Instructions


Step 1

Stop begging. This stems from natural instinct, improper socialization, boredom or desire for your attention. To stop it, feed your dog on a regular schedule with no snacks between meals. Never feed to the dog from the dinner table, and ignore the dog while he's begging.

Step 2

Prevent or stop biting. Dogs bite because they're teething, they feel threatened, they're injured, they've been abused or, sometimes, if the dog is in heat. Provide dogs plenty of chew toys. If a puppy nips or bites, use a can or bottle filled with coins or rocks as a shaker, and shake it at them while saying "no" firmly. The shake can will startle them. Dogs that are injured should be muzzled until they've healed to prevent biting.

Step 3

Keep your dog from chasing cars. Often a dog is protecting its territory when doing this, other times, it could mean simply that the dog dislikes cars. Keep the dog in a secure yard where the street isn't accessible. On walks, leash the dog and yank firmly on the leash if he guns for a car. That said, lavish praise on a dog when he resists chasing cars. Exercise the dog regularly to rid it of pent-up energy.

Step 4

Step chewing. This is also an element of the natural teething process in puppies. It also arises from boredom, separation anxiety, undernourishment, lack of exercise and thunderstorms. Give dogs chew toys and an alternative, particularly in puppies. Older dogs should have varied chew-toy options. Spray bitter apple (available at pet stores) on items the dog likes to chew. Home remedies include hot pepper sauce, vinegar and hot mustard, as well as alum mixed with water. Say "no" and use the shake can if you catch the dog in the act. Exercise the dog daily. Consult a vet if there is a diet problem or if the dog has a problem during thunderstorms.

Step 5

Don't let your dog dig through the trash. This results from hunger, boredom or a strong odor. Store the trash can in an inaccessible area and use a sealed lid. Spray bitter apple on the trash can or try some of the aforementioned home remedies. Once the dog knows that the shake can means "no," you can place it on top of the trash as a warning sign.

Step 6

Avoid holes in the lawn by preventing the dog from digging in it. Dogs usually dig as a natural sheltering instinct. They also do it to escape from the yard, from boredom, separation anxiety, critters and vermin or a desire to cool off in hot weather. Discourage it early on because it's one of the tougher habits to break, especially in terriers. Provide toys in your absence. If it's hot, put a kiddie pool in the yard. Exercise the dog daily. If it can't be stopped, confine the dog to an area of the lawn where digging is acceptable.

Step 7

Don't let your dog eat its (or others') stool. They do this because of undernourishment, stress, boredom or poor hygienic conditions. Clean up the stool as soon as the dog has eliminated it. Feed the dog special food, available through vets, that makes feces undesirable. Exercise and play with the dog daily to relieve stress and boredom. Keep the dog on a leash during walks, and use your shake can.

Step 8

Quiet excessive barking. Along with the usual culprits, territorial aggression and frustration can be to blame. Exercise the dog plenty. Train your dog to know the boundaries of the yard and narrow the area she feels territorial about.

Step 9

Don't let your dog fight with other dogs. Enroll your dog in obedience courses. Keep your dog on a leash during walk. Yank leash and say "no" firmly if he growls at another dog. Never try to break up dog fight with your hands. Hose dogs off, throw a jacket on them or try to distract them with loud noise.

Step 10

Keep dogs from jumping on people. Consistently discourage the practice at early age with firm "no." Ignore the dog and avoid eye contact when she jumps on you to discourage such behavior. Tell the dog to "sit" and reward her with affection and treats when she obeys. Exercise the dog daily to reduce excess energy.

Instructions

Step 1

Stop begging. This stems from natural instinct, improper socialization, boredom or desire for your attention. To stop it, feed your dog on a regular schedule with no snacks between meals. Never feed to the dog from the dinner table, and ignore the dog while he's begging.

Step 2

Prevent or stop biting. Dogs bite because they're teething, they feel threatened, they're injured, they've been abused or, sometimes, if the dog is in heat. Provide dogs plenty of chew toys. If a puppy nips or bites, use a can or bottle filled with coins or rocks as a shaker, and shake it at them while saying "no" firmly. The shake can will startle them. Dogs that are injured should be muzzled until they've healed to prevent biting.

Step 3

Keep your dog from chasing cars. Often a dog is protecting its territory when doing this, other times, it could mean simply that the dog dislikes cars. Keep the dog in a secure yard where the street isn't accessible. On walks, leash the dog and yank firmly on the leash if he guns for a car. That said, lavish praise on a dog when he resists chasing cars. Exercise the dog regularly to rid it of pent-up energy.

Step 4

Step chewing. This is also an element of the natural teething process in puppies. It also arises from boredom, separation anxiety, undernourishment, lack of exercise and thunderstorms. Give dogs chew toys and an alternative, particularly in puppies. Older dogs should have varied chew-toy options. Spray bitter apple (available at pet stores) on items the dog likes to chew. Home remedies include hot pepper sauce, vinegar and hot mustard, as well as alum mixed with water. Say "no" and use the shake can if you catch the dog in the act. Exercise the dog daily. Consult a vet if there is a diet problem or if the dog has a problem during thunderstorms.

Step 5

Don't let your dog dig through the trash. This results from hunger, boredom or a strong odor. Store the trash can in an inaccessible area and use a sealed lid. Spray bitter apple on the trash can or try some of the aforementioned home remedies. Once the dog knows that the shake can means "no," you can place it on top of the trash as a warning sign.

Step 6

Avoid holes in the lawn by preventing the dog from digging in it. Dogs usually dig as a natural sheltering instinct. They also do it to escape from the yard, from boredom, separation anxiety, critters and vermin or a desire to cool off in hot weather. Discourage it early on because it's one of the tougher habits to break, especially in terriers. Provide toys in your absence. If it's hot, put a kiddie pool in the yard. Exercise the dog daily. If it can't be stopped, confine the dog to an area of the lawn where digging is acceptable.

Step 7

Don't let your dog eat its (or others') stool. They do this because of undernourishment, stress, boredom or poor hygienic conditions. Clean up the stool as soon as the dog has eliminated it. Feed the dog special food, available through vets, that makes feces undesirable. Exercise and play with the dog daily to relieve stress and boredom. Keep the dog on a leash during walks, and use your shake can.

Step 8

Quiet excessive barking. Along with the usual culprits, territorial aggression and frustration can be to blame. Exercise the dog plenty. Train your dog to know the boundaries of the yard and narrow the area she feels territorial about.

Step 9

Don't let your dog fight with other dogs. Enroll your dog in obedience courses. Keep your dog on a leash during walk. Yank leash and say "no" firmly if he growls at another dog. Never try to break up dog fight with your hands. Hose dogs off, throw a jacket on them or try to distract them with loud noise.

Step 10

Keep dogs from jumping on people. Consistently discourage the practice at early age with firm "no." Ignore the dog and avoid eye contact when she jumps on you to discourage such behavior. Tell the dog to "sit" and reward her with affection and treats when she obeys. Exercise the dog daily to reduce excess energy.

While numerous people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs each year, most victims are children, particularly those younger than age five. Reports indicate that children most often are bitten by a family pet or other familiar dog. Young children also are more likely to be bitten on the face, head or neck. Fortunately, the risk of dog bite injuries can be minimized by teaching children when and how to approach a dog.

Instructions

Teach Your Child

Step 1
Instruct your child never to approach a strange dog, especially if it is tied, chained, or confined within a fence. Usually dogs bite out of fear. Even familiar dogs should be approached cautiously, particularly if the dog is eating or sleeping.

Step 2

Help your child to remain relaxed around a dog. An already confused or agitated dog can become more threatening if it senses that a person is stiffening up.
Step 3

Warn your child to be more careful around older dogs that might be blind, hearing-impaired, or sensitive to touch. A dog in pain may bite anyone, even its owner. Quick movements and loud noises can scare a dog that is lying quietly.

Step 4

Let the animal see and sniff first before allowing your child to pet the dog. By doing this, you let the dog know that you and your child are not a threat. However, don’t let your child hold her face close to a dog since doing so can make a child an easy target.

Step 5

Make certain that your child knows not to make direct eye contact with a dog, especially if it appears to be agitated. Staring into the eyes of a dog can make it more aggressive.

Step 6

Explain to your child not to scream or run past a dog. Many breeds of dogs have a natural instinct to chase prey. If a dog becomes threatening, your child should not turn away and run from the dog. Instead he needs to remain calm with hands and arms at his sides while backing away slowly.

Biting Dogs

It's that time of year, flowers in bloom, barbecues, long walks, dog bites.

When the weather warms up and we get more active the odds of us encountering, and being bitten by a dog, increases as well.

Children are especially susceptible to the charms of the four-footed. They don't understand that not all dogs are friendly, or that sudden moves can make even the gentlest dog use his teeth.

If you or someone you're with is bitten by a dog, here's what to do.

Instructions

Step 1

For minor wounds, where the bite has not broken the skin or has done so but just barely, and you are certain there is no danger of rabies, treat the bite as you would any wound. Wash the area thoroughly, apply an antibiotic cream, and cover with a bandage to keep it clean.

Step 2

For deeper wounds, apply gauze or cloth and apply pressure to stop the bleeding. Go to an urgent care or your doctor.

Step 3

If you suspect that the wound has become infected, and you see swelling, or redness, or feel increased pain, see you doctor immediately.

Step 4

If you don't know if the animal has had rabies shots contact your doctor. He will contact the local public health department and the dog will probably be quarantined and tested for rabies.

Step 5

You should get a tetanus shot every 10 years. If you haven't had one in five years from getting bit you should ask for a booster.

According to the Center for Disease Control, 4.5 million Americans are bitten by dogseach year. One out of five of those bitten, or approximately 885,000, require medical treatment for bite wounds. Biting is often caused by poor training and lack of a proper outlet for the dog's natural urge to chew. Providing toys and proper training can minimize the risk to yourself and others
Biting in Puppies
A puppy will often bite if it is removed from its mother too soon. Also, while growing, a puppy goes through several stages of teething in which it will chew on anything available, your hand included. Giving the puppy chew toys will encourage the canine to take out his urges in the proper manner.

Proper Training
If a puppy bites you, yelp and move away. Give the puppy his chew toy, and ignore him for a while. If this does not work, he may need a time out in a crate or other confined area until he calms down. Training requires consistency, and any time the puppy bites, make it clear that it is not okay. Training will not work if only used sometimes.

Biting In Older Dogs
Dogs have a natural urge to bite and chew. Providing proper chew toys circumvents the problem of a dog thinking it is okay to chew on humans. Even an older dog can be trained not to bite, but it may require more time and effort on the owner's part.

Discipline
Physical discipline, such as hitting, is never acceptable when dealing with a dog who bites. If the dog is biting from fear, aggression or excitement, physical discipline may escalate the situation.
When To Call a Professional Trainer
If, after providing ample chew toys and training, the dog still bites, it may be time to call a professional trainer for advice. Some dogs, especially those rescued from abusive or neglectful situations, may have a natural tendency to bite and require more intensive training methods.

Choosing the Right Toy
Always choose a chew toy that is appropriate for your dog's age and size. A too small chew toy can provide a choking hazard. A chew toy formulated for an older dog may damage a puppy's sensitive teeth.

An array of toys of different types and textures will encourage the dog to use them, and toys with treats hidden inside will provide a built in reward for the dog chewing on them, which is excellent, because dogs respond well to a reward system.