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Common Puppy Behavior Problems
Bringing a new puppy home and making them part of your family can be exciting! Puppies are adorable, cuddly, playful and all-around lovable. However, it's not all fun and games if and when that puppy starts showing unwanted behaviors like chewing, begging, or getting onto furniture.
Start off on the right paw with Dog Training Elite puppy obedience training in Pensacola to quickly address behavior problems. Beginning obedience training early will help you create a lifelong bond with your new puppy and get rid of those unwanted behaviors. Find a trainer near you today!
Not all training packages may be available at our Dog Training Elite Emerald Coast location, please reference our pricing page for complete information on services offered.
Behavior Problems
Many of the problems listed below are normal behavior for puppies and come with the "puppy stage." However, these behaviors are problematic, and it's not too early to start addressing and correcting them.
More than just addressing the behavior, it's important to try and understand the cause behind it. The trainers of Dog Training Elite can help you determine why a behavior is happening, so you're better equipped to train your dog out of it.
Chewing is a natural part of a dog's physiology and comes built-in. It needs to be addressed if your puppy's chewing is destructive because they're chewing on shoes or furniture. Puppies chew because they are curious, teething, bored, or anxious. Working with a Dog Training Elite Emerald Coast trainer will help your pup to learn to chew on toys instead of your slippers!
Puppies will bite or nip to explore their environment and test boundaries. Though your dog may not be play-biting out of aggression, you should address it so that it does not become a pattern in the future. Dogs and puppies may bite or nip because they are afraid, in pain, defending property, or from predatory instinct. Avoid wagging your fingers in front of your pup’s face, as it tempts them to bite, and get help from a professional dog trainer.
Dogs learn to jump from a young age to meet and greet their mother. Jumping in puppies or dogs can happen when greeting you or guests, jumping up to reach or steal food, or when they get excited. It is not an inherently dangerous behavior but can cause injury to your dog if overdone. Depending on how big your dog will get, it can potentially hurt someone else, too. It may seem counterintuitive, but don't respond. This will help them learn that they won't be rewarded for jumping.
Barking comes naturally for dogs; some pups may vocalize by whining or howling. If it starts becoming excessive or done at inappropriate times, puppy obedience training will help you immensely. Barking might happen because your puppy is playing, seeking attention, giving a warning, responding to other dogs, or has anxiety. As with jumping, try to ignore your pup when they are barking demandingly and reward them for being "polite."
Like many other behaviors, digging comes naturally. The instinct to dig may be more intense in some breeds. Most dogs will dig if given a chance, and this can happen because they have excess energy, are trying to escape or access an area, or trying to bury a possession. Try including more enrichment for your dog during the day or longer walks to burn off excess energy.
Separation anxiety can cause significant problems for an owner if not addressed. Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include following their owner around, becoming anxious as their owner prepares to leave, and misbehaving in the first 15-45 minutes after the owner leaves the house. Dog Training Elite are experts at dealing with separation anxiety in dogs.
Every puppy needs to be correctly potty trained; if done incorrectly, it can lead to problems with inappropriate urination and defecation problems. If a puppy or dog is having difficulties with potty training, it can be because of anxiety, territorial marking, and submissive or territorial marking. It's important to never punish your dog for having an accident in the house. At Dog Training Elite Emerald Coast, we use positive reinforcement to develop desired behaviors.
Dogs and puppies beg because they love food. Giving your dog table scraps can be fun but lead to further begging and can even be dangerous for your dog's digestive system and health. Don’t give in when your puppy begs for food, no matter how cute they are.
Another instinct for dogs is chasing. Some breeds may have a stronger instinct than others, but in any case, it should be kept in check. Playing chase with your dog can be fun and good exercise for you both. However, chasing at unwanted times can be dangerous for your pup and may have disastrous consequences. A puppy or dog may chase because of their instincts, a desire to play, or out of aggression. The trainers at Dog Training Elite Emerald Coast will work with you to train your dog not to chase, so you can help your pup keep up the good behavior even without a trainer there.
Our Balanced Theory
We base our training around the "Classical Conditioning" model (a.k.a. "Pavlovian" or "respondent conditioning"). This includes developing conditioned or automatic reflexes to commands. In its simplest form (after proper conditioning), when the owner says "sit," the dog automatically sits without thinking about it. Our unique techniques ensure our program is a success no matter what behavior we encounter.
Empowering Owners
We empower owners to train so their dog knows who to obey at all times.
Personalized
We deal with problem behaviors on a personal basis.
Environment Specific
We train wherever issues tend to arise (i.e. jogging, park, home).
Supportive
We support owners in the off-hours (when training is "not in session").
Involved
We work with all members of the household.
Simplified & Customized
We plan training around the owner's schedule and require only 20 min/day follow-up practice.
Continued Training
Additional programs / group sessions offered after in-home training.
Lifetime Investment
We follow up & are invested in the owner's success long-term.
Satisfaction Ratings
Our high client satisfaction rating sets us apart from competitors.
clas·si·cal con·di·tion·ing PSYCHOLOGY noun A learning process that occurs when two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is at first elicited by the second stimulus and is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
Trust the Puppy Obedience Training Professionals
It may be tempting to try and correct a puppy behavior problem on your own, but often DIY training can take more work and time than necessary or even go wrong and cause more significant issues. The professional dog trainers at Dog Training Elite Emerald Coast are ready to help you and your pup with any behavior problems with our excellent puppy obedience training programs.
Dog Training Elite specializes in in-home training for you and your pup, taking into account your pup’s unique needs as well as the needs of your home and family. Request an in-home assessment today!