Let me ask you a simple question.  Do you know how important it is to socialize your dog?  Do you even know what socializing your dog is?  Learn how this important aspect of dog training can prevent aggression in dogs later on.

What Does Socializing Your Dog Mean?

Actually, it’s pretty simple.  What you’re doing is getting your dog accustomed to strangers, both human and animal.  It also includes taking your dog lots of places so that he’s used to different environments. 

This process can be so much fun that most people don’t take it seriously.  But if your dog hasn’t been socialized properly, he may become timid and fearful.  A pup who’s scared is more likely to develop some dog behavior problems that are very hard to get rid of. Aggression toward strangers can lead to biting people, while aggression toward other animals leads to fights with other dogs.

Fear Aggression In Dogs

If your pooch is not exposed to lots of different people when he’s between the ages of three and twelve weeks, he may develop fear aggression in dogs as he gets older.  This is characterized by him displaying suspicion and mistrust around people he doesn’t know. 

A dog that shows a lot of fear around strangers when he’s very young has a good chance of becoming fear aggressive as he gets older.  If your pup backs away from strangers while barking at them, this is a tip-off for you that this condition could be his problem.  In this case, you really need to concentrate on getting your dog used to other people.

Aggression Towards Other Animals

If your dog is not friendly towards other dogs, he probably doesn’t know how to interact with other canines.  This is because he never learned the proper social skills as a puppy. 

Sometimes a dog owner unknowingly causes aggression between strange dogs.  If you tighten the leash and pull your dog closer every time you see a strange canine, you’re communicating your unease to your dog.  If this happens repeatedly, your dog learns to get tense whenever another dog gets close.  He wants the other dog to stay at a distance, so your dog growls and barks at the stranger to accomplish this.

Plus, tightening the leash tells your dog that he can’t run away.  The only option he has left is to fight.  Pulling back on his leash also forces him to lean forward on his front feet.  The other dog may think he’s being threatened, and the result can be a dog fight.

Socializing Your Dog Prevents Aggressive Dog Behavior

You can see that neglecting to socialize your dog at a young age can lead to many dog behavior problems as he gets older.  It’s important to expose your pup to a wide variety of people to be sure he doesn’t develop fear aggression in dogs when he’s around strangers. 

Even more important is to make sure your young puppy has plenty of opportunity to interact with other pups.  This is how he learns to be a dog, and how to behave around other dogs.

You need to watch your own behavior to be sure you’re not inadvertently training your dog to be aggressive towards other dogs. 

Now that you have this information, you can take steps to socialize your dog properly to prevent aggressive dog behavior.

Puppies are curious, adventuresome and able to get into almost anything, no matter how secure you thought it was. Making your house safe for a puppy is important, not only to protect your valuables but also to protect the puppy. Since it is almost impossible to puppy proof an entire house, consider selecting a room or area that can be cordoned off to make a puppy safe area when little Fido is left alone or unsupervised. Baby gates or pet gates are a great idea to block off a doorway, but they have to be securely placed in the door and fastened or a bigger puppy will learn to push them down. If the puppy is prone to chewing, spray the gate with a produce such as Grannick’s Bitter Apple that will leave a bad taste in his or her mouth and prevent them from noshing on your enclosure. If you don’t have a specific room, a pet exercise pet is a perfect ideal. This easy to transport pens come in many different sizes and can be used either indoors or outdoors and come in a variety of models to meet your needs. If you are buying an exercise pen, get one that will suit the dog as it grows to prevent having to constant upgrade as the puppy get bigger.

Keeping your puppy and eventually your dog safe in your car or vehicle includes purchasing a dog seat belt or keeping your puppy in a carrier within a seatbelt when they are in the vehicle. For older dogs or large puppies the seatbelt is a great safety feature plus you can also add a window screen or barrier that prevents the puppy from squeezing out through the window. Since dogs and puppies should never be left alone in a vehicle, especially in the hot summer months, this window barrier is not suitable for turning your vehicle into a pet storage area. They are an excellent safety feature to allow your dog fresh air while traveling but preventing them from sticking their head or front quarters out of the window.

Managing your puppy also includes cleaning up his or her waste. Puppies may eat fecal material if it is not removed, leading to bad habits, nutritional problems and a worm and parasite problems if more than one puppy is kept in the same area. A pooper scooper is a simple to use plastic handled scoop that can pick up waste material to be deposited in the garbage. There are even systems that you can set up right on your own property that use natural enzymes to break down the feces without having to use plastic bags that end up in landfills. When you are walking your puppy remember to carry some small plastic bags that you can use as a way to pick up his or her waste. These bags are then sealed and deposited in the nearest trash can. Pet stores carry a wide variety of specialty bags that are discrete and provide good protection for picking up the waste.

If you suddenly wake up one morning to realize that your Moroccan love seat is already torn, then there is a huge possibility that the main culprit is your puppy. The common dog behavior of chewing can be literally destructive and downright annoying that you have to take the necessary measures to start correcting this bad dog behavior.

For starters, you can do the following:

1. Take command of the situation and dog-proof your home. Dog-proofing your home means taking whatsoever you do not want to end up in his mouth, and put it out of reach. Normally, puppies will feast on plants, toys, rugs, shoes, tissues, papers, and other objects that he knows that he can munch. The best and the easiest way to solve this problem is to keep these chewable items out of his reach. You may place them above the shelves or tuck them for a while somewhere until your pup receives proper dog training regarding chewing.

2. Crate train your dog. When you feel like you cannot give him the proper attention as of the moment, you may want to place him in a crate first. This is so he does not get to touch and eat anything that can be very hazardous to his health, such as live wires and very small pointed object.

3. Exercise your dog. Dogs use chewing as a way of burning up restless energy. For dogs chewing is fun, and they use it as a way to pass the time.

4. Remember your dog needs to chew. Get him some chew toys that he is allowed to chew on. When he goes to chew on something that he is not supposed to like the remote control, switch it for one of his toys.

5. Do not set him up for failure by confusing your dog. He has to know the difference between his things (dog toys) and your things (remote control). An example of this is not to give your dog shoes that you do not wear anymore. There is no way for him to be able to tell the difference between your discarded shoes and your brand-new shoes.

6. Train your puppy how to be mild-mannered. As proven by history, dogs are very easy to train, and definitely, you can inculcate into his system that dog chewing is bad. You can train him to sit or stand or be still every time he starts to devour something.

Remember to maintain a positive attitude and be realistic. No one or no dog is perfect. Accidents will happen, especially during the learning process. Be patient and give him time to learn rules.

Today, there are already a number of dog training programs that you can use to correct bad dog behavior, such as destructive chewing. They can be in the form of videos, e-books, or even audios. You can rely on them to provide you with tips and techniques to make dog training a lot easier and more convenient for you.

The first few days with your dog are very crucial. Although some dogs easily adjust to their new environment, there are many dogs that are rather slow in learning new things. According to many experts, one of the most challenging issues that you will face with your little rascal is dog potty training. Make not mistakes about it, dog potty training can be a bit tricky and things could really get very irritating especially when your little rascal starts messing around the house. In most cases, it will take some time and a lot of patience on your part before your little dog will finally learn where and how to potty.

Training Your Dog

Dog potty training doesn’t have to be very stressful for you and your pet. The best way to start things right is to ask the breeder what time the puppy usually eats and what time it usually need to potty. The amount of food and the regular eating time of your puppy can help you determine the time when your puppy has to go potty. Note that when conducting dog potty training, you will need to closely supervise your pet during the training period. You can only effectively supervise you puppy if you are able to correctly gauge when your pet needs to go potty.

During dog potty training, it is important for you to accompany your puppy outside when it is time for it to go potty. Note that puppies has the tendency to simply play in the yard instead of doing their thing so make sure that your puppy does what it is supposed to do. Furthermore, it is important that when you take your puppy outside to go potty, you take it to the same spot all the time. Puppies learn faster if the act is constant and is repeated often. Establish a pattern and do not deviate from it so that your puppy will not get disoriented.

Praising and giving treats to your puppy during dog potty training is important. If your puppy does something right, it is important to let the dog know that you are please with it. According to experts, if you consistently praise your dog for its good deeds during dog potty training, your dog will associate the good deed with praises and treats. Since dogs love being praised and given treats, it will be more inclined to perform something that will most likely generate praises and treats.

Dogs belong to the Canidae family which includes wolves, foxes and cayotes. Since dogs came from ancestors with wild behaviors, it is not surprising for dogs to demonstrate a wild or aggressive behavior. Although dogs are now domesticated, there are still tendencies for dogs to exhibit their natural behavior. Humans take this behavior as bad dog behavior and expecting their dogs to behave and live with them in peace and harmony.

Here are some guidelines you can follow to stop bad dog behavior:

Early separation from the mother. Dogs are pack animals and they don’t like to be alone. When puppies are taken away from their mothers early before behavior development, this will result to behavior problems. It is advisable that puppies stayed with their mother and other puppies for about 8-10 weeks old. He will learn his behavior under the care of the mother dog. If he tries to bite other puppies, for instance, the mother dog is there to growl as a warning that his biting and bad dog behavior is not acceptable. Puppies will learn to modify their behavior if they stay long enough with their mother and by the time you take them home they are already equipped to communicate properly. It will be easier for you to house train your puppy and stop dog bad behaviors.

Reprimand when needed to stop bad dog behavior. If your dog displays bad behavior, do not ignore it. Use punishment or be strict when your dog does something that displeases you, but do not hurt your dog. Just let him know or feel that you don’t agree with his bad dog behavior.

Don’t be afraid to show appreciation or acknowledge your dogs’ good behavior. Through praises and affirmations, dogs learn that they are doing the right thing that makes you happy. Remember that dogs like to please you and if he feels you are happy with his behavior he will keep doing it until it becomes a habit.

Train your dog. Dog obedience is not innate; you must put time and effort to train your dog to stop bad dog behavior. Lack of obedience training will result to bad dog behavior. You cannot communicate properly to your dog if he is not acquainted with the proper dog trainings.

Did you know that you can put an end to the stress and annoyance of your dog’s behavior problems by using techniques that will give you immediate results? Discover dog obedience training secrets to stop your dog’s behavior problems visit Dogs’ Corner

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Potty training is one of the most important things your puppy must learn. Common sense should tell you why it is the most vital part of raising a puppy and has to be done consistently to be effective. Apart from the maintenance of your household hygiene, trained dogs are happy dogs.

There are numerous ways to potty train your puppy, depending on your circumstances and dog type. Paper training is suitable for puppies that have not been vaccinated yet and for those who live in high raise apartments where access to a garden by the dog itself is almost impossible.

Crate training, suitable for urban living dogs make use of the dog’s instinctive nature of not messing up their sleeping area to train the dog to control its bladder and relieve only when he is out of the crate.

The common choice would be to train your dog to go outside to the back yard or the garden to relieve.

The idea potty training age is when your puppy reaches the age of 8 to 12 weeks old. Remember the adage about how old dogs can’t learn new tricks? It is not completely true but right in some ways because it is much easier to train a younger dogs when undesirable habits are not formed. So, don’t take any chances.

There are many ways in life to achieve the same desired results. Of them, there are hard ways and easy ways, right ways and wrong ways. The best course of action is to use the easiest and fastest way to get the right results. This requires a lot of supervision and positive reinforcement. Let’s see how best to achieve what we want in order to potty train our new puppy.

To begin, you should allocate an area for your puppy to eliminate outside or inside the house, you should show him the way to this spot and praise him generously after he finishes

If you praise and reward him immediately after he finishes his job, it encourages him to eliminate in that area alone. The urine odor will be detectable by your puppy and he will learn to associate it as the place to relieve himself.

To help the puppy to remember, always use the same door and spot where you want your puppy to eliminate. Use soiled newspaper to mark the area and hint your puppy on where is the right spot.

Next is to make your puppy learn about his elimination routines. Dogs are habitual animals; they are born instinctively to keep to routines. When your puppy is six to eight weeks old, you should bring him out to relieve after every few hours. The frequency will reduce as he grows older and can control his bladder better. During puppy hood, take him to the allocated elimination area at the following times of the day - Upon waking in the morning, after naps, meals, play, training sessions and just before bedtime.

Taking your pup out at around the same time every day will be very beneficial for the both of you. This will help in establishing a routine, and will make him learn to hold it in until you become available to take him out.

At this time, you must learn how to look for clues, if your puppy is accustomed to roaming freely around the house, search for signs that show you he needs to do it. Be really observant of his behavior, such as, heavy sniffing, circling an area, staring at the door with an intense look on his face.

You can train your dog with two more commands to help him understand potty training faster. Use “Hurry up”, or “Potty now”, command to associate it with potty time. So, say “hurry up” or “potty” in an encouraging tone just when he gets the urge to “go”. Your puppy will understand and associate the command with potty time, and will get down to relieve himself. Once he’s done, praise him lavishly.

During potty training, your puppy is bound to make mistakes like any other puppies. In part 2 of this article, you will learn how to excuse his mistakes and more tips to help you train your puppy in double quick time

Your puppy is your new family member and if trained correctly will give you lots of joy for many years to come.

To find out more about puppy and dog training visit Potty Training Your Puppy.

Dog Behavior Problems - Common Questions answered.

Q 1

My dog and puppy pees when I pet him - what can I do?

A 1

 

Your dog is doing what is known as submissive urination. This is a Housetraining issue and your dog/puppy is actually trying to tell you that you are superior to him. Dog’s communicate very differently to humans and when a puppy or dog is approached by a bigger or more dominant dog - the lower ranking dog may pee to let them know that he respects him. When you lean over your dog you are in a very assertive position - so your dog well pee to tell you that you are more dominant. Don’t shout at him otherwise he may pee more as he doesn’t think you got the message the first time he peed. You may notice submissive urination in certain breeds - it happens to be quiet common in Spaniels.

 

The cure

Dog’s often do submissive urination when you have been gone for a while and come back - consequently the dog maybe excited.

 

The next time you come back from going out - ignore your dog - don’t pet him or greet him - or make eye contact with him - tell any visitors to do the same. As soon as your dog has calmed down after about 15 mins or however long it takes - quietly acknowledge him - make it very matter of fact - don’t get excited otherwise your dog will start peeing. The calmer you are the calmer your dog/puppy will be. Continue to ignore him when you get back and he has calmed down and eventually your puppy/dog will start to get better control of his bladder.

 

Q 2

My dog is doing well in his outdoor training regime but as soon as it rains he will go outside but not potty - what should I do?

A 2

 

Some dogs are able to pee outside in a force 10 hurricane but others see a spot of rain and just won’t go. Think about it though - it’s not very appealing to your dog (and it wouldn’t be to you either) to go outside in the rain and pee. Consider taking him outside with an umbrella - you may feel this is a bit indulgent - but you will have clean carpet. Maybe build a small shelter for him to pee under. Use rewards - use a reward so that as soon as he pees you give him lots of praise and a nice dog treat - a nice piece of beef or liver - this particular trick worked on a Yorkie I was training.)

 

Q 3

I take my dog outside to potty but he takes forever - how do I get him to do his business quicker?

A 3

 

You have quite allot of control over how long it takes your dog/puppy to pee. If you are letting your dog/puppy take 30 minute to find the right spot - then you are teaching him to take 30 minutes to find the right spot. If you want him to take 5 minutes then take him out on his leash and use a cue word that you have decided on - (you may need to refer to one of my other articles) and use the cue word “go potty” or whatever you chose - if he doesn’t go then bring him inside and confine him to his crate for 15 mins. Keep doing this and he will soon realize that he has an allotted time to pee. Continue practising these dog obedience training techniques until you and your dog or puppy have mastered the puppy potty training process.

 

Have you ever wished that the secrets of dog behavior training were available to anyone who wished to take their dog obedience training to a new level? The truth is that proper dog training can be simple for anyone who is willing to educate themselves on the best way to communicate with man’s best friend. In order to succeed at puppy training or adult dog training you must first understand why dogs do what they do. There are only two reasons why a dog performs any behavior:

1- To increase pleasure: Have you ever wondered why your dog pees on the floor, chews up your couch, and jumps on your guests? That’s right, these activities produce pleasure for your dog. It’s as simple as that. If these behaviors didn’t produce a fun experience then your dog wouldn’t do them. Any time you wish to correct behavior problems with your dog it is important to first realize that your dog is doing these things out of pure pleasure.

2- To avoid discomfort: Old school dog behavior training prescribed a very harsh method of correcting behavior problems and fomented a dog obedience regimen that was very disciplinarian in it’s root form. That type of dog training is unnecessary and will often do more harm than good.

Very skilled dog behavior training, though, should use humane corrections that merely provide an annoying deterrent to help correct behavior problems. Humane corrections can run the gamut from spray bottles to annoying noises all the way to training collars. Yes, used properly, a training collar can be a very valuable and humane tool for getting rid of unwanted behavior problems. It is recommended that you seek out the services of a qualified professional if you are going to use such a tool. These dog training collars are merely used to provide an annoying feeling and not a painful feeling.

In understanding these two concepts it is then much easier to formulate a training program that will fit your individual dog. With my own dogs or with the dogs of clients I always have a two-fold approach to training:

1- Obedience training must be mandatory. This is where the new school of dog trainers go wrong. The new school of dog obedience training uses lots of treats. The correction for an unwanted behavior is often a simple ignoring of said behavior. This style of dog training will never make obedience a mandatory endeavor for your dog. Think about it, if your dog has the option to come when called to get a treat or run wildly towards a busy street in the direction of a fleeing cat, which option do you think your dog will take? Likely he will head to the street and risk life and limb for the cat. This is because the owner never enforced their training efforts to the point where obedience is mandatory.

2- Obedience training must be fun. Just because something is mandatory doesn’t mean it also shouldn’t be fun. Dog behavior training is intrinsically fun for your dog because your dog gets to work side by side with you. Your dog is able to bond as he learns from you and learns a deep level of trust as you guide him along with his training. If you skip this step then you may have an obedient dog, but he sure won’t enjoy it.

I have referenced old school and new school dog training practices. Old school training is harsh and rough. New school is all fun and games. To truly have the best trained dog you need to combine the best of both schools. From the old school we use corrections to get rid of unwanted behaviors. From the new school we use a great deal of motivation and fun. The end result is the best trained dog on the block.

When you understand dog behavior training and how your dog views his world you can truly accomplish amazing things with your canine companion. Dog training can truly be made easy when you live these principles, rather than practice them at random intervals throughout the day. It’s time to get to work!

The Cockapoo is a crossbreed variety of dog. This unique hybrid is the result of crossing a cocker spaniel and a miniature poodle, classified as an F1. Since the cockapoo is a crossbreed, the appearance can vary. This hybrid is very popular since the best of both breeds seem to come through. The Cockapoo breeding is among the oldest of what are referred to as designer dogs.

Cocker spaniels and poodles are both intelligent and good natured dogs that enjoy the company of people and take well to training. Both breeds can be very sociable, occasionally stubborn and very loyal. Given the diversity of these traits, it is hard to predict which characteristics will dominate in your Cockapoo.

Approximate Adult Size

As with many hybrid breeds, size and weight will vary. The approximate adult size, two years old or older, of either the male or female is 12 to 15 inches at the withers. The withers are measured at the highest point of the shoulder. The weight of an adult Cockpoo can range between 14 and 20 pounds.

Special Health Considerations

Most dog breeds have certain health conditions problems associated with that specific breed. Cocker spaniels are prone to some orthopedic problems in the legs and glaucoma in the eyes. Poodles are prone to ear infections, but generally have a lower incidence of health problems than most breeds. Cockapoos may develop hypothyroidism along with vision problems. As with most hybrids, a full understanding of potential health issues is difficult to ascertain at this time.

This disease list is provided only as an informative guideline and your puggle may not experience these conditions. Consult a veterinary professional for more comprehensive information.

As with any dog, the puppy stage, 0 to 12 months of age, is the time for shots, boosters and check up. As an adult, the dog should have an annual veterinary checkup that includes a dental exam and cleaning. Avoid feeding your dog sweets and other human foods. Always consult a veterinary professional about the dietary needs of your dog.

Grooming

The coat of cockapoo is generally soft and not prone to shedding. Regular brushing will help maintain a clean and healthy coat. The process of grooming provides an opportunity to examine the dog for skin problems and insects like fleas and ticks. Regular grooming also helps to strengthen the emotional bond between you and your dog.

Dental health is important and the teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities and periodontal disease. Poor canine dental hygiene can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and serious health conditions brought on by infection.

The claws should be trimmed regularly and the paws examined for signs of injury.

Life Span

With proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions, a cockapoo should be able to live a long and healthy life. Given the hybrid nature of these dogs, an accurate prediction of life expectancy is not possible but is estimated to be range between 12 and 15 years.

Registries

American Canine Hybrid Club

As a hybrid breed, the cockapoo is not recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club, Continental Kennel Club, the Canadian Kennel Club or their affiliated organizations.

Litter Size

Litter size is said to range between 4 and 6 puppies.

Category

Hybrid

Every dog is an individual so not everything in this article may be correct for your dog. This information is intended only as a good faith guideline..