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 General Training:
Start training your puppy as early as possible, even as young as 2 months old.
The younger it is the more patience you will need.
Note that a dominant dog will try to assert itself almost from infancy. If you don't train such a dog, it will display leadership traits later in life and may consider itself top dog -- even over its owner.
Successful training depends upon patience, repetition, consistency, and your tone of voice.
The commands should be short and direct, spoken firmly, but not harshly.
Note that a timid dog can become dangerous. Such dogs should always be trained gently with a lot of patience and encouragement.
Begin to accustom your dog to the collar at the age of 2 1/2 months. You can do this by putting the collar on at each feeding.
The first walks on the leash should be inside the house. Initially, the dog will probably try to pull backwards. Be patient and praise the puppy when it walks forward.
Perhaps the easiest command to teach your dog is sit. With your dog on the leash, have the dog on your left, holding the leash in your right hand. Press down on the dogs hindquarters with your left hand, using the leash to gently keep the dog's head up. Say "sit". Then praise your dog and/or give it a treat.
Look for dog obedience classes in your area and enroll your dog when he/she is old enough. A well-trained dog is a better, happier pet. They enjoy lots of exercise and play.
Q: Why does my dog like to burrow under the covers?
A: “Dogs are denning animals,” explains Kellyann Conway, treasurer of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and co-founder of PetsIncredible, a media production company that develops pet-related media. In the same way that humans like to fluff up their pillows before settling in for the night, she says, some dogs like to create comfy beds and hide under clothes and sheets to make themselves feel safe, warm and comfortable. All breeds may do this, but terriers, hounds and huskies are more predisposed to burrowing than others.
There’s no downside or risk to letting your dog burrow, unless you don’t want dog hair under the covers. A separate dog bed might be handy to keep the hair out of yours. An additional bonus of your dog having the instinct to burrow is that it can make crate training easier, since being in a crate can mimic that denlike environment.
Q: Why does my dog like to turn in three circles, looking for just the right spot, before she pees?
A: There are at least two thoughts on why dogs circle before defecating or urinating, says Tony Kremer, a veterinarian and dog behavior expert who runs a Web site, DrTony.com. One reason, Kremer says, is to “scan the terrain for predators so they don’t get ‘caught with their pants down.’” Dogs also use their keen sense of smell to know who was there before. “They may be [homing] in on just the right spot to mark with their scent,” he adds. There’s no harm in indulging this behavior, other than standing around in the elements waiting for your dog to find a spot she likes.
Q: It’s the ultimate stereotype about dogs gone wild: They dig. They dig up your flower beds. They dig under your fence. They dig to bury bones. Why?
A: It’s simple: “They dig because it is fun,” says Susan Daffron, the Sandpoint, Idaho-based author of “Happy Hound: Develop a Great Relationship With Your Adopted Dog or Puppy.” They may also dig because their highly developed sense of smell leads them to something underground that you may not detect.
While there is nothing inherently wrong with digging, if it gives your dog the chance to escape under a fence, it can be dangerous. Conway says you can train a dog to dig in one particular spot, rather than all over your flower beds. Designate one area, and whenever your dog starts to dig elsewhere, lead him back to the designated spot. Burying treasure for him to find in the chosen spot will help reinforce that behavior.
Q: Why do dogs chase their tails?
A: Because they’re there. “Sometimes it’s that simple,” Daffron says. They may reach back there to scratch an itch, see the tail and start chasing. If you laugh, praise or otherwise make a fuss, your dog will keep doing it, because dogs like attention. If it drives you nuts, say “No,” and don’t egg him on.
Q: My dog has the grossest habit: She likes to eat poop. Why would she do this?
A: No one really knows why dogs engage in coprophagia (the fancy term for poop-eating). Some people think it indicates an enzyme is lacking in dogs’ diets. Others think it stems from a maternal instinct to clean up the den.
It is gross, yes, but it is also not a healthy habit. If your dog is eating the poop from other dogs, it could be worse than unhealthy — it could be dangerous. What’s the easy fix? Clean up after your dog whenever she goes and don’t let her near other dogs’ droppings. Adding meat tenderizer or Tabasco sauce to dog food may make your dog’s poop less appetizing to her.
Q: My dog performs this hilarious duck walk, basically scooting her butt along the ground. What’s up with that?
A: While not as gross as coprophagia, this is a behavior that isn’t all that funny when you know what’s behind it. (Pardon the pun.) Dogs have anal glands — also called anal sacs — on each side of the anus. They fill with foul-smelling liquid that is normally expressed when the dog defecates, but sometimes they do not express naturally. When your dog scoots across the carpet, she’s trying to do this on her own. Take your dog to the vet and have her anal glands expressed. If you ignore this problem, the glands may become impacted, which can cause an infection and serious discomfort for your dog — plus, your carpet will get really dirty.
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