Manage your dog
Set your dog up for success!
Whenever we do anything with our dogs, we are influencing them--in either a good way or a bad way. One way we can ensure that we are influencing our dogs in a good way is by managing their environment. Here are some tips:
- Use baby gates, X-pens, and crates to limit your dogs access to the house. This will not only save your house from destructive puppy chewing, but will give your dog a "safe place".
- Give your dog a frozen RAW marrow or knuckle bone so that he is not tempted to create chew toys out of your possessions. Raw bones are very enticing to dogs, do not splinter, and are healthy. Cooked bones are dangerous to feed.
- To prevent leash-pulling, consider using an Easy Walk harness. The Easy Walk will not teach your dog not to pull, but it manages the pulling and gives you lots of opportunities to click and treat polite walking.
- Teach your dog skills like sit, down, stand, and targeting and use those skills to keep your dog's mind busy in situations such as the waiting room at the vet's, or anytime when he seems excited or nervous.
- Use a leash to control your dog. This doesn't mean using the leash to correct your dog, but simply means that if your dog is on-leash he is not going to be able to go off on his own to "do stuff" and make his own fun. You can even tie your dogÕs leash to your belt or around your waist, so you have free hands to hold clickers and treats!
- Make sure you keep countertops, side-tables, couches, and any accessible surface clear of tempting objects. Some things that we consider boring or not important may be very enticing to dogs, like paper towels, plastic bags & wrappers.
- Work to prevent accidents in the house. Always take your puppy out to potty after: meals, playing, sleeping, and training. Give him as many opportunities as possible to potty outside, and very few chances to potty inside.