Stealing Snacks: Food Motivated Dog Aggression

Your favorite soap is on TV. You settle on the sofa with that box of chocolates from Valentines and invite Rover to snuggle beside you. Unfortunately, Rover snags a chocolate, and when you try to get it back, he growls. You heard chocolate is bad for dogs so you insist he drops his ill-gotten gains and grab at him - at which point he bites you.

Food Motivated Dog Aggression

Is this scenario familiar to you?

If it is, you are not alone. Food motivated aggression is a common problem with many dogs. And thinking about it, it's no big surprise.

To a dog, food is a high-value resource. A dog faced with the chance to steal a snack, asks himself the following two questions (OK, he may do this at an instinctive, subconscious level) First, he considers how much he wants the snack (it's super yummy, so the answer is - LOTS) Secondly, he wonders how likely he is to succeed if he snatches it.

Now this second question is particularly noteworthy, because the chances are if he catches you by surprise and growls (he's an angel the rest of the time) you'll back down. And if you don't, and try to prise the treat from his mouth, he may bite- and then you definitely give up. This means he's learned he has the power to win in this situation. And NO - the answer is not to challenge him further - you will get bitten and the dog won't learn anything other than to bite quicker and harder.

So what should you do?

Fire Fighting

If he steals something you need back (for instance, your diamond engagement ring) then provide him with something more attractive - in other words scatter scrummy treats around him so he drops the stolen object to retrieve the treats.

In the short term (while you retrain Rover) don't put temptation in his way. Stealing is its own reward, so whilst he has the opportunity the retraining isn't going to get anywhere.

Either resist snacking on the sofa or put him in another room altogether. Resist the temptation to put him in his crate (UNLESS he's trained to go in willing and happy to be there). If not, crating him to stop him getting the snack is a form of punishment which will make him view the crate as a prison.

Living in Harmony

In the long term, you need to re-educate your dog's 'table manners' and this means training. There are a number of things you can do.

• Clicker training. Clicker training teaches a dog there's a guaranteed treat in the offing when he performs a desired action. Use clicker training to teach your dog to lie on his cushion while you watch TV. This buys you some space of your own to relax. And if he stands with the intention of stealing your snack, repeat his click-and-command to go to his cushion (and then give him a reward by tossing him a treat).

• Negative association. Teach him bad things happen when he approaches the snack. Start with him resting on his cushion a few feet from the sofa and place the snack on a table in front of the sofa. Position a motion-activated compressed air spray, so that if he moves towards the table he gets a squirt of compressed air. (This way he doesn't associate the unpleasant experience with you but with the snack.) Immediately click-and-command him back to his cushion and reward with a treat. You get the idea... a sort of bad cop / good cop routine.

• Offer an alternative. It helps to offer him an alternative to stealing the snack. If you've settled down to a good movie, why not settle him on his cushion with a Kong stuffed with tasty goodies - that will keep him busy for a while.

Remember, food is a high-value resource - so use this to your advantage. Take control by training him to go to a cushion or quiet place, and offer him an alternative. And in the meantime avoid confrontation by not putting temptation in his path.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Stealing-Snacks:-Food-Motivated-Dog-Aggression&id=9212906

How to Train Your Dog to Come

A common complaint amongst the community of dog owners is "my dog doesn't come when I call."

It can be one of the funniest of all training steps when starting out because of the amount of things we don't do right! Let me elaborate.

This is the end goal: When calling our dog "here Jax!" we want Jax to come as fast as she can toward us.

To make this possible, the next step is to make the phrase "here Jax" the greatest command in the world. With great results and of course the rewards at the end.

So here are the best tricks!

Prevent calling your dog if you have the intention of telling them off for being naughty or doing the wrong thing. This simple action can undo a huge amount of work, all of a sudden responding to your call does not sound like a good thing to do! So, as a result, they are hesitant in coming there on after, so keep this in mind.

Make sure that the majority of times you are calling your dog it ends with a good experience (9 times out of 10 is best) if on the 10th time you need to attach the leash then that's OK.

It's best to keep a playful attitude when you are calling your dog, almost like you are getting them to check in with you now and then instead of stopping immediately to come, this keeps it nicer for both parties involved. More of a catch up than a harsh command all the time.

If you feel uneasy or not sure about your dog, attach a long lead to give you a little extra control. A long lead or rope can be used to keep the dog within reach and access to you, and it makes it easier to get their attention if they're not responding.

If you experience some difficulty with your dog returning to your car, a simple reward with a drink can soon remedy the situation, as a reward is one of the best ways to change a behaviour quickly!

The foundation to a top level dog recall training is by utilizing this 3 step process:

1. CALL your dog to you, 

2. REWARD your dog within 2 seconds followed immediately by 

3. RELEASE your dog.

Giving affection to your dog is a powerful tool that when harnessed correctly can mean the difference between the learning curve being really quick and insanely long. If you can save the affection only as a reward for them doing the correct thing this can be really effective. One of the biggest mistakes is giving them affection whenever they demand it, as they start to get a little spoilt and we wonder why they don't come when we want them to!

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Train-Your-Dog-to-Come&id=9317879

The Top 3 Tips When Adopting A Dog

When it comes to getting a dog, there is nothing more rewarding than adopting. However, many people don't use the top 3 tips when adopting a dog in mind and find themselves frustrated from the very beginning. Instead of helping the dog, and themselves, settle into a new life, they end up fighting against the dog and reaching the end of their rope rather quickly.

1. The dog doesn't know the rules of the house, where they are, or what is expected of them. As the owner, it is important to set down these rules, follow them carefully, and make sure the dog is rewarded when they follow them. Dogs who are confused or don't feel at home will often act out leading to property damage, or a dog that seems to never obey. Making sure that they feel comfortable and know they are welcome will go a long way.

2. Reward, don't punish the dog. While many people will say to punish an animal when they do something wrong, usually this just leads to them being confused. Putting them in their crate when they act up is okay, but hitting them and yelling rarely solves any issues. Instead, be on the lookout for the behavior you want and be sure to reward it as it happen.

Rewarding instantly like this will make the dog realize they have done something good and is most likely to make them behave that way in the future.

3. Finally, be consistent. Take the pooch out every few hours to potty, put them away at the same time every night, feed them in the same space, and keep the same rules. This lets them know they are safe and loved. It can also help when training because they know exactly what to expect. Canines like to know what they need to do and that they are doing it well, being consistent is the best way to ensure that they are going to be a loyal and faithful animal for years to come.

Sticking to these 3 tips when adopting a dog can help them fit in better in your home. It can also relieve the stress of bringing a new animal into the home and make it easier on you as well. Helping them feel safe and you feeling like boundaries are being followed can be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-3-Tips-When-Adopting-A-Dog&id=9098962

Dog Training Can Eliminate Problems

Part of being a responsible dog owner, and in loving your pet, is training your dog. Behavior problems can be reduced or eliminated entirely when a pet owner takes the time to learn proper dog training techniques.

1. Get Advice From Professional Training Sites

Before you begin training your pet, do some research. One excellent way to gain the information you need is to review dog training sites online. There are a multitude of quality dog training sites that offer all the information you need to begin training your dog.

2. Set Realistic Goals

If you bought and brought your dog home two weeks ago, don't expect it to be trained within the month. Proper training means you're giving your pet enough time to adjust to his surroundings and to adjust to you. Once he or she feels comfortable, he or she is more open to dog training.

3. Be Patient

Once you begin training your pet, it's important to be patient. This ties into setting realistic goals. Your dog can be trained, but not all dogs are the same. Some pets learn faster than other pets. Be patient and realize that with persistence, the training will come.

4. Don't Forget About The Rewards

Whenever your dog makes progress, be sure to give a reward. One typical reward is a healthy treat that your dog loves, however an abundance of praise can accomplish the same effect for your dog.

5. Keep Track Of Your Pet's Progress

It's fun to see how far you've come with dog training. The easiest way to do that is to keep track of your pet's progress. Purchase a notebook and maintain a log of what you are training your dog to do. Record the dogs progress as well as whatever he or she has mastered.

6. Don't Forget A Proper Diet And Exercise

A dog is more amenable to training when he or she has been nourished. Don't forget to feed your dog a good diet to keep him or her sharp and alert. In addition, make sure your dog is getting the proper amount of exercise. Just like with humans, a healthy diet and exercise make for a healthy dog who is ready to be trained.

Don't forget to have fun. Dog training is serious, but don't overdo it. Reserve time to get down to business, but be sure there's plenty of time for love and playtime, as well.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Dog-Training-Can-Eliminate-Problems&id=8954132