Small Dog Behaviour

Understanding Dog Behaviour at Mary Puppins Dogs make excellent friends, but they may also exhibit some challenging behaviours that may frustrate or confuse their owners. If you want to understand your dog better and help them overcome their behavioural issues, you may want to consider enrolling them in a training program at Mary Puppins. Mary Puppins is a professional dog training centre that offers a variety of services to help dogs and their owners live in harmony. Here we will mention and talk about some aspects of dog behaviour and how Mary Puppins can help you and your furry friend. Introduction to Dog Behaviour Dog behaviour is influenced by many factors, such as genetics, environment, socialisation, health, and learning. Dogs signal with each other and to humans through body language, vocalisations, and scent signals. They also have natural instincts and drives that motivate them to perform certain actions. Some of these behaviours may be desirable, such as wagging their tail when happy, or undesirable, such as chewing on furniture when bored. To understand dog behaviour, it is important to examine your small dog and try to identify the triggers, consequences, and functions of their behaviours. For example, if your dog barks excessively when someone knocks on the door, you may ask yourself: - What triggers the barking? (The knock on the door) - What are the consequences of the barking? (You open the door or tell your dog to stop) - What is the function of the barking? (To alert you or to scare away the visitor) You can modify your dog's behaviour by changing the trigger, consequence, or function by answering these questions. For instance, you may teach your dog to sit quietly when someone knocks on the door by rewarding them with a treat or praise. Some common questions that dog owners may have about dog behaviour are: - Why does my dog lick me? - Why does my dog dig holes in the garden? - Why does my dog chase their tail? - Why does my dog howl at night? These queries can be explained by understanding the underlying reasons for your dog's behaviour. For example, your dog may lick you to show affection, to groom you, or to taste something on your skin. Your dog may dig holes in the garden to bury bones, to escape boredom, or to cool off. Your dog may chase their tail to play, to relieve stress, or to cope with a medical issue. Your dog may howl at night to communicate with other dogs, to express loneliness, or to respond to a sound. If you want to learn more about dog behaviour and how to interpret your dog's signals, you can enroll in a basic obedience course at Mary Puppins. This course will instruct you how to communicate with your dog effectively and how to train them using positive methods. Common Behavioural Issues Some dogs may develop behavioural issues that can interfere with their quality of life and their relationship with their owners. These issues may include: - Aggression: This is when a dog displays threatening or harmful behaviour towards other animals or humans. Aggression can be caused by fear, pain, territoriality, dominance, resource guarding, or frustration. - Anxiety: This is when a dog exhibits signs of nervousness or distress in certain situations. Anxiety can be triggered by separation from their owner, loud noises, unfamiliar people or places, or traumatic events. - Barking: This is when a dog vocalises excessively or inappropriately. Barking can be motivated by excitement, attention-seeking, boredom, alerting, guarding, or anxiety. - Chewing: This is when a dog gnaws on objects that are not meant for them. Chewing can be driven by curiosity, teething, hunger, boredom, or anxiety. - Digging: This is when a dog excavates holes in the ground. Digging can be influenced by instinct, boredom, or temperature regulation. - Jumping: This is when a dog leaps on people or objects. Jumping can be motivated by greeting, playfulness, or attention-seeking. - Pulling: This is when a dog tugs on the leash during walks. Pulling can be caused by excitement, curiosity, or lack of training. These behavioural issues can be frustrating for both the owner and the dog. However, they can also be resolved with proper training and management. At Mary Puppins, we offer specialised training programs for dogs with behavioural issues. These programs are tailored to suit each dog's needs and goals. Some of the programs we offer are: - Aggression Management: This program helps dogs who display aggression towards other animals or humans. It teaches them how to control their impulses and react calmly in stressful situations. - Anxiety Relief: This program helps dogs who suffer from anxiety in various scenarios. It teaches them how to cope with their fears and relax in different environments. - Barking Control: This program helps dogs who bark excessively or inappropriately. It teaches them how to be quiet on command and when to bark appropriately. - Chewing Prevention: This program helps dogs who chew on inappropriate objects. It teaches them what they can and cannot chew on and how to redirect their chewing behaviour. - Digging Deterrence: This program helps dogs who dig holes in the ground. It teaches them how to stop digging and how to enjoy other activities instead. - Jumping Correction: This program helps dogs who jump on people or objects. It teaches them how to greet politely and how to keep all four paws on the ground. - Pulling Reduction: This program helps dogs who pull on the leash during walks. It teaches them how to walk nicely and how to follow their owner's direction. If you have a dog with any of these behavioural issues, you can contact us and book a consultation. We will assess your dog's behaviour and recommend the best training program for them. Training Programs for Behaviour Modification At Mary Puppins, we believe that every dog can learn new behaviours and change their old ones.