In this article we look at Whining, Howling, biting, chewing And Excessive Barking
Biting Behaviors
Even though biting is considered as a normal behavior, you should also keep in mind that when dogs get older, it could pose a serious risk to others including yourself.
It may be cute in the puppy stage, but as they grow, it’s not cute anymore. You have to start when you still have a puppy to get them to change their behavior regarding biting.
As a puppy, biting is a learned behavior that comes from their mother and additional litter. Because they are not always with their mother, the human that takes care of them must be responsible for making the change.
While still in the puppy stage, allow the puppy to play with other puppies. They like to interact with each other and sometimes that will include biting. As they do this, they can learn to control themselves.
If there is one puppy that is overly aggressive, the others will get after the aggressive puppy for being too rough. As they continue to play with each other, the puppy will learn to subside with the biting.
You can start very early while they are still a puppy when they are at least four to six weeks old. Here are some tips that you can take to get an advantage:
• Let the puppy know that you hurt when they bit you. You can be stern and say “no” or “ouch” to let the puppy know that it hurt you. The puppy will know that they have gone too far and they will think about what they’ve done.
• Slowly take your hand away. Doing this too fast can cause more damage.
• If they bite you again, repeat your verbal reaction. Step away from the puppy for a while. They will realize that you don’t appreciate what they did and will figure out that you don’t want to be around them.
• Give them a toy to chew on.
• Reward the puppy when they are good and not biting you.
• Be consistent when you are training them to stop biting. Continue to let the puppy know that bites are not acceptable.
• Your puppy should take an obedience class. That way he can interact with other dogs as he gets older. He will learn about limits with humans and other dogs.
• As your puppy gets older and grows into a dog, he needs lots of physical activity, including regular exercise. Also, give them a chance to play outside so that he can get some fresh air. Make sure he gets to walk and play fetch. This can help them not think about biting.
• Keep them on a schedule with their physical activities. They will get used to doing things and will come to enjoy doing them.
• Keep young children out of harm’s way by not leaving them alone with the puppy. The puppy may still be in the learning stage and may bite the child.
• Refrain from aggressive behavior with them. That can influence them to continue biting.
• If they continue to bite despite your best efforts, contact your veterinarian or a dog trainer for assistance.
Whining, Howling And Excessive Barking
There are times when whining, howling and barking are normal for your dog. However, if you have a dog that constantly whines, howls or barks, it can become a problem. Not only can it become a problem for you, it can also become a problem for your neighbors if you live in an apartment or a subdivision. You would get constant complaints from them if the problem is not resolved.
Here are some ways that you can deal with a dog that is constantly creating havoc:
• Find out why the dog is whining, howling or barking so much. They may be hungry, thirsty or both. Make sure that the dog is always fed and always has water. Don’t forget about supplying the dog with toys so that they can stay busy.
• Some dogs do not like being by themselves. They get upset when no one is around and it creates anxiety for them. In addition to being lonely, they get stressed out and starting making all kinds of annoying noises.
• Even if you are at home with the dog, they need to learn how to be alone. Don’t make it a habit of always catering to them when they whine. If you do, they will expect you to come every time. You’ll have a difficult time breaking the habit.
• Sometimes a dog will make noises because they need to use the bathroom. The three times that you need to know to take them is after they eat, after an activity and after a nap or when they are waking up in the morning. There will be other times, but once the dog gets trained, you will be able to figure it all out.
• After you have provided food, water and toys for the dog, they should be quiet. However, if they are not, don’t be afraid to let them know that their behavior is not acceptable.
Problems With Chewing
Chewing is natural, starting from puppies all the way to a dog. Dogs think that chewing is normal. However, it is not necessarily correct. If you notice that your dog has problems with chewing, you will need to correct the problem as soon as you notice it.
There are some dogs that will chew anything that they can get their teeth on. That includes shoes, clothes and furniture. Of course, these are things that you would rather them keep away from. It’s not a good feeling to have to keep buying replacements.
One of the easiest solutions to this issue is to get your dog a variety of dog toys that they can chew on. Using these toys can teach them what they can chew on and what they cannot. Plus, having a variety of dog toys for them to chew on will keep them occupied.
Chewing on the toys will also keep their teeth and gums healthy. Some of the better choices for dog toys to chew on are ones that are scented or flavored. Consistently encourage your dog to play with the toys.
Another thing you can do is teach them to get a toy every time they come in your presence. Even if they greet someone else, still teach them to get one of their toys.
While you are training them, also teach them not to chew on items that there are not supposed to be chewing on. It is also important that the area where the dog plays is kept free of clutter. For your part, make sure that there are no shoes or other items that can provoke them to start chewing on them.
If the dog should happen to get something that they’re not suppose to have, get their attention and remove it. Then replace it with a dog toy. Each time they do that, applaud them for doing the right thing. You can also prevent them from not chewing your items by applying something that will make them step away from it, such as Tabasco sauce and other non-toxic items.
Jumping On People
Dogs like to jump up on people. However, there are some dog owners who actually encourage this kind of behavior. They should keep in mind that not everyone likes dogs and that their dog should not jump up on everyone that they encounter. Even though they are cute when they are still puppies, it can really pose a problem as they become full grown dogs.
The problem with this is as the dog gets older, they weigh more. The more the dogs weigh, the more dangerous jumping on people can be. Since there are lots of people that don’t like dogs, they will not appreciate one jumping on them and possibly knocking them down.
If it’s a small child, it’s even worse. The child could be seriously injured due to the weight of the dog. The dog owner could be in serious trouble, regardless if it’s their child or not that got hurt. Whether it’s an adult or a child, you could find yourself with a lawsuit if you have not trained your dog to stop doing that.
The best time to teach him not to jump on other people is when the dog is still young. It’s easier to train them and you won’t have the trouble that you would if the dog were older. Once you allow them to jump on other people, it can be difficult as the dog gets older and then you try to curb it. Their behavior pattern is already set and can be difficult to break.
The way to do this is when they try to jump on someone, put their feet back on the floor in a gentle and firm manner. You can reward and encourage them as they continue to obey you.
As you are encouraging your pet, you must be at eye level with them. The dog will take you seriously when they see that you are providing direct contact at their level. You can continue to reinforce this as much as you need to.
Make sure that everyone knows the rules and does not encourage the dog to allow jumping on them. It can be confusing if you have one person getting irritated and another allowing the dog to jump on them. The standard must be consistent, regardless of who it is.