When you live with multiple dogs, in a suburban area where walks are done, it's important to keep in mind the different personalities of each dog.
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I hate to say it but.....winter is coming. If you are someone who wants to use a coat or boots on their dog, now is the time to make a really good positive association with these new items. It takes time to get your dog used to having them put on along with walking in them.
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The developmental period of adolescence can be a very challenging time for both human and dog.
It begins at 6 months of age and continues until the dog reaches physical maturity at approximately 2 – 3 years of age (depending on breed). Six to twelve months are often the most challenging. Every dog is different.
Challenging phases will come and go. Some will be more challenging than others.
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Training new skills, teaching new behaviour to a different species is not easy but it’s one of the most important things to do when you bring an animal into your home.
For reasons unknown to me, I see unwillingness in many dog guardians to understand this very basic concept.
Teaching is a skill. Learning takes time.
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Puppies NEED to chew. They need to chew as young pups as well as when their adult teeth begin coming in at 5/6 months.
Exploring with their mouths is a normal part of development.
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Some of the most common complaints I hear are: the puppy won’t leave the resident dog alone, he is always jumping on him, one dog finishes eating before the other and goes to take the food, one or the other is grabbing toys and running off, the older one is growling at the younger one, it’s difficult to walk them, and so on.
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Behaviour = Consequence. Period.
We all perform behaviour to achieve a particular consequence. The consequence sometimes can be unintended.
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Think back to the good old days, when we enjoyed a meal in a crowded, noisy restaurant with many different conversations, laughter, and loud voices surrounding us.
How did we manage to have a conversation with our table mates? Sometimes our brain might pick up a conversation or two from nearby or loud tables, but eventually they faded into the background again.
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That is where I see the biggest mistake consistently being made.
Before you even step out the door, high arousal begins. Fido!! Fido!! Wanna go for a walk??!!! Let's go for a walk!!!! Yea!! Let's go, let's go!!
This is often accompanied by a high pitch, excited voice, and fast movements. Perhaps it becomes a struggle to get the leash and harness on as well.
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