Dogs are a man’s best friend. But do you really know the reason behind their behaviour? Understanding why they do the things they do will not only help you feel closer to your pet but can help you train them. Here, we cover things from how to puppy train to why dogs sleep so much.
How to stop puppy biting
You'll have noticed that when puppies play, they often use their mouth and bite. Despite their size, their needle-sharp teeth can be a bit painful. It might be endearing at first, but you don't want to encourage that behaviour when they get older. Your goal should be to stop biting and mouthing altogether.
Your puppy needs to learn that biting hurts – encouraging it will only lead him or her to bite too hard. Teaching them the sensitivity of skin can help with this, known as bite inhibition. Puppies learn this from a young age with others. When playing, if bitten too hard, a puppy will yelp, which will teach the dog not to bite that hard. When your puppy bites, yelp as if you’ve been hurt. If your puppy stops and licks, reward them. If not, repeat this behaviour until they stop biting.
You can also withdraw from your puppy when they bite by getting up and away from them for around 10–20 seconds, and then returning. Withdraw from your puppy each time they bite so that they learn to stop the behaviour.
If your dog is biting him or herself frequently, this could be a sign of fleas irritating their skin and causing inflammation. Flea treatment is essential to treat this.
How to crate train a puppy
Crate training can be a great way to give your puppy a safe and secure place they can go to whenever they want alone time – almost like a bedroom. Firstly, it is important that you make the crate a positive place for your puppy and never send them there as punishment. The crate mustn't be too small for them and should be big enough for them to stand, turn, and lie comfortably with enough space to fit bedding. To crate train your puppy, this can take days or weeks.
- Put it in a place your dog spends a lot of time, like in the living room. Don't force them in but leave treats in there until they comfortably walk in themselves. You can even put their dinner bowl in their crate and feed them in there so they feel safe.
- Build the time up they spend in the crate by shutting the door while they’re eating for a few minutes and then opening it before they finish eating. Gradually increase the time it is closed. If your dog whines, you might’ve left the door shut for too long, so shorten the time until they feel comfortable again, readjusting how long they spend in there.
- Do the same as step two but leave the room. Again, build this time up. Don’t make leaving and arriving a big deal by giving them lots of attention as this can make them feel anxious when you are away.
You should never leave your dog in a crate for more than a few hours, except at night when you and your puppy are sleeping.
How to house train a puppy
House training your puppy can take a few months, so being consistent and patient is key. You don't want to stress your puppy out with negative reinforcement, but use it as a chance to teach them some good habits that will save yourself a lot of cleaning up to do in the long run. You should start house training your puppy between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks.
- Keep a consistent routine with feeding and regular exercise. This will help them associate outside with going to the toilet.
- Take your puppy outside to relieve themselves first thing in the morning as well as after meals, when they've been asleep, and last thing at night.
- When outside, take them to the same spot each time.
- Don’t scold your dog when they do their business indoors – this won't help them learn, as they don't understand guilt. However, praising your puppy when they do the right thing by going outside will teach them the right behaviour.
- Note that if they keep having accidents indoors, you’re not letting them out enough. Remember, puppies’ bladders are smaller than adult dogs.
How to stop a dog from barking
Excessive barking can be annoying and is a behaviour that should be curbed. If your puppy has grown to be quite vocal, or you’ve adopted a dog that barks any chance they have, there are some steps you can take to train them. Some breeds are more vocal than others.
Shouting will encourage your dog, as they’ll think you’re joining in and that this is some form of attention. Teach them to respond to the word “quiet”. You can do this by rewarding them when they aren’t barking and give them a treat while saying “quiet” in a firm voice. They will learn to associate this word with not barking.
Why do dogs lick your face?
Licking is normal canine behaviour and can mean many different things. If your dog is licking another part of you, this might be because he or she cannot reach your face and is a sign of affection. If they’re licking strangers, this might be to appease them so that they do not become a threat.
Licking skin is fine and doesn't pose any health risks, but you should avoid letting your dog lick wounds – this can cause bacteria to grow and possibly lead to infections.
Why do dogs sleep so much?
On average, dogs spend about 50 per cent of their day sleeping, which equates to 12 hours. Dogs sleep when their bodies feel like they need to, unlike humans who have work commitments – so yes, it’s normal for them to sleep a lot.
While a dog is sleeping, its brain is making sense of the day, just like our brains do. Memories and training are being stored, ready for another day.
Written by: Laura
