Category: Dog

Off Limits Area

To accomplish an off limits area for your dog that will be permanent: Patience is required. If you have not started from the beginning with an off limits area, learning will take longer.

For those who are about to bring home a puppy, off limits are a good idea from the start. Off Limits teaches the puppy that not everything is theirs. You have your space as they have theirs. Decide on a room or area that you do not want the dog to enter. It could be anywhere or any room such as the bathroom where trash can be dangerous to a puppy or a closet with cleaners and bleach.

1. Any time the dog looks as though they are getting close to the Off Limits area, follow them and watch. If they touch the area with their nose or paw. Say “No”. If they continue, push them away from the area. If they try to continue, they should be moved to another room or exercise pen. If they turn away from the area, reward with a treat or “good boy”.

2. If the dog refused to turn away and was put in an exercise pen, Wait about 10 minutes and then allow the dog to return to the area. Repeat the instructions in step 1: Say “No”. If they continue, push them away from the area. If they try to continue, they should be moved to another room or exercise pen. If they turn away from the area, reward with a treat or “good boy”.

3. Repeat as necessary until the dog walks by the area without looking or sniffing toward the area. Reward for this behavior. This is an important last step to reinforce good behavior.

Stay With ME!

Separation anxiety can be caused by two completely opposite events. Not only can it be caused by a traumatic event, separation anxiety can be caused by overprotectiveness and coddling a dog.

Regardless of how the psychological state occured, many folks are looking for a solution to their dog acting out when left alone.

It’s a slow process to correct. Patience and a firm training mind will make the training excell. Picking a good time for the dog is also important. For this exercise, it’s easier if the dog had eaten, pottied, and a little tired.

1. Find a quiet and small place of your home that your dog enjoys, block the area off from the rest of the house, no toys.

2. Do not make a big deal about the barrier. Place the dog on the other side of the barrier with a firm pet. Wait a just second and reward if the dog was quiet during the exercise. If not, repeat without rewards until quiet. Repeat this process several times on day one until the dog understands he receives a treat for being quiet while alone .

3. Extend the “just a second” in step one to a few seconds and reward on day two. Go back to step one if a few seconds are too long. Adjust the length of time as your dog learns it’s ok to be alone.

4. On day three, step away from the barrier for just a second and reward if the dog stays quiet. Go back to step 3 if the dog is unable to stay quiet. Move forward with the amount of time and space as your dog learns it’s ok to be alone.

5. Your goal is to move out of the room without crys or whines. Remember to reward good behavior, not bad behavior.

6. Walk outdoors, back inside to reward. Extend the period of time you are out of their sight slowly.

7. Do some chores outside, return to a quiet dog and reward.

They learn that you will return.

The “Pet” Command

Our DooBee is 13wks and has seemed to have a finger biting problem from the day we met.

To correct the behavior, we do not use fingers in the manner of playing “spider” at any time. Fingers are always together in a soft touch.

To prevent biting,nipping when petting, a “pet” command works wonders!

DooBee sits in front of me, focuses on a treat in front of her nose while petting the top of her head, and using the command “pet” which means to sit still while someone touches her. I started with just a stroke or two and move up to more as her actions allow. She receives the treat just before I think she wants to focus on something else.

No Ankle Biting

I have this inclination to grab a hold of my Kimberly’s pant leg every time we walk in the house after doing my business. However, things have changed.

Kimberly found a toy for me that’s much, much more interesting than a pant leg. She found Foxy! He’s about 2 feet long and sits by the door waiting for me after a potty break. Kimberly dangles him in front of my face when we enter distracting me from the once very amusing pant leg. Works for me, works for her. It’s a win win!

Walking is Nice!

There are several different types of collars and haters to use when teaching your dog to walk by your side. I’ve always preferred no leash, no collar indoors. For outside, a halter for really small dogs and a collar for larger dogs.

Always start indoors without distraction, a really good treat, and only a few steps to begin with moving up in baby steps to walking indoor without treat by your left side and reward after completing a round through the house.

Most of us dogs aren’t too hip on cats in the house. In fact, the more praise lavished on me, the dog, the better.

Here’s an idea for all you dogs out there that have those feline things running around your home. It’s a great place to keep your cats; on the ceiling.

YYoYouYourYour

Your humans can find one of these at this link: https://www.etsy.com/listing/693161007/ceiling-complex-for-cats?epik=dj0yJnU9NEtXNHFxTWM1WG1udkRYcHpYckZranpjSDVCc2VRdy0mcD0wJm49aktYNTFoUXpqajlSUm0ycnJkYmJEdyZ0PUFBQUFBR0FYQ3o4

Time For A Walk!

Come on let’s go! The dog is the only creature I’ve ever met who lives to go for a walk with their owner. Here’s DooBee’s version of how we train to walk on a leash.

“Kimberly Sue, Lets go. This woman is slow but I Love her to pieces! She insists on practicing walking. Like who needs to practice walking?! She keeps holding those round things she calls Cheerios in her hand low enough for me to see it by her left knee and walks. Of course I have to follow my nose. I’m looking up at my Kimberly Sue and walking by her left foot. Woo Hoo! I did it. Now we can go outside to play!”