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Here's how to help you dog avoid "cabin fever".
When confronted with behavior problems, the first thing to do is increase the dog’s physical and mental energy. Take him for walks and try a new route, bring him along to visit friends and/or family and let him join you when running those errands. Find ways of getting your dog away from the house. These events need not be physically exhausting, but mentally stimulating. Provide your dog with multiple opportunities to use his natural senses by exploring new areas. Even a short walk can give your dog just what he needs.
Taking your dog for a walk is too stressful?
Responsible pet ownership doesn’t include, excuses for not walking your dog because you have deemed it too much hassle. Dogs who pulls and misbehave when passing other dogs, people, etc. create a vicious cycle. You hate trying to walk the dog and the dog’s frustration level builds, which creates an even more problematic dog. End result, the dog stays home and finds other ways to expel energy that you don’t like.
Step up to the plate and take responsibility, learning how to work through your dog’s problem behaviors. If you don’t understand how to properly and effectively train your dog to walk politely then invest in professional help. Dogs need to know how to walk on a leash and when they do, your outings will be most enjoyable.
Tip of the week: Traditional training techniques often use choker chains or pinch collars to keep a dog under control when walking. These methods usually increase your dog’s stress. Enlist the help of a positive reinforcement trainer to teach you and your dog how to achieve an enjoyable walk making those trips fun for all involved!
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Author:
Susan Sharpe: A Certified Dog Trainer with the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a past volunteer board member of the Huntington County Humane Society, Susan is Indiana’s only certified Tellington Touch practitioner (a 2 yr certification course) and continues attending seminars and workshops to further her skills and knowledge. Canine Companion conducts dog training classes in Fort Wayne, Huntington and surrounding communities and behavior consulting nationwide. Along with their combined 30 years experience and endorsement by national organizations, the lead trainers are graduates of Purdue University’s DOGS! Program and have earned the title of Certified Pet Dog Trainer through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers.
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