Some Tips for Dog Obedience Training
Dogs love to dig. Whether it is to bury a bone, look for a bone, or to just see what is underneath the dirt this time, dogs enjoy digging.
While it is a natural instinct in dogs, digging can be detrimental to your yard and to your dog’s discipline. How can you get your living breathing shovel to stop?
Why does your dog dig? Does he just like the action and feeling or is there another reason lurking underneath? Figuring out why your dog is engaging in this undesirable behavior is the first step in correcting it.
However, there may be other reasons including lack of attention or stimulation, storing food, or he?s building a den to cool off or stay warm. Alternately, he may be attracted to freshly turned earth or the scent of fertilizer.
If you can determine why your dog is digging, you can take appropriate action. For instance, do you notice your dog digging when it is very hot? He could simply be seeking some shelter from the sun. Remedying the situation by getting a doghouse or taking the dog inside will most likely stop the digging.
If that doesn’t help, your dog may have developed a digging habit! The following suggestions can help:
1. Bury inflated balloons in places where your dog likes to dig. One popped balloon can be a great deterrent.
2. Fill some of the holes your dog has made with his own feces. When he revisits the holes, he will be disgusted by this. It is enough to deter him from digging.
3. Unpleasant sensations can also help keep your dog from digging. Bury some chicken wire just below the surface of the ground. When his claws scratch the wire, he’ll often hate the feeling so much he’ll stop.
4. If you catch your pet in the act of digging, spray him with a water bottle or hose. Dogs hate this (but it is not harmful). They’ll get the message. Do not, however, spray him if you don’t catch him actively engaging in digging. If you do, he won’t understand why he’s being punished.
Digging is natural, but it doesn’t have to ruin your yard. Figure out why your dog is engaging in this behavior and take a little time to work on it with him. You’ll both be much happier.
Clicker Training for Great Dog Behavior
The use of clickers in dog training has increased in recent years. It is a gentle way to condition your dog to repeat good behavior.
When you use clicker training, you teach your dog to associate good behavior with a treat or reward. This is known as the principle of operant conditioning. How does it work?
A clicker is a small plastic box with a metal strip. When you push and release the metal strip, it makes a sharp clicking sound.
Ask your dog to perform a command, such as sit, stay, heel, etc. When he does, click right away and give your dog a treat. You are pairing the clicking sound with the treat.
Your dog will connect the clicking sound with the behavior he just performed. Since that behavior earned him a treat, he’ll want to repeat it. As the training progresses, you can stop using the treat. The click will be sufficient reward. Soon, you don’t even need the clicker either.
Clicking is immediate. Dogs need to know exactly what they are being praised for, and the clicking sound helps let them know. This is why the clicker method is so effective for training.
Trying the clicker method can lead to more effective, quicker training. It works with your dog?s natural urge to please you and earn a reward.
