Housebreaking
Housebreaking and behavior issues are often the most frustrating things a dog owner has to endure. Unlike obedience and trick training, which involves encouraging a dog to engage in a new activity, housebreaking and behavior training involves getting a dog to stop doing something that comes naturally. With patience and attention, however, you should be able to overcome these common issues.
A dog or puppy is either housebroken or not. If your dog is sneaking off to another room and having an accident, you will have to take some of his freedom away until you can solve the problem. The longer you allow this type of behavior to exist, the harder it will be to modify.
Unless you can catch him, it really does not do any good to drag him off to the site of his mishap and try and punish him. Keep him in sight. If he is bold enough to try something in front of you, say "No," get his attention and take him outdoors quickly so he can finish eliminating in the appropriate area. Remember, it is your house. He has to earn his freedom through good behavior and this is your responsibility.
Start by establishing an elimination spot outdoors. In the morning, clip his leash to his collar and take the dog outdoors to his spot for elimination. State commands like "go potty" or "hurry up." After he does his duty, bring the dog inside for food and water. About 15 to 20 minutes after the meal, take the dog outside again for elimination. Take your dog to his "spot" at each elimination time. Maintain a regular feeding, drinking, and elimination schedule.
One of the most common errors in housebreaking is rushing too quickly ahead of your dog. Too much freedom too quickly can cause some confusion. If your dog experiences an accident or two, you will have to back up and slow down.
Marking should not be confused with housebreaking problems because marking is deliberate. This behavior will arise in dogs who may be trying to vie for the role of the leader in the household; marking is a way of claiming territory. It is advised that if you notice this behavior indoors or out, you strengthen all obedience commands immediately. This will remove all doubts as to who is in charge around the house.
Providing your dog or puppy with a crate that is way too large may allow him to relieve himself in one end and sleep in the other. Placing food or water in his crate will allow him to fill up his bladder and bowel and he will have no choice but to relieve himself in his crate. Make sure you take your dog or puppy outdoors to eliminate on a regular schedule and especially prior to being left for prolonged periods of time.
If you have tried all the above and are still experiencing what you believe to be "Territorial Marking," consult your veterinarian. Your dog/puppy may have a bladder infection and it's always best to be safe, not sorry. If your dog/puppy is not spayed or neutered you may want to talk to your veterinarian about this procedure. It usually has a very positive effect on this type of behavior problem.
Even well trained dogs sometimes have accidents. Clean the accident area with a pet odor neutralizer so your dog won't be tempted to repeat his mistake. Here are some tips to help prevent accidents:
Do not make sudden changes in his diet.
Avoid giving your dog late night snacks.
Make sure to spend enough time outdoors.
(Scroll down to the blue box that is located under this one for how to clean up "Accidents")
Biting & Chewing
Dogs need to chew to relieve stress and excess energy. In fact, puppy teething is a natural part of development. If your dog chews on something that is off-limits, say "no" or "eh" in a low voice. Then give your dog a safe chew toy. Praise him for good behavior. Remember to give your dog safe chew toys instead of old household items like old shoes, because that could encourage him to also chew on new shoes. You will also want to avoid rough play and games like "tug of war" as this will encourage aggressive behavior.
Playing With Your Puppy
Playing with a puppy is more than great fun. How you play can affect your puppy's future behavior. Your job is to sort out the games that will help your puppy's training and avoid those that may create behavior problems as your puppy matures.
If you or family members play tug-of-war with your puppy, you are playing an aggressive game that fosters competition between the puppy and its owner. Tug-of-war gives your puppy the opportunity to establish dominance. Many puppies use the same tearing action with clothing and household items used in tug-of-war. A puppy cannot distinguish between items that are off limits and those that may be used for play.
Children are especially tempted to allow a puppy to play "chase." This sends a signal in direct opposition to "come," one of the most important commands your puppy can learn. If you give the "come" command to a puppy who has been encouraged to play "chase," it may pounce with its front paws, tail wagging as if to say, "catch me."
Some puppies tend to be biters. You are reinforcing this bad habit when you allow your puppy to bite you during play time. Never wiggle your fingers or hand in a teasing way at your puppy or encourage it to attack you. Such "attack games" may seem cute when your puppy is little, but the end result is usually an adult dog who bites.
When your puppy attempts to bite grasp its collar and say NO firmly. If your puppy continues to bite, flick it under the chin by snapping your forefinger off your thumb firmly saying NO, NO.
If your puppy does not stop biting, confine it until it calms down. Resume play later. Biting should never be rewarded. If you continue to play with your puppy after it has tried to bite you, it will think biting is part of the game.
You can turn play time into a fun and a positive learning experience for your puppy. Teach it to retrieve, to play with its toys (only those safe for puppies) and to do simple tricks. Take your puppy for walks. All these activities establish a bond between you and your puppy.
When a puppy jumps on visitors or climbs all over people, this behavior is often dismissed as "friendly as a puppy." However, climbing and jumping are not friendly or cute as a puppy matures. Teach your puppy to sit when someone enters your house. When it responds to the "sit" command, reward it with lots of praise.
Whenever you give a command, maintain eye contact and remember the importance of your tone of voice. Do not laugh at a misdeed as you say "no" or add in an amused tone of voice comments like "such a naughty puppy."
It''s essential that all family members work together to help your puppy establish good habits. Every family member should use the same commands spoken in a firm, no-nonsense voice. If each family member uses a different command, your puppy will become confused.
After a puppy is at least six months of age, attending obedience school is a good idea. Even if your puppy is well-behaved, its good behavior can be reinforced through obedience classes. If you are having training problems, professional trainers can help you gain control of your puppy as the first step toward solving these problems.
Obedience classes are offered by many organizations such as humane societies, kennel clubs and community colleges. You can also ask your veterinarian to recommend an obedience school.
The classes are usually for a 10- to 12-week period. Enroll your puppy when you have time to work with it between classes. This "homework" reinforces what it has learned in the previous class.
