How to Stop Your Dog’s Biting Habit

Tips About Stop Your Dog’s Biting Habit

Here are some tips to stop your dog’s biting habit. Many dog owners are stressed because their dog has a nasty habit of biting. They want to gain control of the situation before someone gets hurt and before a possible lawsuit looms. Biting dogs are not very popular when company comes over and most people don’t want to be around such a pet. As the dog ages it can become dangerous to others and you might have to get rid of such a pet for legal concerns among other reasons. You want to learn how to stop your dog’s biting habit quickly.

How You Can Stop Your Dog’s Biting as a Puppy

It is a lot easier to stop your dog from biting while it is still a puppy before the habit becomes too ingrained in its personality. Biting is a natural behavior for a dog when they are in the wild, but behavior modification can be started when they are young and not so “set in their ways”. In other words, the older they get the more stubborn they get.

When a puppy starts biting, they are not playing or teething, but trying to assume the Alpha role in the relationship between owner and pet. To stop your dog’s biting habit, just a light nip on the neck or whining when you are bitten, will let the puppy know that you are displeased with their action and they will stop. Of course, if the biting keeps up then an obedience school for dogs might be in order. That will stop your dog’s biting habit while it is young.

Stopping the Dog’s Biting Habit at One Year Old

Puppies will advance to play biting if not stopped as a puppy. By the age of one year, they will consider themselves the Alpha of the household and will think of the house as his. For the dog, one year is the same as a teenager. Any parent can tell you what a teenager is like if they think they are in control of the household. Now imagine a teenager with very sharp teeth, nipping everyone in the house. This is when stern discipline is called for. Stop the dominance related games.

Give your dog certain boundaries instead of letting it run all over the house. Crate training is a wonderful way of doing this since it cuts down on the amount of motion that the dog will have. A reputable dog obedience school will help with the training.

Stopping Your Senior Dog from Biting

An adult dog that is still allowed to bite is a very serious problem and should never be taken lightly. We have all heard reports of a dog “turning” on its master and biting them severely. After one year of age, if the dog is still biting, consult a professional trainer because then the dog has become a danger and can attack unexpectedly. This is why it is so important to stop your dog’s biting habit while the dog is still a puppy.

How to Stop Your Dog’s Chasing Habit

 Stop  Dog’s Chasing Habit

Does your dog have a very bad chasing habit? A dog that has a habit of chasing cars, rabbits and squirrels places itself in extreme danger on a daily basis. It’s very hard to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing walk with your dog when they are constantly trying to chase everything that moves. A dog’s chasing habit has been the death for many dogs and should be attended to immediately.

Basic Retraining to Stop the Dog’s Chasing Habit

Some retraining is called for in order to stop this dangerous chasing habit. If this habit is not too deeply ingrained, then it shouldn’t take but a matter of a few days or a couple of weeks to retrain your dog. A leash will provide a controlled way to keep your dog safe during this retraining period.

Make sure that your dog’s central point of focus is you. For some reason, most people avoid establishing an Alpha relationship with their dog. The Alpha relationship puts you in control of the dog, not the other way around. You have to have complete control or any form of training is useless. Don’t let the dog walk until his attention is completely on you.

The Trick to Leash Training

If your dog is still pulling on the leash during your walks, then it will take just a little more time and effort to get the dog to obey. Make the dog sit and wait by your side until you are ready to start moving. If they start pulling again, stop and make the dog sit again until you are ready to walk again. It won’t be long before the dog understands that pulling on the leash means stopping.

Distraction as a Distraction

Carry a dog’s toy with you when walking your dog. If the dog tries to pull on the leash to go chase something, just show him the toy. Have the dog chase the toy instead of something he is fixated on. You can also invite a friend out on your walks to help. Have them ride a bike alongside to stimulate the dog’s desire to chase. Then have the friend tell the dog “no” and spray them with a water bottle. This will make sure that the dog understands that what it is chasing is a bad thing.

Avoiding the Need for Extreme Measures

A lot of pet owners will take rather extreme measures to stop their dog from chasing objects. These can include electric fences, collars that shock or other methods that keep the dog in line. But not only are these cruel and ineffective, they are also illegal. Bring in an expert if you cannot stop your dog’s chasing habit.

Chasing may just be an irritation to you for now, but soon it will become dangerous for your pet. You love your pet and you want to keep it safe from harm so you need to stop your dog’s chasing habit before something bad happens.

Dogs Hostile Behavior

About Dogs Hostile Behavior

There are several reasons why a dog will exhibit hostile behavior. One reason might be that the dog is trying to establish control over the owner. Another could be due to abuse from a previous relationship with people. No matter what the issue is for the hostility, the problem needs immediate attention. If left untreated it can have dire consequences.

The Main Cause of Hostility in Dogs

Hostility in dogs can start from a very young age. This is usually the time when a puppy is learning social skills. It is also when a dog is receiving adequate training in proper behavior. During the teaching process the pup is introduced to other animals and family members. By allowing interaction with others the dog gets use to the daily routine, and is therefore less likely to attack.

A good rule of thumb is never to wean the puppy from the litter to soon. A dog in the early stages of development needs the bond between mother and pup. Do not use severe punishment on a dog at this age, and give plenty of love and tenderness. Hostile behavior breeds more of the same. An owner should be aware that if they mistreat a dog the pup will behave in kind.

Some dogs are hostile based on genetic makeup. It does not automatically mean the animal will attack, but that it is wise to keep a watchful eye when it is interacting. This is especially true around young children. Another way to minimize improper behavior is by getting the dog fixed. Animals tend to be more aggressive when not spayed or neutered.

The type of environment the pup is brought up in will determine the animal’s demeanor; if it lives in an abusive home without proper guidance a dog has a higher risk of hostility.

Often times a puppy is attempting to exhort control. By the use of certain mannerisms, such as biting, it is displaying authority over the owner. This needs to be discouraged from a young age.

Gaining Control over Hostile Behavior

If hostile behavior continues once the dog has reached maturity, immediate action is required. By now the owner should have established dominance over the dog. Never give praise or special treats for inappropriate behavior. The dog will think this is a green light and not change. Be consistent.

When training the pup make sure to establish feeding and bathroom times. Teach the dog basic commands. If the rules are laxed in any way, the dog will return to its previous habits.

If it is noticed that the dog becomes hostile when it feels threatened, make sure to keep it from children and seek specialized training.

In conclusion, hostile behavior in dogs can be a problem, but with proper learning a puppy can become a wonderful addition to the family. As demonstrated above, a dog usually has some sort of genetic or personal reason for its hostility. This can include an abusive home or attack from another animal. When purchasing or adopting a pup try to get a history from its previous owner. This will provide valuable information on how to treat the puppy when it first arrives.