3 Destructive Ways That Hamper Your Dog's Training

Training a doggy is not a one-time process. It is a continuous thing wherein you constantly try to hone his skills in such a way that he becomes proficient. But there are certain things that can really affect his training. These things can spoil all the hard work that you have done already in training your furry companion. Moreover, it can also confuse him and make him wonder whether he needs to follow you or not.

Let us look at some of these destructive ways that hamper your dog's training:

Inconsistency With The Expectations

This is one of the biggest mistakes made by dog owners. During the training process, it is very important to be consistent. For example; if you are teaching your doggy to sit before he gets food, ensure that he does it every single time. If that means postponing mealtime for a few minutes, so be it. Or if you want to stop your tyke to stop barking, redirect him successfully without giving up. This will ensure that he gets the cue that you want him to stop barking. Also, ensure that you are consistent with the pooch in your house and not only during the training. If this is not done, then indiscipline might creep up in the furry pal which might result in destructive behavior.

Giving Different Word Cues For The Same Command

If you are living in a big family it can be very difficult to be consistent with your verbal cues. This is especially true when you have children in the house. But if you are consistent with the verbal cues it will make the life of your canine easier. He will also learn new rules and expectations. For example; if you, your spouse and your children are using a different verbal cue for the command "down" like "lie down" or "get down" although everyone wants to say the same command "down" it can confuse your doggy to no bound. So, always try to give same consistent word cues to the doggy while giving the same command.

Not Accounting For The Environment While Training

There are certain pet owners who do not understand the reason for their furry pal to perfectly sit at home, but chooses not to listen in the park. If this is the situation that you are countering at present understand that your canine is really distracted. Remember, dogs are overloaded with senses in dog park because there is so much more happening in the park than your house where they spend most of their time. If you find that your furry pal is distracted in a particular place where he does not listen, do not practice training skills there. It is in that environment the furry pal will try to ignore you. So, commence in the house, then move to the backyard, the front yard, during your regular walk, at the edge of the park and finally in the middle of the park. This way you will get the total attention of your furry pal even in an environment where he feels distracted.

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How To Stop Your Dog From Destroying Your Back Yard

Destructive behavior in dogs is not only frustrating to deal with but can also be a sign that something is wrong with your dog's health or lifestyle. Here are a few of the most common causes of this type of behavior as well as tips on how to stop your dog from destroying your back yard.

Boredom

Boredom is one of the leading causes of destructive behavior in dogs. When dogs don't have enough to keep them occupied, they will find their own way to entertain themselves. Unfortunately, this often means digging holes in your otherwise perfect flowerbed or lawn, clawing at your brand new fence or chewing on your deck railings.

Putting an end to destructive behavior caused by boredom starts with finding ways to keep your dog occupied. Consider investing in a treat dispensing toy. These toys can be filled with bits of dog food or sticky snacks like peanut butter and are a great way to keep your dog busy for long periods of time. Additionally, be sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise and that he gets lots of love and attention when you are home.

Separation Anxiety

Many dogs become fearful and anxious when left alone. This fear and anxiety often manifests itself as destructive behavior. A dog that suffers from separation anxiety may bark, urinate, defecate, scratch or dig excessively while you are away.

One way of easing separation anxiety is by making the experience of being alone more pleasurable for your dog. For instance, you could give them a special treat every time you leave the house. Treat dispensing toys are an ideal choice since they often keep your dog occupied for long periods of time. Just be sure to only give the treat when you are leaving so they start to associate delicious food with being alone.

Kong Stuffed with Frozen Peanut Butter

You can also ease their anxiety by being calm when you leave and when you arrive home. Instead of talking in an excited voice and getting your dog all riled up, make it seem like your leaving is no big deal.

If neither of these tactics work, you may want to consider enrolling your dog in doggy daycare. This allows them to interact with other dogs and people, preventing the types of situations that often lead to destructive behavior

Getting your dog to stop destroying your back yard starts with understanding what triggers him to act out in the first place..In most cases, when you address issues such as boredom or separation anxiety, the destructive behavior will stop on its own.

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