How To Correct Puppy Bad Behavior

Excessive barking, digging through the trash, biting and jumping on people - these are some of the bad habits that embarrass the owners of puppies. A poorly trained puppy, which troubles with its bad behavior, can put its owner in an embarrassing position, by creating problems for other people. It is essential to put your puppy under a training schedule to get rid of its annoying behavior. There are many ways, resorting to which can help you rid your puppies of their bad behavior. However, you need to remember that while training, there is a need for patience and regular efforts on your part as well. In case you need more help, check out the tips that follow and know how to correct puppy bad behavior.

Correcting Bad Behavior In Puppies

Your puppy might resort to begging for things. This bad habit in your puppy can result from improper socialization, boredom, their natural instinct or simply for seeking your attention. You can stop your puppy from begging by feeding him on a regular schedule, with no snacks between meals. Do not feed your puppy from the dinner table.
Another bad habit that your puppy might have is biting. Puppies bite when they are teething, feel threatened, are injured, abused or in heat. Provide your puppy with plenty of chew toys. Use a bottle filled with coins or rocks to startle him. If your puppy nips or bites, shake the bottle at him while saying “no” firmly. If he is injured, pet him till the time he has recovered from the shock of injury.
Step chewing is another element of the teething process in puppies. This bad habit can also develop because of boredom, separation anxiety, lack of exercise, undernourishment and thunderstorms. Give your puppies chew toys and other alternatives to divert their attention. Your can also spray a bitter-tasting thing on the items they like to chew. Home remedies for preventing your puppy from chewing items at home include vinegar, pepper sauce, hot mustard and regular exercise. You can consult a vet if there is a diet problem or the puppy is having a problem during thunderstorms.
Puppies don’t like anyone to trespasses their territory, so they might develop a habit of chasing out any vehicles passing by. You can prevent this by keeping your puppy in secure yards, from where the street is not accessible. Leash him when on the street and yank firmly on the leash, if he starts to run after a car. Giving your puppy enough exercise will also ease the problem, as it will leave him with no pent-up energy to resort to such activities.
You might come across your puppy digging through trash. This habit can be a result of hunger, boredom or a strong odor. To prevent this, keep the trashcan in an inaccessible area and use a sealed lid on it. You can even spray a bitter-tasting thing on the can, to keep your puppy away from it.
Excessive barking is one of the common problems faced by the owners of a dog. Territorial aggression and frustration can be the reasons for your puppy’s excessive barking. Give him enough exercise to drain out all his energy. Train him not to bark when ordered and recognize his territory. Do try to narrow down the area your pup feels territorial about.
You might see your puppies digging and making holes in the lawn. This is a natural sheltering instinct. They also do it to escape from the yard, get over boredom, because of separation anxiety or due to critters and vermin. Another reason might be a desire to cool off in hot weather. Discourage this habit of your puppy at the earliest, as it is one of the toughest habits to break. Provide toys to your puppy in your absence, put a kiddy pool in the yard to help him beat the heat and give him lots of exercise daily.
A few naughty puppies resort to fights with other dogs and animals on the street. Train your pup by putting him in obedience courses. Keep him on a leash during a walk, yank the leash and firmly say “no” if he growls at another dog.
Some puppies may develop a habit of eating their own stool, mainly due to undernourishment, poor hygienic condition and stress. Clean up the stool the moment your dog has eliminated it and feed him special food to prevent any nutrition problems. Exercise your dog daily to relive stress and boredom.
Pups seek attention and love; this might make them jump on people. Constantly discourage this habit with a firm “no”, especially in the early stages. Avoid eye contact when your dog jumps on you. If he does so, ask him to sit and then reward him on obeying.

How to Cite

Related Articles

See also

More in 'Home & Living'