Dog Training Tips

Wild dogs grow up in dog packs and become socialized virtually when born. A dog interacts with others and learns body language and verbal cues. The pack has strong boundaries, and the puppies soon understand the strong leaders of the pack or they get discarded.

Domestic dogs start to socialize when they’re in the litter and after coming into contact with people. That early socialization period lasts four to 12 weeks, during which a dog has social skills permanently imprinted, and each interaction with people or dogs is a positive one.

Socialization generally continues on into a puppy’s adulthood. However, there are lots of new owners who adopt older dogs that didn’t become socialized in their early life.

When an owner brings home an adult dog, it’s essential to learn how much he has been socialized (or not). His early contact with you will be an indicator. Does he behave aggressively or is he fearful? Does he warn you with raised hackles or does he back off as you approach?

When you walk him, is he nervous around other sights and sounds? Is he shy when near other dogs and/or people? If you notice any of these signals, he probably wasn’t properly socialized. The good news is that you can do it for him.

Do I need to Socialize My Senior Dog?

For some dogs, the opportunity to experience socialization only arrives once it’s too late.

Without proper exposure during their puppy days – between seven weeks and four months old – many woofs are left struggling with a lack of essential skills like communication or interacting well with others once they enter their new homes as adults.

Even if these lessons have been learned before, sustained repetition and continuation throughout everyday life is necessary for those same skills to be recovered forever due to isolation. Does their behavior indicate they need to brush up on their social skills?

Signs like fearfulness or aggression towards people and animals, cowering as you approach, nervousness when out for a walk, being shy around other dogs/people, and overly excited reactions are telltale clues that it’s time to start the process of socializing your adult pup.

Signs Your Senior Dog Requires Socialization Include:

• Does your adult dog seem uneasy when around people or other animals?
• Do they back away when strangers approach?
• Raise their hackles (hair on the back)?
• Get overly excited and cause anxiety in others?

These are all telltale signs that it’s time to start socializing! It may be intimidating at first, but with patience and dedication, you can create an enjoyable bonding experience for you and your fur child. Let’s explore how we can make this happen!

Benefits of Socializing Your Older Dog

Socializing your adult dog is one of the most valuable gifts you can give them. Doing so will make their life brighter, more comfortable, and more relaxed than ever!

There are many additional advantages to consider:

You’ll feel secure knowing they won’t run away due to stress at the sound or sight of strangers; adding a new dog (or pet) becomes easier with socialization. Even introducing children into the family down the line proves simpler if proper steps have been taken prior!

It pays off for furry friends and owners alike when dogs get along – remember this doggone important factor.

How To Socialize An Older Dog

Socializing an older dog doesn’t have to be a challenge! We have tips to give your pup new experiences and open up their world. With patience, love, and positive reinforcement – you can help them become more confident in social situations of all kinds!

Teaching an older pup the ropes of socialization requires patience and consistency – like a marathon, not a sprint. As you work through introductions to new people or environments, keep in mind that progress takes time; it’s best to go at the pooch’s own pace!

How to Socialize an Old Dog Top Tips:

Every Dog Needs Some Breathing Room!

Socialization for dogs is key, but letting strangers get too close can be frightening and overwhelming. Show your furry friend that you’ve got their back by gradually introducing them to new people at a pace where they feel comfortable. Take the time today – it’s never too late – and watch as little paw steps turn into confidence & joy in no time!

Take Your Senior Dog On Walks

New experiences can be beneficial for adult dogs. Frequent walks provide opportunities to become familiar with different sights, sounds, and smells and meet friendly humans and animals along the way!

To ensure a positive experience when encountering something new, redirect your pooch’s attention if they are barking or acting out. Changing direction will help them cool off so that you can continue your enjoyable walk.

Why not gather your closest companions and warmly welcome them in an environment tailored to suit your pup? Let the pooch take all the time they need for sniffing around, exploring, and deciding whether these guests can be trusted – if there’s no approach from their side, don’t hesitate to share some delectable treats as proof of friendly intentions. With everyone on board with staying calm, positive vibes will fill the atmosphere, ensuring happy moments for all!

Expose Your Senior Dog to New Experiences

Expand your pup’s horizons and give them an eye-opening experience by introducing something new. Find a friend to don the most fashionable hats or lure in a skateboarder for some slick tricks—whatever gets Fido interested!

Need help finding volunteers? That’s okay; open up their world from afar with safe perspectives, like watching other dogs playing at the park when you remain 100 feet away (but still close enough to get plenty of treats!).

Allow Your Dog To Set The Pace

Let curiosity be your dog’s guide! Help them safely explore the unknown by standing beside them and giving encouragement through treats. Allow your dog to take their time as they investigate, moving forward leisurely while keeping an eye on any signs of distress from getting too close.

Instead of bombarding your pup with multiple unfamiliar situations, focus on introducing them to just one new experience at a time. Keeping the number of unknowns minimal for your canine companion can help create an environment that’s less intimidating and more enjoyable.

Don’t push it if your canine companion seems agitated or scared.

Visit Dog Parks

Dogs love socializing, and a local dog park is a perfect place! However, your four-legged friend may be too anxious or old to dive into that excitement immediately.

Make their first introduction positive and stress-free by taking things slow – walk around the park’s perimeter and let them watch from afar until they feel more comfortable.

Gradually approach closer as you give treats when your pup reacts in a friendly way; however, move back again if showing any signs of aggression or nervousness. Don’t worry about having one bad experience either; with patience, frequent visits can turn even a scaredy cat pooch into an excited regular at doggie central!

Keep a Positive Outlook

Regarding managing your senior dog in tense or unfamiliar situations, attitude is everything. Your pooch mirrors how you feel, so remain composed and self-assured even when they seem anxious.

Avoid rewarding any scared behavior with cuddles as this will only encourage fearfulness – show your older dog there’s no need for alarm by staying calm!

So take charge – set an example for them by appearing unfazed no matter the situation. Lead on bravely, and they won’t have anything to worry about; after all – when we feel secure, so will they!

Dog Calming Aids

Give your pup some much-needed relief with calming aids! These specially designed products can drastically reduce stress and help keep Fido happy. Make sure to check in with the vet first, though—it’s always best to be safe regarding our furry friends’ health.

Obtain Professional Help

Are you struggling to train your pup? Consider seeking help from an experienced canine coach or taking them to a doggie daycare for some socialization and guidance.

Older Dog

15 Tips for Socializing an Older Dog with Other Dogs

Take your dog out to observe.

• Visit a dog park but only sit or stand at the entrance. Don’t enter.
• Let him watch other dogs and see how they behave.
• Whenever a dog approaches you, give your dog a treat. This helps create a positive relationship with other canines.
• If your dog becomes aggressive when watching other dogs, move him away and slowly move back once he is calm.

Resist tugging while walking.

While you’re taking him for a walk, another dog may cross his field of vision, so try to resist yelling and don’t jerk his lead. This will only create a negative experience. Distract your dog with a toy or yummy treat. Command him to watch you and praise him lavishly when he does.

Attend obedience class.

Dog obedience class is a terrific method for socializing your adult dog even before you have play dates and/or park visits. He’ll learn new commands, and he’ll often be distracted. Talk to the trainer about the problem and she’ll assist you in making introductions to other dogs in that class in a slower manner. It’s also good because that’s a safe place to do it.

Socializing an adult dog with people.

Your family will be the first people to help your dog socialize. It must be done slowly and patiently. People and dogs speak different languages so you’ll be in the same boat.

Ignore your dog.

If he runs and hides, don’t chase and drag him out of his hiding place. Ignore him instead. Do something that will entice him to come out. Fry some bacon or play with his favorite toy. Dogs are naturally curious and social and you’ll find that he’ll quickly get bored from being alone and will come running. Give him a little bacon as a reward for coming out.

Act casually.

For example, if your teenager comes into the kitchen with a massive pimple on his nose, ignore it and pretend there’s nothing wrong. Act the same way with your dog; pretend his behavior isn’t a big deal and, that way, you’ll form a much calmer environment. Don’t make a fuss if he dashes through your legs to greet the postman at the front door.

Introduce your dog to new people SLOWLY.

Only introduce a single person to your dog per week. When they first meet your dog, ensure they have a pocket full of treats and give one to your dog while talking in a slow, happy, encouraging voice. Never use a high-pitched voice because that will only get him excited. Your dog needs to be on his leash and don’t make him go near the new person. Allow him time to do so.

The key to socializing any adult dog is that each experience should be positive and good, using treats and praise to help it work the way you want. This isn’t the right time or place for corrections, making him feel more nervous. Eventually, your new pet will finally relax and acknowledge his new home and outside environments, and he’ll finally be a treasured family member.

Socializing an Older Dog Conclusion

Socializing an older dog can be daunting, but the rewards for dog owners of having a happy and confident companion are well worth it! Through lots of repetition and consistency, provide your pup with calm and loving reassurance as they adjust to new situations.

By following the tips outlined in this post, like exposing him to different kinds of people and situations in a positive way, providing regular play, exercise, and training opportunities with reinforcement of correct behaviors, and using rewards-based methods to interact with your senior dog, you can nurture his social skills regardless of his age.

Establishing yourself as a trusted leader is also highly important. With patience and consistency, you’ll be able to help your older dog become more comfortable with human contact and get him out of his shell to find joy in social environments.

Most importantly — don’t forget to shower him with love! When given a chance and proper guidance, he may eventually surprise you with how quickly he adapts to new people and places.

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Is your pup howling when you’re away? Don’t fret – it’s often possible to get to the heart of why they bark and train them to stay peaceful with some care and effort.

Unraveling this puzzle takes a bit of time but can be done – so don’t give up on helping Fido find his chill!

Is your pup driving you crazy with incessant barking when you’re away for the day? As an owner, it can be hard to leave them alone and hope they won’t misbehave! Do you complain, “my dog barks all day while I am at work?

Check out this guide from Canine Pals for the best tips and tricks to stop your pup from constantly barking throughout the day while home alone.

Your neighbor tells you that your dog barks all day while you’re at work. You won’t want to believe him…at first. You know that if you were home and a dog barked all day, you wouldn’t like it either. One large aspect of being a conscientious owner of a dog is to make sure the way he behaves doesn’t negatively affect other people.

You know you can’t stay home from work and don’t want to be evicted. You also don’t want unhappy neighbors. However, you must stop your dog barking immediately, so what can you do?

How To Stop Barking Dog When Left Alone

The first step is to identify the trigger for his barking:

Why Do Dogs Bark When Left Alone?

• The puppy might be bored.
• The dog may hear or see things or people outside.
• He may be anxious and suffering from separation anxiety.
• Some dogs struggle with feelings of abandonment.
• Your dog may require exercise or even a toilet break.
• Maybe there has been a recent change in his life, such as moving to a new home or changing his schedule.

Is your dog barking all day while you are at work? This could be a sign of distress or boredom. Dogs bark to communicate, and when they are left alone, they can become anxious or lonely and start barking to try to get attention.

When it comes to dogs barking when left alone, the reasons can be varied. Dogs might bark simply out of boredom or loneliness, as this is a natural way to express their feelings.

They may also bark if they are anxious or scared due to being left alone in an unfamiliar environment. Additionally, some dogs will bark if they try to communicate with what they perceive as another pet or person in the home. Some dog breeds, such as the Basenji, do not bark but yodel instead.

Fortunately, some steps can be taken to prevent your dog from barking when left alone. For example, providing plenty of toys and activities entertains the dog and reduces stress and anxiety.

How To Stop a Dog From Barking When Left Alone- The Top Tips

• Begin with regular exercise. If your dog is young and energetic, he’s probably not getting enough exercise. Don’t underestimate how much exercise he needs. Two 30-minute walks each day won’t be enough to tire him out. Some dog breeds need plenty of vigorous exercise for around two hours every day! Get up earlier each morning and take him for a long walk. That’s good exercise for both of you and once he’s tired, he’ll likely have naps during the day. Exercise isn’t just great for your pup’s physical health – it can also help create a deep connection between you and them. A regular workout routine boosts their sense of security when they are left alone, making solo time easier for both of you!
• Locate a good dog walker who will come to your home and walk your dog around lunchtime to break the monotonous feeling of being alone every day.
• Although it can be expensive, doggie daycare is a possibility. Your pet will be happy to be with other animals and ready to sleep once you take him home. It’s cheaper than moving house or fixing the damage a bored dog may cause.
• Let a pet sitter take care of your pup while you’re away. Not only can they watch over your canine companion, but their presence also helps to subdue any excessive barking and ensure peace in the household!
• Spend more time training him. It will have to be when you’re at home. Working with him to stimulate both body and mind, you’ll build a stronger bond with your beloved pet. The training will help to make his life a better quality one.
• Decrease what he can see outside. While people hate being unable to look outside, dogs try everything possible to get to what they see. If it’s “out of sight, out of mind,” your dog won’t try to bark or get out because he can’t see anything.
• Leave the TV on or play music for your dog to listen to. There are special CDs made for this very reason.
• Give him lots of things to keep him occupied. Food puzzle toys are ideal. They have kibble or other treats inside, and your dog can be kept busy for hours. Ensure the toy can’t get stuck under furniture, or he may start demolishing things to get at it.
• If you have a fenced garden, never leave him outside. He may consider your home his territory and guard it with his barking, trying to scare people away. Create a play area inside full of toys to keep him happy.
• Is barking something new he’s doing? As dogs get older, they may have some loss of hearing and/or sight. Their mental acuity may diminish, and anxiety may kick in. While he won’t need as much physical exercise, many other tips may still help. Ensure his bed is soft and cozy.
• If your dog gets sufficient exercise and stimulation and nothing stops the barking, perhaps the issue is separation anxiety. This isn’t an easy problem to fix.
• Don’t make lots of noise when you leave and return. Leave for short periods and increase the time gradually as he adjusts. Place one of your unwashed shirts on his bed. The scent can make him feel more secure.
• Crate Training: Give your pup some solo time while you’re still at home – create a cozy corner or pop them in the crate for some relaxation. With some patience and dedication, your pup will soon be comfortable spending time in their crate. This can help them get used to being alone so they’re better prepared for when you need to leave the house.
• Give your pup a fur-ever friend by getting another canine companion! For dog owners looking to provide their pup an extra dose of love and companionship, having a canine buddy around is the perfect solution! Having another dog in the house can often prevent any negative behaviors due to loneliness. Finding a playmate for your dog can benefit their physical and mental well-being. Make sure you choose a pup that is the right size, energy level, and temperament so they get along harmoniously!
• Your vet can give you anti-anxiety medication or other calming products to help. Treating your pup’s anxiety can be tricky. Fortunately, supplements are a helpful way to ease their worries! From CBD derived from hemp plants, relaxing chamomile, and calming L-theanine found in green tea leaves – there is no shortage of soothing ingredients that may be just the right fit for Fido. Pick wisely, though – each dog has different needs for finding blissful serenity!
• Find a professional dog trainer. A great trainer can help you and your pup achieve peace – teaching them to be quieter when alone! These results are possible through the use of behavior modification, along with positive reinforcement. With their expert aid, harmony in your home is within reach.

Can a Dog Get Sick From Barking and Howling?

Excessive barking and howling can indicate mental or physical health issues in dogs. Pay attention to your pup’s vocalizing habits, as too much could indicate underlying severe problems.

Dogs bark and howl for various reasons, such as play, boredom, fear, or aggression. When these behaviors become excessive, it could signal that something else is wrong with the pup.

Excessive barking or howling may indicate depression, anxiety, pain, or illness. If your pup is displaying these behaviors more than normal, it would be wise to have them examined by a veterinarian to determine if there is any medical cause behind their behavior.

Are There Laws Against Barking Dogs?

Could your pup’s persistent barking lead to a legal violation? It may be possible. If their vocalizations are overly loud and disruptive, you might be in breach of the noise ordinance. Also, if the excessive yapping is causing distress for those living nearby, it could even count as nuisance behavior punishable by law.

Violating either of these ordinances may have serious repercussions, including hefty fines or other penalties. In extreme cases, dog owners risk losing a beloved pet could be a potential outcome.

Taking control of your pup’s nuisance barking is just as crucial for their well-being – and yours! Invest in a solution that works best for you both.

How To Stop Dog Barking When Left Alone Conclusion

By following the steps highlighted in this article, you should be on your way to helping your pup adjust to being left alone more confidently. Remember that it is normal for dogs to bark when they’re nervous around new people or left alone at home.

With persistence and dedication, you can start training your dog to relax while waiting for its owner’s return. It takes time, but with patience and follow-through, controlling your pup’s barking can soon become more accessible and more natural.

Additionally, reaching out to animal behavior specialists may help give you additional suggestions for your dog. Try some of these tips; they will make a huge difference!

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Why not give DIY dog training a go? It’s an easy way to get the hang of things, and maybe you can make your pup more well-trained in no time at all without the help of a professional dog trainer. It is essential to commence the positive reinforcement training process with your puppy as soon as possible.

Regardless of what kind of pup you own, a dog training program is essential. Your puppy needs it to learn basic commands, how to bark at the mailman, and sit when they’re told so that one day soon, he can be a good citizen.

The time for getting started on proper obedience has never been riper; with today’s technology-heavy lifestyle, many rely heavily upon their pets as working partners or even therapy animals.

Proper socialization and proper behavior are among the basics for all dogs, but it’s especially vital in puppies who have not yet learned how society works. If you’re ready to get started on this journey with Fido, then be sure to check out our blog post.

DIY Dog Training Quick Facts

• DIY dog training is an easy and effective way to help your pup become a well-trained companion.
• Training should be positive, upbeat, and enjoyable for you and your pup.
• Basic obedience training commands like “sit” or “stay” are essential for all dogs.
• Positive reinforcement using treats or praise can motivate good behavior in dogs during training sessions that should remain short but frequent.
• Teaching complex tasks such as walking off the leash will require draining some energy beforehand to set themselves up for success when they respond correctly with rewards given within half a second of the command being issued.
• End each session on a positive note by rewarding him with something he enjoys, such as food, petting, or attention, so that he understands the link between good behavior and reward before moving on to more complicated aspects of puppy training, which also involve shaping his responses into what you expect from him over time while gradually weaning them off food treats until they obey without needing them at all times even if there are distractions around tempting them away from obeying you!

DIY Dog Training List

Fun Dog Training Program

Training must be enjoyable for your dog and also for you. If you’re not in a good mood, don’t bother because your dog will know. Sessions should only be a short time so your dog will remain motivated.

Don’t reward him if he doesn’t respond properly when you give a command several times. Then try again but use an easier command. Go back to the more challenging task a bit later.

Always finish the training positively. Give a command you already know he will always obey. Then reward him for doing it well and finish commands such as “release” or “free.” Don’t use ordinary words like “okay.”

You and your dog should feel like you have achieved something at the session’s end.

Teaching Dog Basic Obedience Commands

All dogs should know the most basic of obedience commands. You can add: stop it, leave it, enough, leave it, or cease. Remember that a dog is less motivated as the tasks grow more complicated.

Your success rate will depend on how sophisticated the command is and how motivated your dog will be to respond. Look at it from your dog’s point of view. Is it more appealing to chase that squirrel or return to you? Understanding this will greatly improve your patience and the level of success you reach.

Dog training techniques should never contain any punishment or negative elements of training. You can’t hit, hang, chain jerk, yell, and never use an electric shock. Every training period should be positive, happy, and upbeat, and reward your dog for things he does well. PUNISHMENT is NOT the opposite of reward; it’s NO reward.

Ignore wrong responses from your dog, and if he fails to respond, he gets no rewards. Positive reinforcement is the only way to train dogs. Most dogs are keen to make their owners happy and to receive valued resources such as food, toys, and attention.

Positive Reinforcement Training

The biggest reward you give your dog must be one he gets for doing well during training. If the reward is food, it’s better to train prior to his meal and not after he has eaten.

If you use petting, praise, and other elements of your focus as rewards, have a positive reinforcement training session when your dog craves your attention. An example would be if you just got home from work.

Dog walking rules can include on and off-leash behaviors. If you plan complicated aspects of training, such as him not being on the leash and you use the “down-stay” command, ensure you have already given him moderate exercise to drain some of his energy. Then it will be easier to make him stay in a reclining position and avoid setting yourself up for failure in the early training stages.

Good Treats to Give Dog When Training

Using food as a reward will work if it’s your dog’s favorite food. Dogs motivated by food will perform better than if it isn’t used. Freeze-dried liver and small bits of cheese are usually favorites, but you know your dog, so choose his favorites. You aim to be strong as you motivate your pet to obey all commands so he gets a delicious treat.

If food treats are used, they MUST be very small, about the size of the fingernail of your smallest finger. The food’s texture should be easy to digest, not need chewing and not crumble so it won’t make a mess.

If any of these things happen, your dog’s attention will be distracted as he licks up every crumb he can find. Never use large foods as treats because they take much longer to consume, and concentration is lost.

Puppy Training Treats

Details of some of the better puppy training treats available on Amazon:

Dog Training With Treats vs. Praise

If you intend to vocalize praise for a reward, do it in a singsong tone of voice instead of using a treat, as this is very pleasant for dogs. Make sure your voice is enthusiastic because that lifts the dog’s mood. If you pat him, choose the best options he likes. This includes tummy rubs, parting the dog behind his ears, and gently stroking his face.

Note: Most dogs dislike patting their heads, so find out if this describes your dog.

It would be best if you timed the reward for the best advantage. If your dog has done as you wanted, reward him within half a second of that command, so your dog understands the link between good behavior and the reward for doing so.

Using Dog Training Commands

When choosing a word, only say it once. Examples include: off, out, quiet, sit, leave it, down, and quiet. A dog can remember your command for approx two minutes before forgetting it. Short words are ideal for most commands.

There’s only one command with three words. The first is your dog’s name. As an example, his name is ROVER. Then you’ll say a one or two-word command—for example, ROVER. Then you say the name or another syllable. For example, Rover! Then “SIT.”

Put the leash on your dog and get his focus, so he’s looking right at you while you’re looking right at him. Then use an action word such as SIT.

A dog that’s not trained very well may slowly sit and, when he does, quickly reward him with praise…Say, GOOD BOY, ROVER. Also, remember to say it with all your heart and in a high tone whilst simultaneously rewarding him.

If a dog hasn’t been trained, you’ll need to help him sit by holding a snack above him and making him sit before he gets it. Praise him and give him the food if you’re successful with this. If he doesn’t sit, you may have to put extra tension on his collar or push his rump down.

Once your dog is doing what you want more than 85% of the time while training him in a quiet environment, the next stage should commence. This is where you shape his behavior toward the response you expect from him. You may reward him for sitting faster…say within 3 seconds, then 2 seconds, and finally 1 second or straightaway.

 Choose the positive reinforcement reward before issuing the command. Another option is to give him positive reinforcement rewards if he sits for more definite, longer periods so he can’t just touch his rear to the ground to win the treat. Make sure he’s firmly sitting before giving him any reward, and you can slowly make the time length between when he sits and when he’s rewarded for that.

Work on gradually boosting the time your dog must stay in an SIT-STAY position, and he can relax for a minute while you’re five feet from him. Slowly increase the time gap from the sitting to the rewarding when he has achieved each goal successfully 5-10 times. If you use long sitting periods, the reward can be given intermittently during this time (at least during his training period.)

 Use easy words such as STEADY or EASY to teach him to associate exercise with relaxation. You should also use a release command which can be RELEASE or FREE, because these will let the dog know when he has done what you wanted for enough time.

It’s important to vary the basic commands you use during any training period and keep the sessions short but have lots of them. Dogs learn better during short training times that are regular as compared to longer, infrequent sessions.

After he has learned some useful basic obedience commands during the continuous rewarding schedule (i.e., where he gets rewarded each time he does what is asked of him), it’s time not to reward him all the time.

Start with twice out of each three training sessions and then every third period of training. Then it would be best if you only rewarded him occasionally. That’s how he gets weaned off food treats and will stop your dog from only obeying when he gets a treat. Remember that it’s still vital to praise your dog every time he does what’s asked of him, regardless of whether other rewards are to be given.

How to Get a Dog to Obey

To succeed in dog training, your dog must understand you are the leader of his pack. This means giving your dog clear, consistent commands that it understands and can follow without confusion or hesitation. When teaching a dog new commands, please keep it simple and then layer on more complex tricks.

When teaching the basics of dog obedience, like sitting down or staying calm, try using food as motivation by rewarding him with tidbits from your hand when doing well during these exercises.

After puppy training has been successfully achieved in quiet environments, it’s time to carry out more training in places with numerous distractions.

Keep puppy training in the yard, using his leash, but slowly making it longer and eventually not using it at all, but he still obeys you without having his leash on. Training in busy environments is a good idea because it will test your control when he’s distracted.

The ideal scenario is to have your dog obey you always without needing the leash, even if distractions may be tempting. Essential rules for dog owners include always ending a dog training session with something positive. Then your dog will come to expect that to happen.

This level of your dog’s training will work, but it will take a lot of time and hard work from you and your beloved pet. This is certainly a worthy objective.

DIY Dog Training Guidelines Conclusion

So now you know the basics of DIY dog training and, hopefully, understand why it is so important. CaninePals wants to help you be successful with your new pup by providing helpful information that will make a difference in how well-trained your puppy is.

With these tips, we hope this process will go as smoothly as possible for you and your furry friend! If you need more advice or guidance at any point during this process, please reach out; our team would love to provide whatever support we can. Good luck on your journey toward becoming an expert dog trainer yourself!

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References and Further Reading:
American Kennel Club.
English Kennel Club.
Australian National Kennel Council.

Maybe you have just obtained a rescue dog, or inherited and older dog from a family member. As a new owner of an older dog, your first question will be can you crate train an older dog? I can assure you crate training an older dog is just as easy to train as a puppy. The crate training for older dogs tips in this article will work just as well for crate training an older rescue dog.

How Do You Crate Train an Older Dog?

Crate training is a very effective method for training a dog not to make messes in the house. It works because dogs hate soiling themselves in the same place where they sleep. A crate provides your dog with a place where he won’t want to make a mess. Once you have shown him where NOT to go, it becomes easier to show him where he’s allowed to do potty. This applies equally well to puppies and older dogs. It’s actually a good method for crate training an older dog.

7 Simple Tips for Crate Training an Older Dog

1. Choose the Right Crate

His crate must be big enough for him to stand up, lay down and move around in. However, it shouldn’t be too big or he’ll sleep in one section and mess the other. This prevents him from learning where not to make a mess.

If possible, select a crate with a divider because you can then customise it to meet your dog’s size, have a door that doesn’t take up as much space and it’s very portable.

2. Make Sure the Crate is a Safe Place

This is simple because dogs feel secure in small places. For example, he may hide under a bed or behind a couch if he’s scared. Put a soft bed inside and also one of your old shirts that hasn’t been washed. This gives him your smell so he gets used to you.

Leave the crate open whenever you’re home so your dog may come and go as he wishes. Whenever you buy a new toy or have a treat for him, give it to him in the crate. That reinforces positive actions. Don’t use his crate for any form of punishment or you negate its positive side.

3. Set Fair Expectations

Even though an adult dog has the capacity to hold it for a couple of hours, he may never have been taught to do that. Begin with one hour and gradually increase it. If you can’t do that yourself, get a friend or neighbour to let him out periodically. If necessary, hire a dig-sitter or walker.

4. Set a Routine

Dogs are habitual animals. When you want to teach him to go outside to do potty, set up a routine that both encourages and rewards that exact behaviour. Feed him at the same times each day instead of leaving food out all the time. Take him outside straight after each meal, first thing each morning, last thing at night and the moment you open his crate. Make up a command such as “go potty!” If he does so, praise him.

5. Watch your Dog Closely

During the house-training period, he should be in his crate or within your eyesight at all times. Understand his signs that show you when he wants to go: sniffing for a spot, walking in circles or squatting. When you see a sign, take him out straightaway and use your command.

If he starts to go inside, make a loud sound such as “Ah!” or clap your hands loudly. That will startle him and usually make him stop momentarily. Take him out right at that moment. Use the command and reward him if he goes. That trains him to know that inside is not the place to go potty but outside is.

6. Manage Accidents Appropriately

It’s natural that there will be accidents, especially in the early stages. The trick is to correct them at the time.

Dogs have short term memory. That’s when their behaviour needs to be corrected. If you find a mess after it has happened, don’t rub his nose in it as he won’t know why you’re doing that. It actually affects training in a negative manner. He’ll link fear with you instead of his mess.

Use a cleaner that breaks the mess down so it will stop future accidents. If a dog smells a spot where he has gone before, he’s more likely to go there again. That’s not good, whether it’s inside or outside. Some cleaners simply mask the smell. You need an enzyme-based cleaner that chemically breaks it down so your dog can’t smell it later.

7. Consistency and Patience

New habits take time. If you give your dog patience and remain consistent in your own behaviour, it will be easier to train him to know what you expect from him.

Crate Training for Older Dogs Final Thoughts

That’s it – 7 tips to crate train your older dog. Use these tips and you’ll soon have a well-trained dog who will only go potty outside.

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If your beloved canine has a bad habit of marking, you’re probably quite frustrated. However, it’s a problem that can be fixed with a bit of effort on your part. You can start by reading through this article in its entirety because you’ll need to follow all the steps if you’re to eradicate this problem.

What is Dog Marking?

If your dog needs to urinate, he’ll empty his bladder in a natural act.
Marking, on the other hand, is different. Your dog:
• Will spray tiny amounts of his urine, not vent his whole bladder.
• Despite being housetrained and never leaving any little piles in the home, will still spray small amounts of his pee.
• Will mark items in your home such as legs of tables, entrances to the house, the entrance to your bedroom and, in extreme cases, your bed itself.

Important facts about Dog Marking:

• Male dogs mark more often than females.
• Neutered dogs can still mark but they won’t do it as often as dogs that haven’t been neutered.
• From a technical point of view, marking isn’t a case of your dog not being housebroken properly. Even if a dog has been properly housetrained, he may still leave his mark inside your home.

Other forms of behavior you may think are marking habits:

Your dog may keep marking, regardless of what you do to stop it, because he has a different problem you don’t know about. You’ll never solve your dog’s marking problem until your vet conducts a full assessment to determine what else might be happening:

• Not completely housebroken. This issue is the main problem that gets misdiagnosed as marking. He may poo and pee each time you go outside with him but this won’t mean he’s fully trained.
• If your timing is perfect, he could simply be letting go wherever he ends up standing and that may very well be in the spot you have selected as his bathroom space.
• This is simply convenient, coincidence and good timing, also not true indications that he knows how to follow your rules. He’s just a dog who is following you wherever you go (i.e. outside and to the bathroom).
If you think he’s confused about the rules for housebreaking, not for marking, perhaps he needs to receive further training.

Health issues.

There are numerous reasons why a dog may not be able to control his bladder. Here are just a few: bladder stones, bladder infection, kidney stones, kidney infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) and diabetes.

A dog may mark for many reasons:

If your vet has already told you that your dog has no health reasons for marking, and you’re positive he comprehends the housebreaking rules, it’s time to focus on what else may cause marking:

Not understanding the structure of the hierarchy.

• This is the number one cause of marking. The hierarchy is the leadership balance within the home. A dog doesn’t believe everybody is equal. There must be a leader (Alpha) of his family (pack) within the home (den). Everybody else is a follower (Beta) and the leader is always followed. That’s the way a dog’s world works.
• When a canine believes he’s the Alpha, that’s a reason for him to hold his so-called title by marking. If he suspects an Alpha role is vacant, he could mark in order to become the new Alpha.

• As a human, you’ll assume you’re the pack leader because of everything you do to care for your dog. However, the dog may see things differently. Even if you have a toy dog (and there’s obviously a huge difference in size), your dog won’t just assume you’re the leader.

• If a dog believes his humans are inferior to him, he’ll likely mark the territory, following established standard dog rules.

• Looking at it from a different angle, some dogs have a powerful belief that they’re the Alpha and one aspect of that role is to protect everyone within their home (human and canine alike). To protect them, he’ll claim his territory and tell possible trespassers that I’m here to guard this home and all who live here. Stay away!”
• To reinforce this, he’ll mark parts of the home deemed important such as entrances and potential vertical items.
• He might mark the bedroom entrance and even the bed itself. A lot of owners get upset if their pet pees on the bed. They think he’s “being spiteful” or “getting back at them” for something. The truth is that he’s marking to protect his human follower from intruders so, in an obscure way, it could be regarded as a compliment.

• A dog may even pee on your leg if you’re standing still or on your foot if you’re seated. However, this is clearly when the dog is confused about the correct hierarchy guidelines.

• If you’re cuddling your dog and he urinates in your lap, it may be because of a health problem directly weakening his bladder, because he’s highly stressed, or in extremely rare situations when he has a genuine desire to get to his bathroom.

A need to compete with other creatures.

If a home has the correct hierarchy, people are Alphas and the dog is the Beta.
If there’s more than one dog, they’ll all be betas BUT there will still be a canine Alpha. If a dog doesn’t know who the Alpha really is, several dogs may fight for the right, and they often use marking as a tool in their arsenal.

Making it obvious that they’re sexually available.

• Territorial marking can be one strong reason why dogs that haven’t been neutered will mark more often than those who have been fixed.
• Un-neutered males have powerful urges to start mating. Their strong sense of smell means un-fixed female dogs can be noticed from as far as three miles away.
• This means the dog over the fence, one up the road, or even a dog that’s unseen may still cause your male dog to mark his territory. When it comes to females that haven’t been spayed, their heat cycle arrives and hormones increase, causing their mating urge to intensify.

Steps to take to stop your dog from marking.

• It’s important to understand that these tips should only be used if all health problems and other possible causes have been eliminated by you and your vet:

• If not already done, consider having your dog spayed or neutered because that will stop him marking and making him do everything in his power to announce himself to all potential mates.
• Thoroughly clean any area that your dog has marked. Use a good quality enzyme-destroying formula to eliminate the microscopic particles in the urine so nothing is left. Soap and water isn’t effective because it may cause your dog to mark the area to mask that smell, which remains long after the attempt to clean with soap has happened.

• Block possible sightlines to other dogs such as fencing off your yard at the front and back to avoid your dog seeing other neighborhood dogs and any that may be going past your home. Inside, close curtains if you can, especially at the front where digs going by may be visible.

• Watch your pet and, if you suspect he’s about to cock his leg, distract him by calling his name, loudly clapping your hands, or tossing a ball or toy at him. Then take him directly outside to his bathroom area. If he does pee pee outside, praise him and give him a small reward to acknowledge good behavior.

• If you’re unable to watch him, or keep him inside when you go to work, keep him comfortable in a pen or behind a gated area.

• Re-assess the dog’s hierarchy and make sure that it’s right. If it’s incorrect, you can improve it in a few ways.
1. Don’t give him anything to eat unless he obeys the “sit” command.
2. People must go in and out of the house first.
3. Ensure he obeys the “heel” command.

Behavioral marking patterns when you have two or more dogs:

Dogs may mark because they’re trying to establish the canine leader:
Until the Alpha dog is determined, there will always be some sort of battle going on. If both think they’re the Alpha, it will help you know who is trying harder to be the Alpha Dog.

After you know, you’ll be able to help your dogs by doing everything for your Alpha dog first. At meal time, feed your Alpha first. If you give them treats, you’ll give the Alpha a treat first. At walking time, put the leash and harness on your Alpha first. Following these steps helps your dogs appreciate that you (as the human leader of the “pack,”) comprehend that strong “pack hierarchy.”

It’s also critical that your Beta dog(s) feel just as loved and important as your Alpha. It’s not negative to NOT be an Alpha. You’ll decrease the stress felt by all of your dogs if they know where they stand in the pack. You should always follow the steps necessary (as mentioned previously) to stop your dog(s) from marking.

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