Ouch! My Puppy Dog is Biting My Hands and Clothes

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This article explains in plain English the fastest way to stop your puppy dog biting at your clothing, hands or other body parts. If you have "tried everything" or simply have no idea what to do, the answers are all here and made easy. Methods are humane and pet-friendly, utilizing positive reinforcement and 'time-outs' instead of spanking or scolding.

All puppies will bite and chew your body parts or clothing. It is just what puppies do. Their sharp, needle-like teeth can cause quite a lot of pain, and clothing can easily be damaged. It makes sense that we want to teach puppy that this is unacceptable as quickly as possible. What's more, if puppies are allowed to continue this behavior, by the time they are adolescents or adults they could cause some serious damage!

That's not to say that having a puppy's mouth on you is necessarily a 'bad' thing. Puppies need to learn what we call 'bite inhibition', which is a soft, inhibited bite. Why? All dogs will bite under certain circumstances, particularly if taken by surprise. The dog that learns bite inhibition can bite without causing any real damage.

First, some theory. Don't worry, it's not long and boring!

If you have read my earlier article "Secrets of Dog Training Professionals - Operant Conditioning" then you will be familiar with the term 'Negative Punishment'. Sounds awful, doesn't it? But don't worry, Negative Punishment simply means that behavior is decreased because we took something away as a consequence of that behavior.

A 'time out' is a Negative Punisher when the target behavior is decreased. Time outs are one of the most humane and pet-friendly punishments we can use, when used with thought and care.

Puppies bite at our hands and clothing because that is the way that puppies like to play. It is fun, and they enjoy our attention. They particularly like it if we try to fight them off of us. Have you ever seen two or more puppies playing? They like to fight each other with their mouths and paws.

Normally, other puppies teach our puppy not to bite too hard by squealing in pain. When we take our puppy from the litter, these other puppies aren't around to teach proper bite inhibition any more. Some people advise trying to emulate a 'puppy squeal' to discourage biting too hard.

I don't know why, but people just don't seem to be very convincing with their squeals, so I don't recommend it as a training technique. What's more, some puppies seem to enjoy it when their human squeals and will get more excited, resulting in more biting. This is obviously not what we want puppy to do! If you can squeal and your puppy immediately stops biting, then this is an acceptable technique. Monitor the behavior long-term, though, to make sure biting too hard is decreasing.

A different, yet highly effective aproach is to say 'ouch' in a neutral tone of voice (not loud, not high-pitched and not angry) then walk out of the room, shutting the door behind you for 30 seconds. This marks the exact behavior you are trying to punish, then gives a time-out as a consequence.

It may take puppy a little while to figure out the link between his biting and the time-out, but the marker will make it clearer. It is important to say 'ouch' in a neutral tone of voice, and say it exactly at the moment that puppy bites too hard.

Notice that I said "exactly at the moment that puppy bites too hard"? We don't want to discourage young puppies from biting altogether, this would be bite prohibition. We want to teach puppies to inhibit their bite.

Time-outs should not be excessive. A long time-out can be stressful and lead to other unwanted behaviors. 30 seconds is more than enough and seems to be quite effective. Don't look back at puppy or try to push puppy away when you say 'ouch'. Simply get up and leave, closing the door behind you.

If you have family or friends in the room then it might be easier to lead puppy out of the room and shut him out for his time-out. However, this doesn't seem to be as effective to me.

Remember, it is only punishment if the behavior decreases. Continuing with a punishment which is unclear or ineffective is a waste of time and borders on abuse (although, it would be hard to do damage with a 30 second time-out). Consider your timing, consistency and whether or not there is anyone else in puppy's life who is not following through with this protocol consistently. It is important that you explain the rules to anyone who plays with puppy.

If all else fails, seek professional advice. Most vet clinics are now offering puppy kinder classes using humane and pet-friendly techniques.

Aidan Bindoff is Editor of http://www.positivepetzine.com your helpful on-line resource for free positive dog training advice that works fast and that anyone can apply today!

Why Does My Beagle Dog Do That?

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The history of the Beagle dog is a long and somewhat fuzzy one. No one seems to know for sure the exact origin of this breed, but information seems to lead to the fact that Beagles came from the Talbot Hound, a breed that is now extinct. By the early part of the second century, Beagles were brought from France to England, and the primary purpose of this dog was for hunting rabbits.

Beagles were bred with distinct instincts that allowed them to chase these critters across the countryside and coax them out of their hiding spots for the benefit of the hunters. Understanding these basic hunting instincts will help a Beagle owner to better comprehend some of the habits and tendencies of their Beagle dog. For example, Beagles required a high amount of energy to keep up with their hunts, and the dogs of this breed today will also need the opportunity to exercise regularly. Because these dogs were also bred in packs, your Beagle will need the socialization of his new pack, which will consist of you and the rest of your family members.
Beagles were originally bred in packs, so this dog is used to the noise and activity of others. He will love spending the majority of his time indoors with his new family, and will not particularly want to be left alone for long periods of time. This means that if you are going to leave your Beagle while at work during the day, it is best to keep him in a confined space, like a crate, indoors. This will help to prevent the destruction that a bored Beagle can cause, as well as the "complaining" that this dog might do through barking and howling.

When you are home, your dog will want to spend plenty of time playing with you, and will love all of the members of your family in the same affectionate manner. Keep your Beagle active by taking him out to a fenced yard for playtime or indulging him in a long walk - on his leash of course. Beagles are easily distracted by scents when they are outdoors, and will think nothing of taking off on an adventure of their own if they are not properly confined.

With the proper attention, care and training a Beagle dog can make a welcome addition to most family units. They usually love children and other pets, as long as they are properly socialized and trained. It is important never to leave small pets or young children with your dog unsupervised however, since accidents can happen with this exuberant pup. Beagles will enjoy plenty of activity and exercise, and will always be happy to see visitors on walks or coming into their homes. These dogs tend to be friendly, social and very playful.

If you are considering a Beagle as a family pet it is a good idea to collect as much Beagle information as possible to ensure that you are prepared to give your new pet all of the proper care and training that he will require. With the appropriate research and preparation you will undoubtedly have a successful and happy relationship with your new Beagle.

Michelle Adams is someone who has researched many breeds of dogs, including the Beagle. Since breeding brings certain instincts and behaviors into play with different types of dogs understanding the history of your Beagle will better equip you to work with your new pet. There is plenty of Beagle information available including the interesting history of your pet. Articles like this and interviews with experts in the field will help you to understand where your Beagle came from and why he acts the way he does.

Stop Your Dog From Stealing Your Cat's Food

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You have noticed it many times that your cat has to beleaguer your for its food because your dog steals away the cat food. You must stop your dog from pilfering with the cat food, as it is not a healthy practice for your dog. As soon as you catch your dog eating the cat food, you should immediately yell at it and make it understand that this is a negative action on its part.

You can also keep handy a little spay bottle. A good spray is enough to stop your dog from fiddling with the cat's meals. You must be prompt while using the aforementioned techniques. If you take actions after your dog has finished the food, it will just confuse your dog. It will not understand the proper matter on which you want to avert it. It should be borne in mind that the dog does not remember past activities. Even, it is unable to differentiate between crime and good deeds.

You can place the cat food to a distant place which is difficult for your dog to reach, although your cat can easily get there. You can even gate the eating area of your cat. You should restrict your dog to go near the eating place of your cat. You can also place the cat food on an elevated shelf, if your cat has the ability to jump till adequate heights. Cats have a tendency to reach even at those places, where your dog can not even think of.

You can provide meals to both your pets at the same moment on regular basis. You can keep away all the bowls after both your pets have finished their meals. By doing the above mentioned stuff, you can easily get rid of various aggravations included in these situations. You can even mount a wireless fence indoors. It would warn your dog when it approaches towards the food meant for your cat.

Being a responsible and careful pet owner, you must take necessary steps to do away with these hectic issues. A bif cardboard box should be arranged, where the cat can easily have its meals. You should then cut an entrance way for the cat to go inside. This opening should be such that your dog can not go inside the box. You should always feed both your pets on scheduled time everyday. Adequate amount of food as well as water should be provided to all the pets with the aim to avoid their interference in each other's foods.

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