Terrier Training - How To Handle Biting In Terrier Puppies By C Swarens

Terriers have a reputation for being somewhat nippy. But even though biting may be common behavior, you don't have to live with it or encourage it. Responsible terrier owners need to actively discourage biting and nipping right from puppyhood. You should be putting an end to mouthing and biting by the time your terrier pup is 15 weeks old.

So, keep reading for three easy-to-implement tips that can help you stop your terrier puppy from biting and nip this nipping problem right in the bud.

1. Always encourage your terrier's good behavior with positive reinforcement.

Positive reinforcement is a effective training technique that rewards a puppy or dog with praise or a treat every time that dog does something right, but it also means withholding any praise or attention when your terrier does something wrong, like biting or nipping.

You can use positive reinforcement with your terrier by praising him or her each time he simply licks or nuzzles you or just 'plays nice.' Use what trainers call your 'praise voice' to encourage that good behavior. Should your terrier nip or bite, stop praising him or her immediately and move on to tip two.

2. Be consistent and firm when you say 'NO.'

If your terrier bites or mouths you, even if it's an unintentional nip, always reproach the dog with a firm and swift 'no,' Then, stop all play, remove yourself from contact with the puppy and walk away.

While you don't need to be over-the-top harsh or aggressively scold your terrier, it's important to deliver a firm 'no' that sends a clear message to your terrier puppy. This, along with the break in attention will show your terrier that biting, mouthing and nipping are not allowed. Eventually, your dog will stop.

3. Provide distractions for his mouth.

Sometime you have to think of terrier puppies as being like babies. They may nip, bite or mouth because they're bored or even hungry. A young terrier puppy should be fed small meals several times a day and while you need to be careful not to over-feed your dog, you do need to make sure he's getting enough for his quickly growing body. Try to counter biting with a small snack, but never let the dog think you're rewarding his nipping with a tasty treat.

If your terrier is well-fed and still insists on nipping, mouthing and biting, try distracting the dog with a bone or game of tug-and-war. Some dogs, especially terriers, are natural chewers and biters. Having an appropriate distraction for their mouths (that's not your ankles or your favorite chair) is going to save everyone, including the dog, a lot of headaches.

Ideally, you want to see any mouthing, biting and nipping stopped by the 15-week marker. If your terrier is still mouthing at 4-months, it's time to get serious with your counter-training. Though the behavior may be cute or seemingly harmless now, it could develop into a bigger problem in the future once your dog is larger and possibly more aggressive.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=230353&ca=Pets

Older Pug Dog House Training Problems By Michelle Arthur

I've known several Pug owners that have been surprised when their previously potty trained Pug suddenly 'fell off the wagon' and made a huge mess in the house. 'There's no way that will be me!' is their most common reaction.

And it's natural if one thinks there must be another cause for the mess, such as a broken pipe or a faucet left on...until the moment when the Pug is caught in the act!

It's typical, after a lot of screaming and disbelief, for the Pug to be quickly banished out-of-doors. But the truth is that such harsh and fast action can actually have a negative impact on a mature Pug dog. That's because most often it is a medical or psychological cause involved that requires some treatment.

Let's cover the medical reasons first, since this is the most typical cause of the problem in older Pugs. You need to carefully consider and diagnosis the problem here before you start on a treatment and/or retraining program.

Most Pug owners know that the aging process of their Pug will manifest itself in a gradual loss of hearing, followed by diminished vision. Squeezed somewhere in between, signs of arthritis might show up, decreased in appetite, more frequent naps, and other tell-tale signs which may become evident. What is not widely known is that toilet training is one of the first things to go!

Since this is not widely known, it's understandable that Pug owners think that his Pug has forgotten potty training, is not as smart as previously thought, is lazy, or has turned into a sneaky little dog. The truth is that this behavior is more likely the first sign of the inevitable aging process. In fact, as your Pug gets older, the muscles of the bladder gradually lose their control, much like older human experience.

In the male, the aging process can also cause the prostate gland to enlarge, and this will produce an inflammation which will cause him to urinate often. Kidney diseases occurs in about 76% of Pugs over eight years of age. When a Pug ages, there is a gradual degeneration of kidney tissue with a weakening of the kidney function.

To combat these kidney problems, an older Pug should drink at least twice the amount of water than a younger Pug since the older Pug's kidneys will need this to stay healthy. It's no secret that increased water consumption leads to more potty breaks.

Older Pugs therefore need to go outside more often. In many cases, the mature Pug dog will try its best to make his needs known to you. But many times the owner simply isn't aware of their Pug's new requirements and misses the dog's signs. Then, the mature Pug is left with just one option, which is to go inside the house. The Pug is just as upset and embarrassed as the owner in these cases!

When this happens, negative reinforcement will only make the situation worse, especially if the Pug tried to communicate to its owner and these signs were ignored.

Resource: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=231094&ca=Pets