Dog Obedience Training Tips

Biting and nipping is a common behavioral problem with miniature schnauzers.  This behavior can become very annoying and in severe cases, it can be rather scary and aggressive.  Stopping this behavior is a must.  However, you must start with understanding why your dog bites and then progress to stopping the behavior.

Reasons for Biting

Your miniature schnauzer may bite or nip for many reasons.  You must understand that it really is a natural behavior and that it is a common part of their behavior when interacting with other dogs.  You will probably notice that when there are other dogs around your dog may nip or bite at them to play, greet them or to show their dominance.

Biting and nipping humans may just be the dogs natural inclination and their way of interacting with you.  Sometimes they may bite to tell you they don’t like something you are doing to them.  They may do it to get attention or simply because they are excited.

It is very important to find out the reason behind the biting because the method you use to correct the behavior will be based on why they bite.  You should think about the times your dog has displayed this behavior and try to figure out why.  Most often your dog bites for two main reasons – to get attention or out of fear.

Stopping the Behavior

To stop your miniature schnauzer from biting, you will have to be firm and persistent.  Here are some things that you can do if your dog bites because he is trying to get attention:

-        When your dog bites or nips at you say “stop” or “no bite” in a loud voice, but not yelling.  Make sure you are consistent with what you say so not to confuse the pup.

-        When the pup bites, leave him alone right away.  If you were playing then stop and walk away.  Give him no further attention.

If your dog bites out of aggression and as a defense mechanism then you need to take different steps.  Try the following:

-        Expose your dog to more socialization.  Have him interact more with people or other dogs.

-        Try obedience training where your dog will be taught to overcome anxiety that often leads to biting.

-        Take your dog to new places and try to watch how he behaves. When he shows signs of anxiety, leave and try returning to the new place later.

-        Make sure when you are socializing him or introducing him to new places that you offer a lot of attention and praise.

Over time the methods you are using to correct the biting behavior will start to work.  You will notice that he doesn’t bite as much and it becomes something of the past.  It will take time and patience and you cannot expect him to stop biting completely since it is a natural reaction that is just part of who he is.  However, you can control the behavior so he doesn’t bite when it is inappropriate.

All dogs will have issues with barking. They tend to bark to communicate how they are feeling and what they want. Some dogs bark more then others, however. The Shih Tzu can be over bearing with their barking. When a Shih Tzu is brought into a new home, they will bark and yelp constantly. They do this because they are frightened of their new surroundings and are wanting the attention of their parent or another animal. This barking can be remedied, but it takes work and needs to be done right away. Fixing this issue can also be difficult, not only for the puppy, but for the owner as well. The owner will want to scoop up the pet and calm it down, but this sets a bad president for future learning.

One of the biggest issues that puppies have is a barking habit due to fear of being alone. Most puppies cannot stand to even be in a different room then their people. They are used to having their litter mates, as well as their mother, there with them at all times. Soothing the puppy when they begin this behavior can give the dog the impression that it is okay to bark constantly and loudly to get the attention that they want. The best way to handle to constant barking is to ignore it, if you can, without yelling at the puppy. They are only doing what is in their nature to do and reprimanding them can be detrimental to them.

Yelling at a puppy of any kind can cause your pet to become frightened of you and will not come to you. It is better to use an even tone and not reprimand the pet at all for barking. While you are trying to train your puppy independence around the house, you can use a teaching lead. This will allow the dog to maintain a close distance to you and still be free to move around on its own. If you have to leave the house, try not to leave them alone for too long a period of time to start out. Do it gradually, leaving for longer periods of time each trip. This will slowly get them used to the idea of you being away. When you do leave, do not pet and talk sweetly to your dog as a form of comforting them. This will only add to the confusion for the pet. They will begin to associate the action of petting and talking sweetly to them as meaning that you are going to leave them. Also, do not do it when you come back. It can be equally as confusing.

The best technique for curbing the barking Shih Tzu is the squirt bottle method. When the dog begins to bark when you leave its side, squirt it with a quick shot of water and it will startle it and divert its attention from barking. It also works for barking at inopportune moments. If you want your Shih Tzu to still warn of an approaching person at the door, you can use a method similar with the “quiet” command and treats. However, a barking Shih Tzu is a difficult thing to contend with. They are very stubborn and it takes a lot of work. However, in the end, your neighbors will thank you.

Barking dogs can be a nuisance for the owner, as well as any neighbors that are within hearing range. While barking is a typical form of communication, excessive barking can become a problem. A Yorkshire Terriers bark is usually a higher pitched bark then a larger breed dog, making it even more abrasive. In order to stop excessive barking, understanding the cause for most barking is very important. A Yorkshire Terrier will bark for many reasons. The average barking is meant to warn their humans that there is something that they view as a possible threat. A person at the door, or a dog walking in front of the house, gives the Yorkshire Terrier call for barking. However, they will also bark to get the attention of their human.

Barking as a warning is good and should not be discouraged, only limited. Constant barking at a door bell can become monotonous, however, barking at unwanted intruders is acceptable. Barking at sirens is also another issue with Yorkshire Terriers. There are many different ways to handle this kind of unnecessary barking. Desensitizing training is a recommended method. To do this, simply find the cause of the barking, for instance, a ringing door bell. Have a helper stand outside the door and ring the door bell once every few seconds. When your dog begins barking, give a sit command. Tell the dog that it is okay in a calm and even tone. This shows the dog that you are not afraid and that it is alright for them to stop giving their warning. Whenever your dog stops barking for a few seconds at a time, reward them with a treat. After several times of repeating this, the dog will begin to become desensitized to the sound of the door bell. Continue to give the dog a treat from time to time when they do not bark when the door bell rings.

There are many different ways to stop barking for attention. Ignoring the pet when they bark is one of the most effective ways. While it can be difficult to ignore a barking Yorkshire Terrier, eventually the dog will fall silent. When they do, give them a treat. If they begin barking again, continue to ignore them. Another technique that works for barking at outside stimuli is the squirt bottle method. Whenever they begin unwanted barking, give the dog a quick squirt with a squirt bottle. They will eventually see that barking for no reason will result in an unpleasant sensation and will modify, or correct, the behavior.

You never want your dog to stop barking altogether. This is one of very few forms of communication that a dog has. Getting control of the unnecessary barking, however, is very important. Knowing the triggers for the behavior can help you find the controls to stopping it. Modifying the barking behavior should be taken care at a young age. Yorkshire Terriers are easier to train as puppies and will be more receptive to the behavioral modifications.