Dog Obedience Training Tips

All dogs enjoy digging. There are many reasons for this, but the most common is that it gives them something to do. Yorkshire Terriers, like all terrier breeds, were originally bred for hunting and for catching vermin, such as mice and rats. Later, people stopped using them for hunting vermin and made them lap pets. While they make excellent companions, the desire to dig was still there. A Yorkshire Terrier will dig anywhere that there is access to any kind of dirt or sand. It very difficult to teach them not to dig, however, it is easier to do so as a puppy.

Training a Yorkshire Terrier not to dig can begin with a simple control of the access that the dog has to an area to dig. If you watch your dog while you are walking, he will be less likely to dig at all. However, when the owner is not around, the Yorkshire Terrier will start digging again. If you are taking your dog out for a walk to go to the bathroom, do only that. Once they have finished going to the bathroom, take them back inside. Ensuring that they do not have a chance to dig is the first key to training them not to dig.

You can also keep them from digging by using a distraction method. When you see them digging, get their attention with a toy. Toys that keep them busy, like dogs toys that can hide treats inside them, will keep their minds occupied long enough that they will not think about digging. You will also want to keep a close eye on your Yorkshire Terrier. Do not leave him outside alone, even if your yard is fenced in. A dog that is left alone will get bored and will dig under the fence and run away. Keeping your dog well occupied can keep your dog from developing further behavioral issues.

It is best to reward your dog for any good behavior that they display. Having the opportunity to dig and not taking the opportunity deserves a reward. Stopping the behavior on a command also will merit a reward. However, you must first start a base of commands. Association techniques can also help. When your Yorkshire Terrier begins to dig, give a sharp, sudden sound that startles them. The sound of a fog horn can do the trick. Just a short burst of noise and the dog will eventually associate digging with a scary noise. When they come to you after being startled, reward them for not digging. After a time, the actions will begin to be associated with positive behavior and the negative behavior will be modified.

Once your dog has learned not to dig, it is still not a good idea to leave them in a yard alone. They may begin to exhibit some of the same behavior and will begin digging again. Keep your pet well occupied and inside when you are not home. This is the best way to ensure that the Yorkshire Terrier will not dig at the yard.

Biting issues with Yorkshire Terriers are common, but can be easy to remedy. There are many causes for the biting behavior. A lot of the behavior problems in Yorkshire Terriers begin as a puppy. Starting young on correcting behavioral patterns can help out a great deal. Many of the reasons for biting include teething as a puppy, fear or pain, and even being territorial. These are all bad habits that need to be addressed immediately. While Yorkshire Terriers have small mouths, their teeth are incredibly sharp.

Yorkshire Terrier puppies that are teething tend to want to chew and bite anything that they can get their tiny mouths on. It is during this time that it is best to train your dog what to bite and what not to bite to avoid any issues with biting in the future. A teething puppy grows their teeth in stages over a period of time. Within the first month of life, they will begin growing their puppy teeth. Once the teeth have finished growing in, there will be a total of twenty-eight teeth. Between four and seven months, they will begin losing their puppy teeth, which will be replaced with forty-two adult teeth. These teeth will start with the incisors at four months old and will continue with the canines at five months and the molars at six months. By ten months old, all of the adult teeth should be fully grown. It is in this time that they will want to bite and chew on anything and everything in their path.

The best way to handle a teething puppy is by the use of chew toys. Keeping chew toys that can be frozen is good for the puppies teeth. It will provide something positive to chew on and it will help with the pain of exposed nerves. The most important thing to do is keep anything that can harm the puppy, such as electrical cords, shoes, and anything small, out of reach. Some Yorkshire Terrier puppies will seek to chew on their owners hands to relieve the pain. This is not a good behavioral pattern and needs to stopped before it really gets started. The best way to do this is, when your Yorkshire Terrier puppy starts to chew on your hand, shout “ouch”, or something similar, rather loudly and pull your hand away. When a Yorkshire Terrier puppy is with their litter mates, they become accustomed to having their litter mates yelping when they are bitten while playing. Immediately put a teething toy with your dog and praise them when they start to bite and chew on it.

Biting in adults can be a bit more difficult to remedy. First, you will need to know what is causing the behavior. Yorkshire Terriers will bite out of aggression if they feel that their territory is being invaded. This over protective behavior should be stopped right away. The best way to handle this is by using the same techniques you would use on an unruly toddler. The time out technique is actually quite effective. When your dog bite you or nips at you out of aggression, remove him from the area that he is protecting and put him in a room by himself, preferably a bathroom, for a short period of time. At the end of that time, take him out of time out and put him back in the place that was problematic. If he still bites, repeat the process until the behavioral issues stop.

However, if your Yorkshire Terrier is biting for a different reason, you must find what the problem is. Using other behavioral ques, you can decide whether the issue is internal or external. If he is hiding more often, or does not want to be picked up or held, he may be injured, in pain, or sick. Dogs do not outwardly show it when they are sick or in pain. It is animal logic that showing pain or illness means showing weakness and another animal may take advantage of that. Using the behavioral ques, you can determine whether or not to take your Yorkshire Terrier to the Vet. Sometimes, however, to modify the behavior of a dog, we must examine the behavior of the human. If you are acting outwardly aggressive towards your dog, especially while it is backed into a corner, it will most likely bite you. Be mindful of how you manage your pet. Some behavior are instinctual and cannot be stopped by simple training.

Beagles are bred hunters and are trained to be scent hounds. Therefore, they are naturally accustomed to bellowing a deep and throaty baying bark when they sight game. For this reason, beagles tend to be loud dogs. Although the domestic beagle is most likely not being used for hunting, it will still want to utilize these typical beagle habits. A lot of pet owners, as well as some vets, believe that barking is something to be ceased at any cost. This is not exactly a good way of viewing the issue of barking. Dogs tend to bark for many different reasons and taking away there only means of communication can be detrimental to the animals mental and physical well being.

Most beagles bark simply because they enjoy the sound of their own voices. A lot of times, they are bored and will bay to voice their disapproval. Also, the sound of their barking, as well as the sensation of it is pleasing to the beagle. They will also bay loudly to signal their human that it is meal time and they are hungry. They will also bark if they need to go out. Beagles are also very protective of their territory and are very alert. If something seems to be going on outside, or seems unusual, or if they hear or smell people outside, they will bark a warning to their human as much as to whomever, or whatever, is outside. They will do the same anytime they see another dog.

A bored beagle will sometimes get obnoxious with their intense barking when they are wanting their humans attention. Getting the attention of their person is not necessarily a bad thing. It is generally a good sign that the beagle wants the interaction. However, they can start to use the communication as a way of manipulation to get what they want, like extra food or more attention. If the owner has given in to these actions before, the beagle is most likely to attempt the same behavior again. It is not acceptable to allow the beagle to determine the time of the affection and food. That should be up to the owner.

All dogs need some form of stimulation, including lots of exercise, company, toys, and even games. They also need the company of other dogs to keep them content. The best ways to keep a beagle from barking obnoxiously is keep your beagle happy and occupied. Do not leave your beagle alone for a long period of time. You can also try praising silence. Any time your beagle does not bark when they normally would, praise them and give a reward. This will enforce a time and need for vocalization. Whenever a beagle barks for manipulation purposes, it is best to simply ignore them. Any form of reinforcement at that point can be construed by the dog as a positive reinforcement. When the beagle begins acting in this unwanted behavior, ignore it until they stop. Once the beagle has stopped barking, praise him for being silent.

It is better to channel a beagles extra barking then it is to stop it altogether. Teach the beagle to bark on command. This will help in enforcing when it is acceptable to bark and when it is not. It will also teach the beagle to be quiet when the command for to be quiet is given. Getting your pet to understand when it is good to bark and when it is not can be more beneficial, and easier, then teaching the beagle not to bark at all.

Digging is a very common behavior in beagles. They are a hunting breed and are prone to digging to get to what the scent that they are tracking. They, like all dogs, will also dig if bored. There are very few things that can be done to eliminate digging altogether. However, there are ways to modify the behavior. Most behavioral issues are a simple matter of reprimanding, but only when the timing is right. Reprimanding the pet after they have committed the offense only proves to confuse them. It is more important to catch the animal in the act of digging and punishing them then.

Preventative measures to save the needless destruction of your yard can be taken. Covering the ground with small rocks will cause your pet some minor discomfort in their paws, but will not overtly harm them, it will just be an unpleasant feeling. Spreading ground pepper over the ground can also deter most dogs because the smell is offensive, especially to beagles, who’s breed is entirely dependent on their sense of smell. Another way to deter the need to dig in inappropriate places is to place chicken wire in your plant beds, around the plants and bushes that you need protected. You can also place it under the ground in the area that your pet prefers to dig.

Digging in the ground will expose cooler earth, and during the warmer months of the year, this can be very important to dogs, who will dig holes and lay in them to keep cool. It is necessary for dogs to have enough shade and plenty of cool water to stay healthy in the heat. To help stop the occurrences of digging for cool soil, ensure that your pet has plenty of shade and lots of water to drink. It is also a good idea to fill a shallow child’s pool with water and leave it near your pet to splash about in and keep cool, as well as entertained.

Boredom can lead to many unwanted behaviors, like excessive barking and, of course, digging. For companionship-oriented pets such as dogs, especially beagles, being left alone for long periods of time can be terribly boring. Beagles need to have something that stimulates their mind and their bodies. One solution to the bored pet is to take them for a brisk walk for the day. Start the morning with a good walk with your pet. Make sure that they are well exercised. Thirty minutes to an hour walk is ample. This will ensure that your pet sleeps during some of that time that it will be home alone. You can also ask a neighbor that you trust to take your pet for a walk while you are away, or to pet sit for you and keep your beagle company.

There are many different ways to ensure that your beagle does not become a digging problem. Ensuring that they are well entertained is one of the more simple ways to do this. A bored pet is more likely to dig then a pet that is being played with. Also, make sure that your beagle has everything that they need to stay cool in the summer months. Keeping them out of areas where you do not want them to dig can help preserve the plant beds that are around the house, as well as keep your yard looking beautiful and hole free.

Chewing is a common issue among all dogs, especially when they are puppies. As puppies, dogs chew to discover new things. They also chew when they are teething. While it is normal, it is not a good behavior. It is best to stop it at an early age, preferably while the dog is a puppy. With Shih Tzu dogs, the chewing habit as a puppy can become progressively destructive the older the dog gets. Having chew toys around for any dog is an excellent way to save your precious items. It serves as a distraction and can also serve as a soothing teething toy for puppies.

Any time you catch the puppy chewing on something they are not supposed to, replace it with a toy that is appropriate. For a puppy, make sure that their toys are intriguing and they will not get bored with them. Having several different types of toys can be useful. It is also good to have a few toys that can be filled with treats that the pet can chew out. It is also beneficial to put a soft chew toy in the freezer for several hours. A frozen chew toy is good for puppies that are teething. It will help sooth the pain of the nerves in the mouth. It also good to praise the puppy every time it plays with one of its special chew toys. It could also serve to your advantage to train your puppy to get a chew toy when ever it greets someone. This encourages the dog to not chew on unwanted things out of excitement and to find something constructive to chew on, instead. It is also a good idea to keep things out of the reach of the Shih Tzu puppy that you do not want to be.

Shih Tzu are notorious for chewing out of boredom. Keeping a Shih Tzu from displaying this form of chewing behavior can be somewhat difficult. Spraying items that you do not want to be chewed on with a bitter no-chew spray can help keep them from being destroyed. You can also use chili sauce, pepper, or anything else that is non-toxic to your dog, but will leave an unpleasant smell or taste. Ultimately, changing the behavior of a Shih Tzu sometimes means changing the behavior of the owner. It is best to make sure that your Shih Tzu does not get bored. They are social animals and need someone to play with them regularly. Keeping them occupied during the day can be beneficial. Tire them out early so that they sleep through most of their boredom. Keeping a Shih Tzu well entertained is best. Doggy day cares, as well as dog sitters can help. If you cannot find a doggy day care or a pet sitter in your area, you can use a small kennel with a blanket and their favorite chew toys to keep your house from being devastated by a bored Shih Tzu with a chewing fetish.