bathroom inside, being aggressive toward other dogs or humans, etc. If you’ve noticed these problems, you might benefit from this type of training.

Positive Feedback and Praise

The majority of trainers will use a lot of positive feedback and praise to modify your dog’s behaviour. For instance, they may begin by giving your dog a treat the moment he ‘goes’ outside. This immediately allows the dog to connect using the bathroom outside with obtaining a treat. Obviously, when he uses the bathroom inside, there’s no treat. This will make the dog want to go outside and therefore get the treat. The same method can be used for a whole host of behavioural problems.

Time

Usually, dog behavioural training requires a good bit of time. While some dogs may pick something up in just a few days, other dogs might require a few weeks of time to learn. It really depends on the dog and his unique personality. Be prepared to spend some time teaching your dog, or allowing your dog to be taught. However, the benefits can certainly pay off big time when your dog is well behaved.