Seven Ideas To Stop A Dog’s Excessive Barking
Posted on September 1st, 2010 by doggielover

Dog behavior is often a result of our behavior when interacting with the dog. Beyond the elementary needs of food, water and shelter, a dog must have social dealings, positive attention from his human companion, exercise and mental stimulation. Many of these additional requirements can be fulfilled by simply taking your dog for a walk. Walking your dog daily gives him the attention from you that he needs. Possibly more than anything, our pets merely want our companionship. Even if you remain at home throughout the day, much of your time is spent doing chores instead of interacting with your family dog. When leaving for your walk, take along a plastic bag or other disposable container and be sure to clean up after your pet.
A walk allows you to apply obedience skills with your dog to improve the consistency of training. Reviewing the essential commands in addition increases the benefits of a walk as your dog isn’t merely ambling along, but is also performing extra tasks. Taking your dog for a walk provides mental stimulation through territorial examination. With nose to the ground and attentive to the sights and sounds of the neighborhood, your dog gathers clues about how his territory has changed since the last outing.
Together with the emotional benefits, there are physical benefits. Taking your dog for a walk is the best method to exercise a dog that may not be very active in your home or even in your yard. Older dogs must be kept as limber and fit as possible. However, your dog may not be inclined to exercise without your motivation. Even if your pet is active in your backyard, it’s certainly more active during a walk. Merely having the pleasure of your company is one of your dog’s greatest motivations to exercise.
If you pass by another dog or person during your walk, your dog has the chance to socialize. Studies of dog behavior show that dogs are social animals. It’s only natural for them to investigate new individuals. Puppies should be encouraged, from a young age, to appropriately respond to and get along with other dogs and people while on walks. These enjoyable experiences help the puppy learn to behave well when meeting visitors to your home, or when the dog is with you no matter where you might be. If a dog does not have a chance to socialize, it will not understand how to interact correctly with other people or dogs.
Walking your dog is one of the best ways to preclude behavior problems. At least one walk each day will help avert elimination problems, destructiveness, separation anxiety and other frequent behavior problems. Walk your dog soon after every meal, as this is the time it is most likely to urinate or defecate, and you will be able to direct your dog to an acceptable spot. Praise must be given without delay to be effective. If you merely let your dog go out in the yard, you forfeit an opportunity to bolster good behavior.
Allowing your pet to stray freely is hazardous both to your dog and to other pets and people. It also gives the unsupervised dog freedom to relapse to unacceptable wild behavior. Your dog’s life could depend on his obedience to your warnings. Restricting inappropriate activity cannot be viewed as unkind in light of the possible consequences.
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