6 Ways to Know a Dog's Social Personality

Before acquiring a new dog or puppy, know your preferences when it comes to your new canine buddy’s friendliness level. Each breed of dog has its own common social trait. How friendly or how timid do you want your new dog to be? There are several ways you can test the sociability factor of a dog.

Here’s a simple test. If possible, take the healthy puppy or dog in a place free of distraction then try to talk or communicate to the puppy using affectionate words or whiny, gentle, and high pitched sounds. The reaction of the puppy or dog will somehow reveal a personality which will determine your interaction with your new pet. Check out the common responses that may classify dogs according to their temperament.

Energetic/ hyperactive dog

• Cocks head to one side 
•  Jumps all over you 
• Wags tail, jumps to you, runs around 
•  Nips your hand or legs 
•  Makes yipping sounds

Calm and even-tempered dog

•  Approaches you slowly and may turn away 
•  May snuggle 
• Starts out as alert but will not approach you

Responsive or interactive dog

• Cocks head to one side 
•  Ears move to show alertness 
• May run towards you or jump on you 
•  Playful

Timid dog

•  Backs away or barks at you 
•  May whine back with a timid look 
•  Ears are directed backwards 
•  Approaches you in a crawling or submissive position
• May lick your hands

Aggressive and alpha personality

• Growls and curls lips 
• May lunge at you
• Posture: ears erect, straight tail upward

Aggressive afraid

• Growls and curls lips 
•  defensive but submissive posture: tail down, crouching

 More tips for testing a dogs temperament on the video below.

               

Housebreaking or Housetraining a Grown Dog

It is really hard to housebreak the dog that grows up having no regular lessons in cleanliness or whose training was sloppy. Cases of this type are often the mistake of owners who are too lazy to house-train or who have left the dog solo for long periods of time.

 

Confinement in a shut crate night and day is useful. If you know the dog won't urinate or defecate while you're at home, you could let him out of his crate but keep him under close observation at all times. Or the dog could be leashed to a kitchen table leg or any solid support and taken out when relief is called for. Since the dog does not likes to soil his own quarters, he would be more likely to hold himself when crated or tied up short than when left to roam the house freely. Take him out faithfully at steady intervals: the very first thing in the morning, and the last thing at night, and many times during the day. When he does what is asked of him outside, praise him richly. You may extend a reward of some enjoyed tidbit. As for mistakes, clean them good using soap and water and a commercial odor neutralizes. Scold but don't spank.

 

Allow one person to do the training, when possible, should be the one who feeds him. Let that person available all day and every day as needed. And let the teacher give the dog a great deal of affection. A lot of these hard-to-housebreak dogs had no one to love and no one to please. Every dog would like to please his master; and if given a master, he would want to please him as soon as he realizes how.

 

If housebreaking is delayed beyond a year of age, the dog could be very stubborn; on the other hand, he might catch on really quick. Either way, housebreaking could be done, and is well worth doing. Many a supposed "dirty dog" has been sold for a bargain price simply because it was claimed he couldn't be trusted in the house. Training an older dog takes time, since bad habits should be broken as new ones are acquired.

 

The dog sold as "guaranteed housebroken" might be a problem for a while. Unknown voices, a new bed, and an unfamiliar house and yard can result in a quite homesick animal. Give this dog time to get familiarized. A dog seldom forgets his house manners but he is clearly confused while moved to a new home. Don't hasten the training; your first job is to earn the dog's confidence.

© 2011 Tip Writer

Coprophagy: Stool Eating Behavior of Puppies and Dogs

 Occasionally, a puppy would eat his own or a different dog's stool. This grosses out and disturbs the owner but it doesn't have to become a habit. The dog may just be hungry—puppies are oftentimes ravenous and ready to pick up anything that is available. It might be a good idea, hence, to keep a few dry dog meal or biscuits within your dog's play area for him to nibble on when he abruptly feels like eating.

Inactivity, boredom, and a bit much confinement are additional causes of stool consuming and point to the demand for more attention, more exercise, and a good variety of toys so the dog will have something to drag around. Puppies frequently play with stools. Since ungathered feces could be responsible for the practice, tidy up all bowel movements right away.

 

Stool eating may also ensue from a deficiency of the digestive enzymes amylase, protease, and lipase, causing a dog to eat feces to substitute them.

This detestable habit must be instantly corrected, particularly because a dog can be infected with hookworm, roundworm, or whipworm eggs from eating the stools of other dogs. A sharp "No!" in a fed up tone of voice would stop a puppy while you catch him in the act. Then, naturally, get rid of the stool. A well-balanced diet is all-important. Adding the enzyme papain (contained in meat tenderizers) occasionally discourages the tendency to eat feces. Try to sprinkle a teaspoon of Accent or Adolph's Meat Tenderizer on your dog's food. Your vet can help, too, by giving you an ingredient to add up to the dog's food that would make his stools unpalatable.

© 2011 TW

Training Your Dog to Respect Your Gardens and Lawns

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Coming when called is a really valuable command to teach your dog to maintain your own property line, and to keep him from getting at your own or your neighbor’s garden and shrubbery.

If your place is large walk along the edge once or twice a day; first having your dog on a long leash, then later without the leash. When he begins to go toward the street or into the next yard, say “No!” Curtly, then call him to you and praise him when he comes. Do this many times. If the dog doesn’t obey your command when he’s off leash, get back to using the leash once more.

If this does not work, get someone to assist you. Have him stand outside your hedge, or someplace in the disallowed territory, armed with a shake-can (put five to ten pennies in a clean empty soda can and tape the top) or a couple of empty tin cans. When your dog disregards your command and goes beyond the “boundary line,” have the assistant cry “Go back!,” clatter the cans, and even throw some towards the dog. You’ll, of course, welcome your dog heartily when he comes back to you for “protection.” Such steps, however, are generally unneeded if you take regular boundary walks. Call him to you, on the walks, for a pat or a tidbit every once in a while. Naturally, you should keep in mind that a passing dog or cat, or a female in season on the next block, could cause even the best-intentioned dog to wander from his own yard. Therefore, if you can’t furnish an enclosed area, your dog must never go outdoors unsupervised.

Dogs acquire spring fever and nothing is better to roll in or dig up than the soft earth of a newly sown lawn or a flower garden. If dogs are regularly warned “No!” and called back when they go for your flower garden or special shrubbery, they’ll soon give it a wide berth. A few dousings using a water pistol, a plant mister, or a garden hose will deter not only your own dog, but any strays as well.

The commercial dog repellents or cayenne pepper spread out around plants and shrubbery also will help deter a dog’s attention. The repellents have an odor that a dog disapproves; the pepper will bother his nose and make him sneeze. All such material has to be renewed often, especially after rain. And, naturally, the least trouble is to put up a low wire fence around a garden to keep it from dogs.

© 2011 TW

How to Tame Excessive Barking Behavior of Your Dog

When you acquire a puppy, for several months to come, life will be one lesson after another for your dog, but he would thrive on it. Learning new things restrains him from mischief by giving him something to do, something to expect. Training matures him mentally; and he near wiggles out of his skin having pride when you praise him for work well done.

Your puppy will learn to love you very much; you're his whole world, and when he has anything to say about it, you're not going to leave him alone. To make a long story short, he barks if you go out—the neighbors have complained. This is not acceptable.

The first step is to teach him never to bark unnecessarily. To do this properly, you must first select when the barking is permissible and when it is not. To deter all barking is to limit his value as a watchdog. So you correct only if the dog barks continually and for no obvious reason.

Go to the barker. Do not call him to go to you for correction. Using one hand hold his muzzle tightly shut even when it hurts. Use the other hand to finger-point as you state "Quiet!" Correct your dog each time he barks overly. Sometimes a few such sessions will be sufficient, but if the bad habit is of long standing, or the dog is unusually stubborn, then something more dramatic than the muzzle grip has to be utilized. You could surprise the yappy one into silence by way of a harsh sound—drop a tin or frying pan. A shake-can may also be rattled at the dog as you command "Quiet!" To create one, put five to ten pennies in a clean soda can and tape the top. The noise made by shaking the can would distract your dog and make him stop barking. This lesson can also be instructed with success by squirting him using water from a water pistol or plant mister.

When you teach the "Quiet!" lesson, the dog will continue to be quiet when you are with him, but the minute you're out of sight, he'll perhaps start barking again. Pet owners who reside apartments or settled communities must make certain their dogs behave when left behind. So put on your hat and coat and allow the dog to think you are going out. Order him to "Bed!" or "Place!" Using an old sweater of yours to lie on, then say simply and slowly, "Quiet!" and make believe you are leaving the house or apartment. When the door is shut, stay close by.

Do not let the dog fool you, however, by stealing to the door and smelling out the fact that you are waiting on the other side. That's why you ordered him to "Place!" -- to keep him off the door. As soon as your dog begins to bark or cry or howl, open the door straightaway, rush back inside, and lecture him using a firm jerk of his collar and the command "Quiet!" You may have to reiterate this performance several times, and you could find yourself spending what appears like hours just outside your door waiting for the barks to start out. But keep at it until you're sure your dog has learned the lesson. Leaving him for brief periods at first will likewise let him understand that you're going to come back. Whenever he feels guaranteed of your return, he will learn to be content alone. Young puppies that have learned this in the cradle, so to speak, seldom have to be trained to stay alone restfully.

Some Weird Habits in Male Dogs

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The male dog’s testicles must be descended and visible by 7-10 months old. If they have not come down, or if only one can be viewed, consult your veterinarian.

The urge of nearing maturity sometimes makes a male dog to start the objectionable habit of riding your arm or ankle when overexcited in play. And it's rather normal for male puppies to mount other pets, kids, and even furniture and become sexually aroused. The great way to deal with this is to hold the dog by the collar, give him a quick shake, and state "No!" sharply. When he attempts the trick on someone or something else, push him aside and then give the command.

 

Since kids and dogs like to roughhouse together, dogs regrettably misbehave in this manner more often with kids than with adults. Parents must instruct their children accordingly. When they actually witness it happening, they must simply state, "Don't let Bover do that!" There's no need for parents to be humiliated at such a time, however. Animals are animals, and they frequently show their sexual feelings, particularly prior to reaching puberty. On the brighter side, when the dog is completely grown, he'll generally outgrow the habit. If he does not, ask your vet about having him spayed. If you don't intend to use a male for breeding, it is inconsiderate to keep him sexually frustrated.

By Tip Writer