FREE DOG TRAINING TIPS:
From Trifecta Training Center at www.trifectatraining.com
Try to get your dog lots of exercise.(Puppies need exercise; but, never forced especially not forced running until they are about eighteen months old or older for slower growing breeds. High level working dogs like border collies and aussies need the most exercise. Labs need lots of exercise. Some small very active dogs need lots of exercise. A bulldog probably needs the least comparatively, but they still need exercise. The well exercised dog causes less problems and is more cooperative. Just letting the dog out in your back yard does not count as exercise unless they are running with other dogs or you are playing fetch or other active games with them. All dogs will retrieve. Some need to be trained and trained young …..something to consider for times when active outside exercise is not possible. Sometimes weather or your own inability to be out and about limits excise.
If you going to use food as a motivator for training be sure after you have taught the behavior that you move away from bribery and go to reward. Ie. don’t have the food in your hand. Have the food treat (small) in a pocket of your clothing or better not even on your person but nearby.
If you have a dog that is jumping up …. Sometimes a few very simple habits can decrease or even make it stop. First, don’t greet the dog until it settles down when you come home. And, don’t greet with the high pitched excited voice. This just generates excitement and that generates jumping up. Step into the dog when he jumps up rather than backing away or turning around. No, I did not say step on the dog. Just claim your space by forcefully walking toward the dog and making the dog get out of your way. If you have a very small dog use a tennis racket or a board to move the dog back away from you/ Again not hitting. Just pushing the dog back.
Biting: Do not accept biting under any circumstances including cute harmless puppies. They are communicating. And what they want is attention. If you give any positive attention you are rewarding the behavior. That includes giving the puppy something else to chew on. Yes, they are teething and yes, they should have appropriate chew toys. Just not you or your clothing and not when you want to pacify them because they are being bad. You are rewarding bad behavior by giving them something they want.
Pulling On Leash: This is a bad habit to let get started. Try to nip it when it starts. If your dog is out in front of you he is the leader. Whether you believe in the concept of leadership or not, with a dog out front he certainly is ignoring you. So, then he is going to key in on things that stimulate him. Other dogs and people or things like skateboards and bicycles become stimulation. Then he can't get to them and he becomes frustrated. Once he starts keying on things he is going to communicate. This is often excitement. When excitement (barking, jumping, more pulling) doesn’t get him what he wants he will accelerate until he is being aggressive. Can you see why this is an activity going down hill?
House breaking or older dog having accidents: If you are having a difficult time house breaking and feel you are giving it all the attention…time…patience…teaching the dog how to signal you it has to go out. Teaching where and when it is time to go potty; then consider there may be a reason why the puppy is having problems. Have your vet check for a UTI. Urinary tract infection. Baby bitch puppies often get these or they have vaginitis (discharge) which can also impede the training. Never discipline a puppy for accidents. A mild scolding and a quick trip outside should be sufficient. Lots and lots of verbal praise for doing the right thing in the right place is always better. Too much scolding or discipline can make things worse, real fast.
If after a month of working on the above and the issues are not improving, then perhaps it is time to consult a professional trainer. Private sessions are usually the best for you and the fastest way to get problems fixed.