5 Steps to Ruining a Dog
Last year at this time we made a post about Improving Your Relationship with Your Dog. This year we thought that we would take a different approach and tell you how to ruin your dog. Although there are MANY more that could have been added to this list, here are just a few.
Ignore Every Warning Sign of Behavior Issues - This is a good one if you’re trying to screw up your dog. Fido bit the kids, he growls when you approach his food bowl, he appears fearful when strangers enter the home, and pins dogs to the ground upon meeting them – ahh, that’s nothing! It’s probably just a phase, he’ll grow out of it automatically on his own, just ignore it!
Why this can ruin a dog - Behavioral issues usually start to present themselves long before an actual “event” occurs. So whether you realize it or not, that weird little character flaw that you are seeing from your dog can quickly escalate into a full blown problem, and often times it’s a lot harder or sometimes impossible to fix. Many dogs end up in shelters because warning signs were missed and now the responsibility falls to the shelter and the future owner(s). It’s hard enough to adopt out dogs, let alone those with serious behavior issues. If you see something you’re not sure of, ask a trainer!!
Avoid Crate Training Like the Plague - OMG, crate training – NEVER! How dare you! Fido doesn’t need a crate, he’s about 1.5 years old now and he only pees and poops in the house a few times while you’re at work. He can be trusted inside the home while everyone is out, the couch he tore up was old and you were thinking about replacing your kitchen table and chairs anyway, right?! Perfect!
Why this can ruin a dog - You may not need to crate your dog for their entire lives, but it’s a great aid in potty training, it’s a fantastic aid in controlling space, it make traveling with your pet a lot easier, and I have never heard anyone regret crate training their dog! At some point in your dog’s life they are going to have to be crated – there is not getting around this. Whether it’s at the vet’s office, the groomer, a boarding facility, or at a friends home, the time will come to crate your dog. If you never expose your dog to a crate and teach them the correct way to behave in the crate, they are going to nervous, anxious, they may panic, and it will be extremely stressful for them, and injury is possible if they try hard enough to escape.
Encourage and Reward Whining and Other Signs of Anxiety - This seems to be one of the more popular items on the list. Fido cries in the crate, he runs over to you and shakes when the garbage truck drives past, he has also started to hide behind your legs when men enter the home, and he barks at the window to let you know that someone has just walked past the house. Make sure you let Fido knows that he’s doing a great job at being afraid, be sure to teach him that his crying is the best way to get your attention, and make sure you constantly touch him and tell him “it’s okay” when he’s fearful and hiding. That’ll learn ‘em!
Why this can ruin a dog - Barking, fearfulness, whining, and other anxious behaviors are NOT desirable traits in dogs. So why do so many owners pet, praise, and verbally mark such behaviors? From my experience, dog owners may be attempting to send the correct message in these instances, but they are using human emotion to deal with a canine problem. If your child was nervous of thunder and lightening, you are going to give her a hug and tell her that it’s okay, there is nothing to worry about. When you do the same for a dog, your’re basically encouraging them to be more fearful by implementing physical touch and verbal praise. Marking and encouraging behaviors is training. It’s up to us to make sure that we are marking and encouraging the correct behaviors in our dogs.
Expect Them to Fill a Void in Your Life – Did you just go through a hard break up, are you lonely, dealing with depression, or having a hard time dealing with all that life is throwing at you lately? Let’s get a dog!!!!! Fido will be a great listener, it will be his job to love you, Fido will fill in where your life was lacking. No need to get to the root of the problem or deal with people in a social manner, that fuzzy little BFF will make it all better!
Why this can ruin a dog - If you expect a dog to fill a certain void in your life, you will put unrealistic pressures and responsibilities on your dog. You’re not going to be providing your dog with what he/she needs from you, but instead you’ll be expecting things from your dog that falls outside their umbrella; this quickly creates an unhealthy relationship and behavior issues ensue.
Avoid Training and Discipline as to Not Make Them Unhappy – This is a good one. Your last dog never had any training or rules and he was the happiest dog ever – ask anyone, they’ll tell you! Sure you had to chase him around the neighborhood on a weekly basis when he bolted out of the front door, he was anxious in the house and was always pacing around, he panicked and drooled profusely whenever we took him to the vet, and he was constantly barking at people who walked by the front of the home; but it’s cool, he liked it! Yeah, he may have had some issues, but at least you never made him do anything that he didn’t want to do.
Why this can ruin a dog - Some people tend to believe that happiness or spirit is demonstrated by the complete lack of self-restraint and boundaries. This couldn’t be further from the truth for a dog. The bottom line is a dog that is unbalanced, anxious, and neurotic is not a happy dog. They need discipline, structure, and rules in order to thrive in their environment. They need to be taught to relax and shut off at times, they need to learn to think, they need to know what is expected of them, and they need to be taught skills in order to handle daily life. All of this is accomplished through training and leads to a balanced and happy dog.
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Top Posts of 2011
It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone already, and what a year it was! Not only did we move into our new training center in Leander, but we started some new training programs like K9 Scent Games, Dine with your Dog, and a Puppy Board and Train Program, we held a contest to redesign our t-shirts, and we worked with even more incredible dogs and their owners!
We have also expanded our dog training blog with a lot more informative, useful, and educational articles. Check out the 10 most popular posts of 2011.
10. Why is Crate Training So Important?
9. Do You Use an Emergency Recall Word?
8. New Dog Park Opens in Cedar Park
7. Indoor Summertime Training Ideas
6. What’s the Big Deal with Hand Signals?
5. A More Detailed Look at Black Dog Syndrome
3. 7 Steps to Improving Your Relationship
2. How to Introduce 2 Dogs on Leash
1. Denial Aint Just a River in Spain
Feel like taking a stroll further down memory lane? Be sure to check out the top 10 Posts of 2009 and 2010.
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Tips for Building Drive
Some dogs naturally have tons of drive for balls, frisbees, or other toys, while other dogs could care less about a toy. While it’s not always possible to turn a couch potato into a marathon runner, here are some tips that can help get your dog more interested in playing with their toys.
Making sure that you choose the right toy should be your first priority. A dog is not going to want to play with something that they’re just no into. Consider texture, weight, color, and shape, along with other characteristics, and see what your dog naturally likes.
Introduce some basic fetch games to your dog in the appropriate setting. A crowded dog park is not the best place to try to get your dog interested in toys. Instead, try an open field or your backyard, somewhere that distractions are initially limited.
You always want to end your play sessions before your dog gets bored, therefore keep your sessions short. If that means that you only throw the ball for 2 minutes, so be it; you always want to leave the dog wanting more.
Consider putting the toy away when you are finished with your play session. Leaving free access to the toy can take away the excitement that is provided when you and your dog are actively engaged in play.
Utilize your dog’s natural prey drive by adjusting your throws. Instead of throwing a ball high into the air, try quickly rolling it on the ground, this will mimic the path or a rabbit or squirrel.
Make sure that your dog is in good physical condition and not overweight. An overweight dog will not have the physical stamina needed to engage in an intense game of fetch.
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Dogs Wander Off as Maturity Sets In
Something that we frequently hear from owners of young dogs is, “My puppy doesn’t wander off when we’re at the park, he just stays near me.” Commonly a young dog will stay very close to his owner in a variety of settings; some new, some not so new. Reasons for the attentive nature may be insecurity, total fascination with the owner and family, or it could be that the puppy just hasn’t yet noticed the other fun stuff in the environment. Although this isn’t always the case for all puppies, it’s fairly common to see this type of behavior, but will it last?
As we do the right things to raise our puppies into the dogs we want them to be, I would hope that this type “follow me around” type behavior changes. I’m not saying that I want your dog to run off and not care about you, but it’s important that your dog gains some independence from you and learns to be social and curious.
We want dogs to have the confidence to get more then 20′ away from you, we want them to investigate, smell, socialize and notice things in the environment; these are all traits of a well-socialized and adjusted dog. So as you continue to go out and explore with your dog, don’t be surprised or upset if you are no longer the center of their universe, don’t be surprised if the size of your dog’s comfort zone increases, and don’t be surprised when all of a sudden you need a leash to travel safely with your pup.
While a dog that wanders off and no longer follows you around is a good thing, it automatically brings on a whole new set of challenges. Now it’s even more important to teach him a recall command to keep him safe!
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When is it Time for a New Dog Collar?
One of the best ways to show off your dog’s personality is through his or her dog collar. In addition to the personalization factor, a collar in good condition will also help ensure your dog’s safety by holding the id tags and offering an anchor point for your leash. So with the important role that our dog’s collars play, let’s make sure your dog isn’t due for a collar upgrade.
- Do you have the right size? As your puppy gets older you are of course going to need a larger collar to accommodate their growing bodies. At the same time, you want to make sure that the collar fits snug enough so that it will not slip over the dog’s head if he/she pulls in the right direction. Be sure to also have a collar that is wide enough for the size of your dog, a collar that is too thin for a large dog may break if the dog does a lot of pulling.
- Is the collar made out of the right material? Some synthetic nylon products are very slippery against each other, and they always loosen up on their own creating a fit that is way too loose. Dog’s with sensitive skin can benefit from a collar that has a soft lining that sits comfortably against their skin, where a rough leather collar may irritate them more.
- Are all the components in good condition? It’s important to do a periodic check of the buckle, quick release tabs, anchor points, and the material to make sure everything is in good condition. With enough tension in your leash, a cracked buckle or partially chewed strap can easily break.
- Does your dog’s collar stink? This is one of the most common reasons for needing a new collar. With all of the swimming, rolling around on the ground, rough play with other dogs, and other fun stuff that dogs do everyday, their collars quickly stink. Smell your dogs collar, does it stink? If so, we strongly recommend checking out these collars, they don’t stink, hold bacteria, and never fade; they rock!
- Does your dog’s collar fit your dog’s personality? This is one of the fun things that come with owning a dog, showing off! Plain black or green are boring, there are so many other collars out there that can reflect your dog’s personality and lifestyle. Do an internet search or visit your local pet shop to find a collar that you and your dog can be proud to show off!
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Why is Crate Training So Important?
In addition to solid and functional obedience, crate training has to be one of the most valuable skills our dogs can have. Let’s get one thing out of the way right now – crate training your dog is not cruel, inhumane, or mean (check out this video of some fun crate games). Often times we as humans relate a crate to jail and feel sorry for their dogs being in a crate, but it’s important to remember that we’re training through the dog’s mentality, not our own!
A common problem that we see is that dog owners are in such a rush to get their dogs out of the crate in order to make themselves feel better; even though the dog is chewing stuff up, counter surfing, window barking, and urinating all over the house. Another issue we see is that owners will immediately give in to their dog’s whining, barking, or attempted escape from their crates by letting them out of the crate and discontinuing the training because, “He doesn’t like it.” I can’t for the life of me figure this out! I don’t know, maybe this is just turning into a mindless rant, but here are just a few reasons why crate training your dog is so important.
- It’s a tremendous aid in potty training your puppy or dog.
- It makes traveling with your dog much easier as they have a familiar reference point wherever they go.
- It gives your dog a place of their own to go and get some peace and quiet, especially in times of chaos (like Halloween).
- Proper crate training can help reduce the anxiety when leaving your dog home alone.
- It ensures your dog will not destroy your home or swallow foreign objects while you are out of the home.
Here’s my advice: Put your dog’s crate in the proper location and immediately being crate training your dog from the second he or she sets foot in your home. When your dog is properly crate trained as an adult, continue to implement the crate into his or her daily routine so the benefits of crate training carry over for the dog’s life.
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Top Posts of 2010
A whole year has come and gone, hopefully it’s been a year filled with good times with your dog! It’s been a very exciting year here at Unleashed Unlimited – we’ve added some new programs, successfully launched the Puppy Manual, hosted another great agility seminar, filled our online store with some more great items, and most importantly – we worked with a lot of fantastic dogs and their owners.
Just like we did last year, we wanted to share the most popular posts from our training blog for 2010. Enjoy the look back, and we are all looking forward to an even better 2011!
10. Tips for Choosing a Second Dog
9. Location Based Dog Training
8. Should You Shave Your Dog in the Summer?
6. An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
4. 5 of the Greatest Dog Inventions
2. 5 of the Worst Dog Inventions
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Be Sure to Use Your Leash
Sure, we are all about unleashing our dogs and letting them run free, I mean have you really ever seen a dog having fun on-leash?? Although off-leash playtime, socialization, hiking, and other dog activities are the cornerstones of our business, everything starts on-leash first.
Utilizing your leash in some aspect during the training process is going to be a huge advantage to you and your dog. Even as puppies we suggest letting your puppy drag along a leash to begin to learn a little about leash pressure, and it acts as a “handle” to get them off of your furniture, away from the cat, and out of that room that they always seem to sneak into. The leash will also help us effectively tether them and it’s a huge help during potty training.
Even as our dogs get older and we get them into some serious obedience training, the leash is very much a part of the training. Teaching them to recall, walk politely next to you, lay down, and other skills can be directly related to leash pressure and a physical guide. In these cases the leash can act as a guarantee that the dog will be successful because we have a direct way to help the dog if need be. Just like when they were puppies, letting a dog’s leash drag (in appropriate situations) is a very important intermediate step the dog has to go through before being able to be trusted off-leash.
I know we’re all in a hurry sometimes, but don’t be afraid to put that leash back on and make sure your dog ‘gets it’ before moving on. If you live in the area and are looking for dog training in Austin, let Unleashed Unlimited help out!
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Puppy Training!!
For the past few weeks, Tracey and I have been working on putting together a complete training manual that is totally focused on puppies, and we are proud to announce The Puppy Manual.
The Puppy Manual is composed of tons of useful training information that is aimed at getting puppies and their owners started off on the right foot. It’s filled with pages and pages of useful training tips, drills, protocols, and scenarios that are geared at turning your puppy into the dog you want him to be! Take a look at the video that provides a ton more details.
If you would like more information on the puppy training instructional guide or would like to purchase The Puppy Manual, you can visit The Puppy Manual page.
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