| Barking Some dogs are just simply more vocal
than others. Don't underestimate your dog's size and the size of its bark. A barking
dog, even a small one with a shrill bark, can upset neighbors, and you. Also,
inappropriate barking is like "crying wolf". The dog that barks all the time does
not alert its owner or the neighbors to a problem (such as a household break in).
The constantly barking dog has already reached a saturation point, and tells us
nothing, other than that it needed help a long time ago. Crate training
does help barking training too. The command "quiet" can be more important than
the word "no" quite often. Stop the dog before it escalates and is so excited
it cannot hear anything. Divert the attention with a trip outside for potty, praise,
and then play and then praise. Once again, understand your dog's heritage, and
why some bark more than others. It is a warning signal. Either the dog has been
left alone to long, in its crate to long, or it has to go out. Sometimes it just
has a lot to say. Be consistent with the word used. "Quiet" is
the most polite. Say the word, then do something about it. It takes a while, but
with patience and consistency, periods of barking will be less and less.
What To Do About Nipping Puppies certainly nip for an innocent reason.
Nipping is how they play with their litter mates. A puppy that spends enough time
with his littermates (doesn't go to his new home until at least 8 weeks of age)
learns how his nipping feels, and the pups correct each other naturally. The mother
also corrects a severely nippy pup. A pup that is placed too early hasn't had
enough socialization with his peers, and may nip you excessively. Once
again you have to be consistent and use the words "no biting" or whatever words
you choose. The key is consistent, and stop the pup each time. Divert his attention
by playing with a toy or ball, and praise if the toy or ball eliminates the nipping.
You need to choose an actual toy that does not resemble any piece of clothing
etc. I had a friend who used the leg of a pair of jeans as a nipping reducer,
and guess what, the dog attached its mouth to anyone wearing jeans, and it was
hard to train it out of this. They did eventually, but it took a lot of de-conditioning
to do it. You must start anti-nip training right away. Your puppy grows
in leaps and bounds and those little needle-like teeth that get stuck in your
socks at the ankles will start to be replaced with permanent teeth at about 4
months, and the jaw will get stronger and stronger. Watch for next week's
obedience article (The Gift Dog Part V) where I will finish up this "Gift Dog"
series. -------------------------------------------------
// ------------------------------------------------ Reprinted with permission
by Bonnie Tetlock | 
