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Who wouldn’t fall in love with an adorable new puppy? But if puppy biting grows into an issue, you need to know how to stop puppy biting quickly. You may think it’s cute to see the puppy rolling around on the floor playing and biting, but this behavior could cause many problems with dominance and aggression later on in the dog’s life.

By the time most of them reach eight weeks old, puppy biting has stopped if they are allowed to stay in the litter that long. Their siblings teach them that if they bite, they get bitten back. The problem with this is that a lot of times, puppies will be adopted before they reach eight weeks of age, so the mother hasn’t had an ample opportunity to teach the puppies not to bite, therefore it then falls on the owner to teach them this.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

The Early Days

If you adopt a puppy before it reaches the eight week mark or maybe it just hasn’t learned not to bite or nip yet, it is important that you learn how to stop puppy biting before it goes too far.

Never hit your puppy to attempt to get them to stop biting. This may lead to the puppy being afraid of you and developing phobias and anxieties that can result in issues with aggression later in their life.

If you want to stop puppy biting issues, you must concentrate on the root of the behavior. They need to learn the differences between good behaviors and bad behaviors, they need to be rewarded for the good and discouraged from the bad. Avoid playing games with the puppy, such as wrestling, tug of war, or chasing games that result in nipping by your puppy because this may confuse them and lead to aggression issues.

It is important to be consistent while training your puppy. You cannot let them get away with the things you are trying to deter them from just because they are so cute. Keep in mind that you are doing this for the puppy’s own good and stick with it.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

How to Stop Puppy Biting

When you begin your puppy biting training, try enrolling them in obedience or socialization classes. There are classes that specifically target puppy biting and the trainers actually mimic the behavior of the puppy’s mother which teaches the puppy that biting is not socially acceptable. Socializing your puppy is good for many reasons, it teaches them how to positively respond to other dogs on the street and helps reduce possible aggression they may show towards other dogs.

When you begin your training and are trying to stop puppy biting, try redirecting the behavior somewhere else such as a chew toy or bone. Say “No!”, and then give the puppy a toy to chew on instead. They will learn quickly that it is not ok to chew on a finger, but it is ok to chew on the toy.

Your puppy does not want to hurt you. A way to stop puppy biting is to imitate the noise its litter mates would make upon being bitten – a yip or a soft whine. This will let your puppy know that it has caused you pain, if you startle it enough, it will let go and leave you alone. Learning how to stop puppy biting is an important part of integrating your puppy into your home from its litter if it is very young. Your puppy should understand that biting is not acceptable by the age of ten weeks. This will make it easier in the years to come and make the possibility of aggression issues much lower for the future.

Related links:

• Free How to Become the Alpha Dog training guide
• Train My Dog System
• How to Stop Your Puppy From Biting

Dog clicker training is one of the easiest most effective ways of training your dog and controlling their behavior no matter what kind of dog you have. It is quick and easy to train your dog with and is very effective. You can train your dog almost anything with the proper use of a clicker.

How Dog Clicker Training Works

The clicker is used as a way of rewarding the dog for positive behavior. It is a strong, sharp sound that can be heard over 20 yards away. The goal of dog clicker training is to train your dog to positively respond to the commands you give by looking for the reward by the sound of the clicker.

Dog clicker training is not only effective, but it can be as cheap as a bag of treats and a two dollar clicker from the pet store. The idea is to teach the dog that the sound of the clicker is positive reinforcement for them by rewarding them with treats every time you use it.

Since the dog does not hear the sound of the clicker at anytime except when it is being rewarded with a treat, it is important that you use the clicker for only this purpose. Simply using a verbal command is not as easy for the dog to comprehend since it may be used in different situations. The sound of the clicker is distinct to them and does not confuse them as easily as verbal commands may.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

How Dog Clicker Training is Done

Training your dog with the clicker starts with convincing your dog to perform the trick or behavior that you are trying to teach them. Once they do it, you mark the behavior with the sound of the click and a treat. It will probably take two or three times marking this behavior before the dog learns what it was that they did, associate it with the reward and the click and realizes that this was a positive action.

Treats may also be supplemented with praise and petting as positive reinforcement, you don’t have to use treats every time. Continue reinforcing the behavior once the dog has started to learn it as much as possible. Make sure that every time you want them to do this action, rather than verbalizing it at first, you use the clicker.

Click here to see what can be done using clicker training!

Transitioning to a Command

Once your dog has learned the behavior well and associated it with the clicker, you can start teaching them the verbal command that correlates with the action they performed. This way you can use the verbal command anywhere without having to always have the clicker. When you are about to use the clicker, verbalize the command first, then click and follow it with a treat. It won’t take your dog long to put all three things together.

After a while, if done right, the dog will respond to your verbal command and praise and will learn the command. You will not have to give treats and praise every time for the action, they will eventually learn that simply doing the action when you give them the verbal command is what pleases you.

Done right, dog clicker training can make training your dog so much easier in many ways. Using easy, sharp commands, with the help from your clicker, you can mark, teach, and reinforce nearly any behavior in your dog.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Dog biting is an issue that many dog owners face at one point in their dog’s lifetime. It can be hard and frustrating trying to figure out how to stop dog biting and become in control of it. Dog biting may simply just be obnoxious at first, but if not taken care of early on can become dangerous to both your family, as well as strangers, the older the dog gets. If your dog has dog biting problems, it is very important that it is stopped as soon as possible.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

How to Stop Dog Biting as Puppies

The earlier you nip the dog biting problems the easier it will be. When a puppy is under six months, they are still easy to train as this is an impressionable time for a puppy. If they learn this is a behavior that won’t be tolerated early, it will stick better with them as they grow older.

Most people assume that when a puppy bites, they are just playing or teething, are not trying to hurt anyone and will eventually grow out of it. At this age, the puppy is learning their position in the pack and is trying to assert itself as a leader trying to show who is in charge with their teeth. This is where you need to start training your dog to stop dog biting while they are still open to learning new things.

There are several ways to train your dog to stop biting. You can mimic how they would be treated in its litter with his siblings or mother. The mother would either give the puppy a light nip on the neck or make a whining noise when they are bitten. You can also try replacing your hand with a toy to teach them that it is ok to bite the toy, but not you. If you are still having a hard time breaking your puppy of his nipping problem, you should seek professional help either through obedience training or hire a trainer to help.

How to Stop Dog Biting at One Year

If your dog is allowed to express his dominance by nipping and biting as a puppy, it will more than likely grow up still play biting well after the first year of his life. If this is the case, you need to stop playing physical, rough games such as wrestling, tug of war, or any other games that can express their dominance with your dog.

Dogs need boundaries and cannot be allowed the run of the house. Good training helps older dogs who are still into dog biting. Even put them in their crate for a while if necessary.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

How to Stop Dog Biting as they Age

There are many problems that could easily arise if you continue to let your dog get away with biting as an adult. The dog could possibly turn on you, but the main problem is that they will always view themselves as the leader of the pack and you will never be able to establish the alpha dog position.

After one year of age, if you are still having problems with your dog biting, it is very important that you seek help immediately from a professional. This could lead to serious issues as the dog may choose to assert his dominance and this may lead to an attack on you or on others around him.

Training your dog at as early an age as possible is very important. There are very few exceptions, such as mental disorder or disease, which causes dog biting problems as an adult. Most issues that would cause an adult dog to bite all could have easily been resolved with the dog early on when they were a puppy.

Ewwww! A dog eating poop is just one of those things you know happens, but is gross no matter what! What could be the significance of a dog eating poop?

Coprophagia – maybe you don’t recognize it by name, but you may recognize it by actions. This is another word for the unsightly habit of a dog eating poop. If your dog has this habit, you’ve probably often wondered why they seemed to have picked up this disgusting, unattractive, unhealthy, and unsafe habit. You are not alone with this issue; it is a common behavioral problem in dogs.

Why is Your Dog Eating Poop?

There are a few reasons why your dog may eat poop. It’s possibly something as simple as being hungry or attempting to clean up it’s space. If dogs become hungry or their living space becomes dirty, they will try to resolve these issues by eating their poop.

Your dog’s health could be another reason it resorts to this behavior as it may have issues such as worms or parasites. These may be prohibiting your dog from getting the nutrients it needs from the food. Your dog may not be getting enough nutrients because of these parasites sucking it all out of the daily intake of food.

Some dogs just have an anxious, nervous habit which causes them to eat their poop. They may watch you pick it up and try to do the same, however with dogs, this involves them eating it to get rid of it. They also may have simply seen other dogs doing it and are mimicking their behavior.

Keep in mind that the issue can be resolved easily, no matter what the reasoning is behind your dog eating poop in your household.

How to Adjust the Behavior

First and foremost, you should rule out your dog’s health problem as a reason your dog likes to eat poop. If your dog all of a sudden seemed to acquire this habit and did not have it before, it is especially important that you first check for health problems. See your vet to determine why this is happening so that it can be treated promptly if it is indeed a health issue.

If your vet determines that your dog’s health is not the issue that is causing it to eat poop, you need to address whatever other problems may be causing this unwanted behavior.

Make sure you keep your yard free of poop. Check your yard and all the paths near your home daily and pick up any poop your dog or others may leave. If the problem is not your dog’s health that is causing this behavior, removing the source of the problem is a good place to start in training your dog not to eat their poop.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Adjusting the Behavior

There are other ways to combat this problem with your dog that you can try. Bitter apple and cayenne pepper taste worse to dogs than their poop, as hard as that may be to believe, this is one thing you can try. Also, try feeding your dog a spoonful of puréed pumpkin which makes their poop not taste as appealing to them. You can also try spraying your dog with a water bottle and saying “no!” firmly whenever you see your dog eating poop.

Removing the source of the problem is the easiest way to solve your dog’s issues with coprophagia. It is important to stop this habit either way, but it is especially important that you stop it if you take your dog to parks or let them off their leash outside, as it may not only be their own poop they are eating and can lead to problems with your dog’s health. Always watch them carefully, be consistent in training your dog and deterring this behavior, and needless to say, but do not let your dog lick your face if it has this habit!

Stop Dog Chasing

Does your dog take off after the smallest thing? There are many important reasons to stop this behavior as it poses a serious danger to the dog. Chasing a moving car or another animal can lead to a dangerous situation for the dog or pose a health issue. Aside from that, it can also make your daily walks a little hectic. Instead of just keeping your dog tied up constantly, you need to stop this behavior in your dog before it becomes a major problem.

The Basic Retraining Methods

Using a leash is an easy way to start the process of training your dog again while remaining in control and safe while doing this. If your dog’s fixation is not a major issue, retraining the dog will help reduce the negative behavior.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Focusing on You – In order to train your dog, you need to teach him that you are the alpha dog and they should be focusing their attention on you, above all else. When you start walking your dog, before you begin, always make sure the dog’s attention is focused on you alone. Do not let the dog walk until that attention is focused on you and this will also help with your dog’s fixation on chasing other moving objects.

Leash Training – If your dog likes to pull on the leash and will not focus on you, it may take a bit more time to teach them the right path. To start with, make them sit and wait for you whenever you start moving. If they pull at all, stop and make them sit beside you. Soon, they will realize that when they pull against the leash this will result in their walk stopping.

Distraction – Use this technique to stop a dog that chases off a leash, distract your dog with a toy. It is easy to divert their attention when you notice they are about to chase after something. Once you get their attention away from their original target and onto the toy, throw it, they will then get excited about the toy and chase after it instead.

Aversion – Use a friend in order to help you with this one. Have them walk by or ride a bicycle, or whatever makes your dog chase. When your friend notices your dog chasing after them, have them stop and say “no” in a firm voice and spray them with a bottle of water. This will teach them that they really do not want to catch the thing that they are chasing. This does not work for all dogs; some dogs will simply get angry at the water bottle.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Avoiding Extreme Measures

There are a lot of ways to stop dog chasing, such as shock collars, electric fences, etc. They are not good measures to take when attempting to train your dog. If you cannot seem to teach your dog to stop chasing, consider bringing in an expert instead to help you accomplish this training issue.

If your dog chases animals, cars, people, etc. while on their leash, you may just view it as an annoyance, but if they were to ever get off their leash, it can also be dangerous for the dog. If you stop this behavior before it starts, it protects your dog from these types of potentially dangerous situations.

There are many possible ailments that your dog can possess when it comes to your dog’s health that catch both you and your dog off guard. Your dog’s health problems can not only become costly, they can also be emotionally devastating if not dealt with quickly and effectively. There are ways you can keep your dog healthy and happy and avoid certain types of health problems before they even become an issue instead of just dealing with them as they arise.

Potential Problems That Can Threaten Your Dog’s Health

Dogs are like humans in that they can suffer from all different types of health problems; the difference is that a dog cannot tell you what is wrong. A lot of times, your dog will be suffering in silence until it becomes a major, unbearable issue that needs immediate attention. It is important to learn these symptoms and how to deal with them before they affect your dog’s health.

Infections – Dogs can suffer from all different types of potential infections in their ears, on their skin and to their eyes or teeth. Most common are dog ear infections caused by foreign bacteria getting in there. It is important to check your dog’s ears regularly for red spots, swelling, extra moisture, or dirt that may either be a sign of an infection or cause one in the near future. Of all the problems affecting your dog’s health, infections are the easiest one to prevent. Keeping your dogs eyes and teeth clean as well as brushing them regularly can all be ways to avoid potential infections from bacteria build up.

Allergies – Dogs have many forms of allergies. The most common allergy problems in dogs are flea allergies which can cause dog hot spots and lead to infection. Treating your dog with flea medication every month as well as letting the vet examine them every year to ensure your dog’s health are two ways to help combat this issue. If your dog has skin problems that lead to ear infections or hot spots, they may have a food allergy. More severe issues should be treated by a veterinarian.

Diabetes – Dogs possess a lot of the same health problems as humans, including dog diabetes. Keep your dog on a strict diet and limit their table scraps as well as excess meals to help avoid having a dog that suffers from diabetes. If your dog does end up being diagnosed with dog diabetes, it is important that he sees the vet on a regular basis and you may need to administer regular shots for them if it becomes severe enough.

Arthritis and Dysplasia – Pure bred dogs are more prone to joint problems and generally have a longer history of problems with arthritis due to longer, narrower joints. To avoid arthritis threatening your dog’s health, make sure you give your dog necessary vitamins and minerals every day, whether it be in their food or by supplements. Also, make sure your vet checks their joints for degeneration yearly.

Obesity – Obesity, as in humans, is a common health problem in dogs and can be a major threat to your dog’s health, and is caused by over eating and not enough exercise. Obesity causes heart failure, tumours, liver disease, skin problems, etc. which is what leads to mortality if not dealt with immediately. This can be combated, simply, by keeping your dog on a strict diet and making sure they get appropriate levels of exercise on a regular basis.

Avoiding these health problems can be easy by ensuring your dog gets plenty of exercise, eats well every day, and is kept clean and well groomed. Even if you are doing all the proper things to care for your dog, a yearly visit to the vet is still important to check for any potential problems you may not be able to recognize. The earlier your dog’s health problems are caught the easier they will be to treat and will result in a better outcome for both you and your dog.

Hartz Mountain Corp is recalling all 8oz bags of their Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs (stamped with the lot code BZ0969101E) due to sample testing indicating the presence of salmonella.  Hartz urges anyone who has purchased one of these bags to throw it away.

You can contact Hartz Mountain Corp at 1-800-275-1414 for questions regarding the recall.

A lot of people think they know what their dog needs or assumes that he is a lot smarter than he is even though a lot of the times, these are incorrect assumptions. Your dog will react to you and your actions. He wants to be a part of the pack, wants to be accepted by you and please you, as the alpha dog of his “pack”. Above all else, he is still an animal with basic animal instincts. The best way to correct your dog’s behavior is to change how they express their instincts instead of yelling at them or scolding them as they do not fully comprehend these emotions.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Core Dog Training Tips

Every dog owner should know a few basic dog training tips when training a dog. These few things can make the task of training your dog a lot easier all the way around.

Crate Training – Crate training your dog provides many benefits for both you and your pooch. It gives them a space that they can claim as their own where they feel safe and secure. Do not use the crate as a punishment for your dog, it should always be a positive place they can go for comfort and can be something that is their own. Spending time at home with your dog in the crate is also a good tip so that they get used to being in it. Crate training can make house breaking, barking issues as well as problems with anxiety better for both you and your dog.

I highly recommend a Midwest Life Stages double door crate for your dog!

Leash Training – Some dog owners have troubles with their dog while they are on a leash. If this is an issue you and your furry friend are having, try training your dog to be calm and controlled while on the leash before resuming their walk and this will allow them not to get too excited about any upcoming walks. The most common issue that people have with their dogs on a leash are pulling issues. If you train your dog to sit down beside you until they calm down before resuming their walk, they will learn that by pulling on the leash, they are stopping their walk.

The Alpha Dog Position – Defining your alpha dog position with your dog is very important while training your dog as well as to maintain it throughout your relationship. Training a dog is the responsibility of the dog owner, not the dog. They do not know what you want from them, so they will always revert back to their natural instincts unless the leader of their pack (which should always be the owner) teaches them otherwise. If the alpha dog position is established, it allows your dog to calm down and not worry about who will protect them as they will now see that as your role.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Obedience Training – Consider dog training classes for obedience to supplement your at home training, especially if you are having troubles training your dog at home or if you are a first time dog owner. This not only benefits the dog but it also teaches the owner to be able to maintain the alpha dog leadership within the household, how to control the new puppy and give them specific, strong commands that they will listen to.

The Importance of Consistency

In order to reduce confusion in your dog, one of the best dog training tips is to make sure you are always consistent while training your dog. If you require your dog to sit before going out on a walk, make sure you do this every time your dog goes on a walk, otherwise they will easily get confused. Your dog may seem smart, but most of the way they act is simply a response to what you teach them and is repeated and consistent in their environment. Make sure that not only are you consistent when training your dog, but that everyone in your household also maintains the same consistency with what you have taught your dog. Training your dog can be harder for you than it is for them, but will eventually be worth it for both of you.

Most people, when they get a new puppy, have to go through the dog obedience training process with them whether it be through obedience training classes, or the more cost effective training at home. Dogs do not automatically know how to behave so it is our job, as dog owners, to show them the proper way to behave in all situations they may encounter in their lives. Here are some ideas on what you can gain from training your dog that will help you decide if your dog benefits from it.

The Benefits of Dog Obedience Training

Dog obedience training is a two way street, meaning it is not solely up to the dog, so there are responsibilities that lie with the dog owner as well to deliver easy to understand commands to the dog. They will learn quickly to respond to these commands in obedience training, but you need to learn how to give these commands to them in a way that they can easily recognize and understand. A lot of people believe that dog obedience training is all about the dog and often neglect their part of the process. Here some examples of how to help your dog achieve, and maintain, good behavior.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here

Leadership – As a pet owner, you need to learn to assert your dominance over the dog and let them know that you are in charge at all times and it is their job to listen to you. If you continue this alpha leadership role at home as well, it makes it easier for the dog to always follow your lead and learn from you.

Basic Commands – Start with basic commands such as sit, stay, heel, speak, and quiet. These commands will form the basis for anything you may need to teach them later for more tricks. These are the five commands that will make your dog respond when it matters most.

No Biting or Barking – Biting and barking are two of the biggest problems dogs often have. Higher levels of dog obedience training will deal with these issues but either way should be dealt with at a young age, particularly biting.

Walking – Dog obedience training classes will teach you and your dog how to walk in unison. It will teach you how to take control of your dog on your daily walk and keep them from running around and pulling on the leash and will teach them to sit and heel when necessary.

If your puppy does not behave properly and you are having a hard time with home obedience training, consider dog obedience training classes to help both you and your dog get started towards proper training. These classes can be important in many ways because it will help start your dog towards the training that can continue at home for more specific issues that may arise later on.

Carrying it Forward at Home

The tips and tricks you learn in your dog obedience training courses will be useless if they are not continued in the home as well. Make sure you keep up what you learn in class as well as maintain your alpha dog role and be consistent at all times when you return home. All members of your household should also follow along with anything you’ve learned in the classes as well in order to avoid confusing the dog and maintaining that consistency.

Your dog will only do what you teach it to do. It is important to remain consistent, reassuring, and maintain, and be firm in, the commands that you give. Backing down or giving in to your dog will result in them reverting back to the exact behaviors that you tried so hard to train out of them.

Download a free guide on “How to Become the Alpha Dog”… click here