Potential Dog Health Problems

Dogs can suffer from any number of health issues, the same as human beings. The difference is that dogs cannot tell you “I have a stomach ache”. They will often suffer in silence until there is a very real pain that needs to be treated. So, it’s important to recognize the symptoms and the actions you can take to avoid these issues in the first place.

Infections – Dogs can suffer from a number of potential infections, in their ears, on their skin, in their eyes and their teeth. Ear infections are the most common and are often due to a foreign body or bacteria getting in there. Check your dog’s ears frequently for red spots, swelling, excess moisture, or dirt. Of all dog health problems, infections are the easiest to prevent. Clean your dog’s eyes, brush their teeth and brush their hair regularly to avoid any potential bacteria build up.

Allergies – Dogs have many forms of allergies. By far the most common is a flea allergy that can cause hot spots and lead to infections. Make sure you get flea medication for your dog every month and have a vet examine them regularly to ensure they are healthy. Additionally, if their skin problems lead to ear infections or other hot spots, it may be a food allergy – a more severe issue that should be addressed by a veterinarian.

Diabetes – Dog health problems tend to mirror human issues in many ways and diabetes is one such potential disease. Excess rich, fatty and sugary foods can result in pancreatic issues that cause diabetes. To avoid diabetes, keep your dog on a strict diet of dog foods with minimal table scraps or excess meals. If your dog is diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll need to see a vet regularly and may need to administer regular shots.

Arthritis and Dysplasia – Some dogs are highly susceptible to joint problems. Pure breds especially have a long history of arthritic dog health problems due to their longer, narrower joints. Make sure your dog receives the necessary vitamins and minerals it requires each day and that your vet checks the joints for degeneration at least once a year.

Obesity – Obesity is one of the most common and deadly dog health problems and is directly caused by eating too much and not exercising enough. Obesity itself doesn’t lead to mortality, but the higher rates of heart failure, tumors, liver disease, and skin problems are all very dangerous if not dealt with immediately. Obesity can be treated with a careful diet and keen eye to a dog’s activity levels.

If your dog gets plenty of exercise, eats well every day, and you keep it clean and well groomed, many of these health problems will never be an issue. Even then, you should make sure you visit your vet annually to check for any potential issues. The earlier you catch a disease, the better it can be treated.

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In fact, most puppies learn to stop biting when they are still very young. Because they have so many brothers and sisters in their litter, they quickly learn that when they bite, they get bitten back. By the time a puppy is eight weeks old, it should already know not to bite. The problem then is that the mother doesn’t always get eight weeks to stop puppy biting.

The Early Days

If you take home a puppy that is less than eight weeks old or that simply did not learn not to nip and bite at your fingers before you got it, it’s important to take quick action to stop the biting behavior.

First thing’s first. Never hit your puppy in response to the bite. If they don’t think you’re playing, they may become afraid of you, developing serious phobias and anxieties that can lead to aggression issues later in life.

To truly stop puppy biting, you need to address the root of the behavior. To do this, you should encourage them in any good behaviors and discourage any negative behaviors. Don’t confuse the puppy by playing games that might lead to this kind of aggression. Avoid wrestling, tug of war, or chase games that will lead to nipping by the puppy.

Consistency will be very important in training your puppy. If you really want to stop puppy biting, you cannot grow soft or let the dog get away with anything. You’re doing this all for its own good.

The Training

When you start training your puppy, try to enroll them in obedience or socialization classes. There are actual bite inhibition classes where trainers will mimic the behaviors of the puppy’s mother, teaching it that the bites are not socially acceptable. Socialization is good for many other reasons as well. It teaches your dog to respond well to other dogs on the street and will reduce any aggression they show toward other dogs.

Early, when you try to stop puppy biting, redirect the behavior to something constructive like a chew toy or bone. If you say “No!” and then give the dog a toy to chew on instead, they will often learn very quickly that the finger is not okay, but the toy is.

Another good method is to make a small, hurt noise whenever the puppy nips at you. This will replicate the response a dog gets when it bites its litter mate. A soft whine or yip will tell the puppy that it has caused you pain, something it doesn’t want to do. Startle the dog enough that they let go and leave you be.

Training to stop puppy biting is a very important part of the relocation process, especially if your puppy is very young. Ideally, your puppy should understand that by the time they are 10 weeks old, biting is not okay. It will make the years to come much less stressful and the risk of potential aggression the future much lower.

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The Value of a Crate to a Dog

Whether you’re learning how to crate train a dog or just determining if it is safe for your dog, know that most dogs love their crates. In the wild, a dog will seek out a small, safe space to burrow into that will keep them warm and safe. A crate performs that wonderfully, giving them a safe space that is theirs alone. Dogs that have wide open spaces often have trouble differentiating their “home” from it, and will grow anxious trying to control and patrol the entire space.

How to Crate Train a Dog

Ideally, you will crate train your dog as a puppy. A full grown dog that has never been in a crate will have a harder time adjusting to the small space and may grow anxious. A puppy will also be a bit upset but adapts much quicker, and if the puppy never has the option to sleep with you in your bed, it will likely not have anything to be upset about.

It is best to place the crate in the family room where a lot of people will be. At night, you should put the crate in your bedroom to give them a safe presence nearby. Eventually, after a month or so, you should be able to leave them in one place, but for now, be close to keep them calm and safe.

When you put your puppy in the crate, make sure he has a clean, comfortable place to sleep, a source of water, and a toy to play with. The crate should be only big enough for him to sleep in. If he can walk around in it, he may make a mess in it. As long as the dog can turn around in the crate, it is comfortable for them, and not inhumane.

When learning how to crate train a dog, make sure you don’t pull the dog out of the crate if he gets upset. This will only teach the puppy that if he makes a fuss, you’ll give him attention. Make sure you only take the puppy out of the crate when he has been quiet for at least 5 minutes. Then, greet him with a lot of attention and even a treat to reinforce that he did it right.

At first, try to leave your puppy in the crate for short periods of time – an hour or two at a time. As he grows older, increase that time to match a full night of sleep or a day at work.

If you learn how to crate train a dog properly, you’ll be able to ensure your dog never gets too loud, destructive, or anxious when you leave. A puppy adapts quicker too, which is much less stressful for everyone in the house.

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Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

There are many causes of aggressive behavior in dogs. It might be due to a dominance related issue between you and the dog, or it might be a trigger that was never properly dealt with from puppyhood – such as an attack by a different dog. Whatever is causing your dog’s aggression, however, you need to address it as soon as possible. The results of prolonged aggression can be not only scary, but dangerous if not quickly taken to task.

The Source of Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

Dog aggression can start as young as 6 weeks of age, a crucial age when a puppy should be socialized with other dogs and given the necessary training that keeps them from biting other people. This period of socialization lasts until the dog turns 14 weeks of age and can extend even further beyond that.

This means several things. First, never take a puppy away from its litter before 8 weeks of age. Never use harsh discipline with the puppy between 8 and 10 weeks and make sure the dog is very gently treated in that time. Hitting, yelling or other harsh punishments at a young age can breed aggressive behavior in dogs over time.

A dog needs to have been properly socialized with people and other dogs by the time he reached 14 weeks to avoid any future aggression issues.

Actual aggression can be triggered by any number of factors. Heredity and genetics are certainly factors – some breeds can be more aggressive than others – but it is by no means a hard fast rule. Additionally, dogs that have not been neutered or spayed are more prone to aggressive tendencies.

By far, however, the most important factor in creating aggressive behavior in dogs is their environment. A dog that has poor living conditions, harsh masters, no socialization, or that has been frightened or attacked by another dog is far more likely to be aggressive as it ages.

Aggression can grow from the need to establish a pack pecking order. Biting, posturing, and other aggressive tendencies are often the result of a dog testing for dominance. You’ll need to establish dominance at a young age and maintain that position throughout the dog’s adolescence to ensure it doesn’t get a chance to take control of the household.

Stopping and Controlling Aggressive Behavior in Dogs

If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior after 14 months of age, when it has reached sexual maturity, especially after it has been altered, you should address the problem immediately. First, make sure you have established yourself as the pack leader. Don’t reward your dog for aggressive behavior, even if it is scared (especially in this case).

Train your dog to respond to your commands, control feeding and walking times, and make sure the dog has a strong leader in the house. If you defer to the dog or allow it to take liberties in your home, it will exhibit stronger aggression toward others.

If your dog is defensive-aggressive, they may strike out at a person in fear. These dogs may not have been properly socialized. Keep them away from small children (which they may see as direct threats) and attend a training session or behaviorist who can slowly acclimate the dog to a social atmosphere.

Aggressive behavior in dogs is a huge problem that many owners have, but it can be controlled, even as your dog gets older. If your aggression ever advances to violence, consider hiring a professional to intervene before someone gets hurt and your dog is held responsible.

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How to Stop Dogs from Biting as Puppies

The easiest and most important time to pinpoint this behaviour and stop it is when the dog is still a puppy. A puppy under six months of age is very easy to retrain because it is still in the formative years of its life, when dogs generally learn how to bite in the wild.

The big problem here is that many people assume their puppies are merely playing or teething and not really trying to hurt them. Unfortunately, what is really happening is that your puppy is learning how to assert its position in the pack, using its teeth to show who is in charge. If you want to know how to stop dogs from biting, it starts right here, when they are still very open to learning.

There are many ways to stop your puppy from biting. Most of them will mimic how the puppy would be treated with its litter mates and mother. A light nip on the neck, a whining noise when you are bitten, and replacement therapy where you hand the dog a toy instead of your hand are all good ways to teach the dog that biting other people is not acceptable. If you have trouble teaching your puppy to stop nipping, you should go to an obedience school or hire a trainer.

How to Stop Dogs from Biting at One Year

If a puppy is allowed to nip and bite and show that it is in charge of the household, it will move on to play biting when it is a teenager at around one year of age. Any number of factors can contribute to this behaviour. You should stop playing physical games with you dog right away. No wrestling, tug of war or other dominance related games.

Additionally, stop allowing your dog the run of the house. Give them boundaries, cut them down to a specific range of motion, even crate training them if necessary. A good obedience training program can be very helpful with a teenage dog that bites.

How to Stop Dogs from Biting as they Age

If your dog continues to get away with their biting behaviour, eventually it will evolve into a big problem as an adult. The dog might “turn on” their owner, but in reality, the dog always stays himself as the leader of the pack.

If your dog bites or nips at anyone after one year of age, you need to find a professional immediately because there is serious danger here and the dog might choose to assert its dominance at any time with an attack.

When learning how to stop dogs from biting, you need to start at as early an age as possible. With only a few exceptions for disease or mental disorder, dogs who bite as adults had issues as puppies that could have been resolved.

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So, before you can stop dog barking, you need to understand why they bark and what forms of barking you can control.

The Causes of Dog Barking

Dogs bark for any number of reasons. They bark when they are angry. They bark when they are excited. They even bark when they are scared. Here is a rundown of when you might expect your dog to start barking:

Territorial Barking
Alarm Barking
Attention Seeking Barking
Greeting Barking
Frustration Barking
Compulsive Barking
Injury or Illness Related Barking

As you can see, barking is a major part of who your dog is. It’s impossible to stop dog barking completely. They’re going to want to express themselves at times, regardless of what you do to inhibit their behaviors.

How to Stop Barking Dogs

When your dog refuses to stop barking, first determine if the behavior is warranted. Nine times out of ten, it’s excessive and can be controlled. If you decide that your dog’s barking can and should be controlled, ask yourself these questions.

When does the dog bark?
What is the dog barking at?
Does the dog have a specific trigger?

If you determine that your dog is barking because it wants to protect its territory or is simply alarmed by something, you cannot simply yell at your dog to stop. In fact, negative reinforcement for territorial barking can often lead to biting or aggression in other forms. Your dog doesn’t understand what you’re trying to tell them. They stop the barking, but the territorial issues are still there.

Instead, you need to create a situation in which your dog will not feel that territorial urge to defend itself. This starts by taking control of your household. Be the alpha leader of the pack and show the dog that you are the one in charge of protecting that space. Secondly, you can simply reduce the dog’s ability to see those incursive threats to its territory. Draw your blinds so he cannot see the mailman, get an opaque fence so they cannot see outside the yard, and make sure they don’t have open access to the windows at any time.

Stop Barking Dogs with Anxiety

If your dog has anxiety issues, the barking is likely a symptom of something much greater. They want to reach you and will continuously bark until you return. Most of the time, this is because you have rewarded them for this behavior in the past. When you return home and they are excited, you immediately give them attention. Rather than rewarding them in this instance, you should ignore your dog for as long as 10-15 minutes so they stop associating your return with attention.

Finally, to stop dog barking, you should teach your dog how to speak and be quiet. By creating a command that allows you to control the behavior, your dog will learn to control the barking when it is not necessary. A benefit of this is that, if there is an intruder or something you want your dog to bark at, they will still alert you.

Dog barking does not have to be the bane of your community that it has become. Learn to control it early and you’ll never need to worry about the neighbors banging down your door every day when you get home.

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So, if you want to adjust any negative behaviors, the best way to approach your dogs is not to scold them or yell at them, but to focus on changing how they express those instincts.

Core Dogs Training Tips

There are a few basic things that every dog owner should consider when training their furry friend. These tasks can make dog training much easier across the board.

Crate Training - Crate training provides your dog with a home that it can call its own. Never use a crate as a punishment and make sure to spend time at home with your dog in the crate so he can get used to it. As most dog training tips will tell you, a crate can make house breaking, bark reduction, and anxiety issues much better.

Leash Training - If you’re having issues with your dog on a leash, the most important thing you can do is teach them to reach a controlled, calm state. This controlled state will allow them to respond to your commands without getting too excited about the upcoming walk. The majority of dogs with leash issues are simply allowed to run around outside and pull. If your dog pulls on the leash, make them sit and wait by your side before walking again. In short order, they will associate that pulling sensation with the stop of their walk.

The Alpha Position - The most important dog training tips relate to the position you hold in the house. Despite what most people think, dog training is not the burden of your dog. He doesn’t know what you want and doesn’t generally understand what you’re saying. The burden is on you to teach your dog that you are the leader of the pack and have control of the situation. They can then relax, follow your commands and stop worrying about who will protect them.

Obedience Training – The best dog training tips you’ll get can come from an obedience class. These classes teach new dog owners how to maintain the alpha leadership position in their household, display control over their new pup and give them specific, strong commands. If you have a new puppy or are simply having trouble controlling your older dog, consider an obedience class to supplement your home training.

The Importance of Consistency

The one thing that all dogs training tips have in common is the need for consistency. A dog may seem smart, and in many ways they are, but much of what they learn is in response to a repeated, consistent environment. If you only make them sit before going out when you have time for it, they will get confused and excited and stop following your commands. If you set a rule, be consistent with it and ensure everyone in your home does the same. Good dog training can actually be harder for you than your dog, but it is almost always well worth it.

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