Utilizing The Leash For Control And Leadership Fundamental Pet Dog Training
Last night I was serenaded throughout the night by my neighbor's noisy pack of dogs. Because last night had a full moon, the coyotes were out and disturbing the neighborhood dogs with their yapping and howling. My dogs also joined in with the others when they first heard the coyotes start in, but as soon as I told them to quiet down, they obeyed. Apparently the neighbor's sleep like the dead, because they never quiet their dogs at night.
If the why does my dog bark at other dogs won't crate or leash willingly and you're out of time, you will need to corner him. In a small area, this is easily accomplished; just be sure to maintain NON-THREATENING body language the entire time. For example: don't look directly at him, approach sideways, move slowly and calmly. Don't reach over his head, other than to gently drape a blanket or towel over it...if he can't see you, it can have a calming effect, and the towel also makes it much harder for him to deliver a fear bite. It is very important to read up on, and fully understand, canine body language and calming signals before ever attempting to corner a fearful dog (or any dog, really).
Instinct behaviour is also an important cause of barking. Some dogs still demonstrate normal canine pack behaviour and barking is a form of communication and to display territory. Breeds such as Siberian Huskies, Alaskan Malamutes, German Shepherd Dogs and dogs crossed with wolves seem to be more prone to this type of barking.
Control: Take control of the household and let your dog know that you are the alpha leader. As an owner, you will learn about how to assert your dominance and make him follow you. Once you will be able to do this, you will easily succeed at good Dog pulls on leash obedience training.
Obedience training can also be a bridge for communication between the owner and the dog. Good Communication is highly important to the success of your training. Learn and practice how to effectively communicate with your dog. Instruct your dog with commands. However, you must deliver that command in a way that it will sound persuading to your dog. You can instruct and teach your dog various commands like sit, stay or fetch, but each time you must use the correct instructing tone of voice.
Over time, you will progress to getting him to DO things, in order to drive you to give him treats. A dog can be trained without ever having to be touched! Simply wait for a behaviour to be offered, perhaps a play-bow or a Sit, or eventually a bump of your treat-filled hand with his nose. Then say "YES!" enthusiastically the instant it happens (or use a clicker to mark it) and toss a great treat...or a piece of his dinner. You can then pair a command to the action, and start to ask the dog to perform it in order to get the treat. I've had rescue reactive dogs I couldn't walk up and touch, who would Sit, Gimme Five, or otherwise interact with me in order to solicit a treat. This is *two way communication*, and it's important. Even coming up close to ask for food can be a triumph for a fearful dog.
To encourage your canine with associating the right command with the correct action, one must give guidance to your canine by performing actions clear following each command.
For example, if you are changing puppy over from dry food to wet food, swap one spoonful on day one, two spoonfuls on day two and so on till they are completely swapped over to their new diet. I know it is a painfully slow process - but it's so much better for puppy. Besides, puppy diarrhoea is no fun at all - you really do not want to go down that road!
The subject of breed characteristics and instincts is for another article, suffice to say that; no trait is good or bad, it is more about what the human does with the trait that makes the difference between a reliable, well mannered dog and a so called 'bad' dog. Breed characteristics and instincts are a great tool and guide in selecting the right type of dog for you and your lifestyle because, they will form the foundation from which you can both grow together. If you choose the wrong breed for your lifestyle then, you will have problems. For example, if you live in an apartment and choose a working dog breed, what's going to happen? I don't need to answer that question for you, it's too obvious.
So how do you actively control behavior? There are numerous ways. What it boils down to is keeping the dog with you, in a crate or kennel, or in a position such that if he decides to do something wrong you can do something about it. Every time your dog does something wrong and you aren't able to address it, you are training your dog. You are passively training him to do something wrong. Do this over and over and now you've got a dog who jumps on people, pees in the house, chews your sofa, and performs other negative behaviors.
