Puppy’s got a bad habit

Puppy’s got a bad habit

A puppy with a bad habit can be annoying, frustrating or even, in the case of biting, dangerous. The housebreaking errors, constant barking or even aggression can make owning a puppy an ordeal rather than a pleasure. But that can be changed! If your puppy has a bad habit read on for tips on making his bad behavior a distant memory.

Behavioral problems

Some of the behavioral problems observed in puppies are caused by lack of socialization during the puppy’s early months. A puppy that has started interacting with people at about 4 to 6 weeks of age and continues that interaction is more likely to grow into a puppy that seeks and enjoys people.

If you are thinking about getting a puppy, always select the one that comes to you, is interested in you. A pup that has been socialized is one who wants to please people and be with people, and a pup that wants to please is easier to train.

To keep your puppy from becoming a nuisance, you need to recognize when a bad habit is developing and then use proper training methods to direct him into acceptable behavior. Punishment is not an approved training method.

Jumping behavior

An example of a nuisance behavior is the puppy who, out of simple pleasure of seeing his master, jumps up to greet him. It's no fun to be greeted with dirty paws, get scratched or even knocked down. Here is where you, as owner, must be consistent in how you treat your pup. You must be sure you don't encourage him sometimes and discourage him on other occasions, as this will only confuse him and make training that much harder.

To change this jumping behavior, start by pushing him down and away giving the command "off" in a firm manner. In extreme cases, you may have to bring your knee up sharply as your puppy jumps up in order not to hurt him, while giving the "off" command. When you come in and your pup does not jump up on you, praise him lavishly. It just takes time, so be patient.

Barking behavior

Barking is, of course, a natural action for a puppy, and has been a benefit to humankind and probably one of the reasons that humans and dogs took on this relationship many thousands of years ago. Excessive barking is a problem, creating issues for everyone – neighbors, guests and the owner. If your puppy barks excessively you may have unknowingly taught him this bad habit. You can, for example, over-condition a puppy to respond to minor sounds by alerting him to "Listen" or "Watch" to a point where the puppy barks at even the slightest sound, especially when home alone. If you are a part of the problem, change your behavior.

Conditioning your pup to not bark at every sound takes time but it is worth the effort. Start by leaving the house for short periods, but staying within hearing distance. If your pup does not bark during this period, praise him lavishly and maybe even give him a treat to reward his behavior. Gradually extend the period you are gone, rewarding your pup with lavish praise whenever he does not bark during your absence. In extreme cases, you may need the help of an animal behaviorist to get the problem corrected. Your veterinarian can advise you on how best to solve the problem.