Obedience Training

Regular obedience training using positive reinforcement will help keep your dog mentally stimulated, as well as helping you have greater control over his behaviour. For the highly active dog, agility work can be terrific exercise, as well as being mentally challenging. Ensuring your dog has regular exercise can be difficult, but even twenty minutes a day can make a huge difference - just by giving the dog something to look forward to. Dogs that feel they have nothing to look forward to will look for their own entertainment - and it may not be your idea of fun. Just a few of these suggestions put in to practise may eliminate many problem behaviours, and make for a better, more rewarding relationship between you and your dog.

There is one particular problem with the family dog that manifests itself in a range of symptoms. Barking, digging, chewing, escaping and other destructive behaviours can all be an indication that a dog is bored. As much as we love our pets, it can be difficult to find the time in our busy lives to entertain them. When we cannot meet the dogs need for stimulating interaction, the dog becomes bored, and often engages in destructive behaviour. These unwanted behaviours can be very aggravating, and many owners react by punishing the dog - by tying him up, or locking him outside. Unfortunately this short-term solution normally just adds to the problem, and a frustrating situation arises.

It is important to recognize the individual requirements of your dog. Some dogs will be satisfied with just having someone to sit with or follow around, whereas others need periods of intense acitivity - to let off steam . Most of all, it is important to share some quality time with your pet. Vary the routine day to day, and it will be more interesting for both of you. Change your walking route as often as possible, so that there are always new sights and scents. Find toys that your dog responds to - such as balls, frisbees, and squeaky toys, and offer a different one daily on a weekly rotation. Remember your dog will be more interested in the toy if it is sometimes the object of a game with you. If your dog is a digger by nature, providing a sandpit, or digging area can be a good distraction. Bury toys and treats in this area so that digging here is more exciting than digging in the flowerbed. If your dog is a chewer, there are great rubber toys such as ”Kongs” that dogs love to chew, especially if you hide some food in the hollow interior. A good raw bone will provide hours of pleasure, and keep teeth and gums ingood health.

Good luck!