Precluding Your Puppy From Digging And Puppy Clicker Conditioning

By Brad Morgan

Dogs love to dig. Whether it is to bury a bone, look for a bone, or to just see what is underneath the dirt this time, dogs enjoy digging.

While it is a natural instinct in dogs, digging can be detrimental to your yard and to your dog's discipline. How can you get your living breathing shovel to stop?

As with children, dogs do things for a reason. Why is your dog digging? If you can figure this out, you are halfway to a solution. Does he just love to fling dirt?

There are reasons why your dog may dig in your yard: he may need more exercise and stimulation. He may be hoarding food or trying to cool off or stay warm in the ground. He may be trying to investigate the smell of fertilizer or fresh dirt.

If you can determine why your dog is digging, you can take appropriate action. For instance, do you notice your dog digging when it is very hot? He could simply be seeking some shelter from the sun. Remedying the situation by getting a doghouse or taking the dog inside will most likely stop the digging.

If the problem persists, try one of the following:

1. Find the spots your dog usually digs and bury a balloon that has been inflated. If your dog digs, he'll pop the balloon. This unpleasant reaction to his digging can deter him from continuing.

2. When you refill the holes, add in some of your dog's own feces. The next time he digs there, he will be repelled by it. This may not be a fun way for you to teach your dog, but it is effective and humane.

3. Unpleasant sensations can also help keep your dog from digging. Bury some chicken wire just below the surface of the ground. When his claws scratch the wire, he'll often hate the feeling so much he'll stop.

4. When you catch your dog digging, give him a spray from a water bottle or hose. They hate this (but it is not harmful). They will learn to associate the punishment with the crime. Only do this when you catch him digging or he will not connect the behavior with the consequence.

Digging doesn't have to be a part of your dog's normal routine. With a little work and training, you can get past this behavior and have a hole-free yard

Clicker Training for Great Dog Behavior

As people look for gentle ways to discipline and train their dogs, the use of clickers has become more prominent. Your dog will learn to repeat behavior that is desirable in a safe, humane way.

When you use clicker training, you teach your dog to associate good behavior with a treat or reward. This is known as the principle of operant conditioning. How does it work?

You hold a small plastic box in your hand. It has a metal strip which produces a clicking sound when pressed.

Ask your dog to perform a command, such as sit, stay, heel, etc. When he does, click right away and give your dog a treat. You are pairing the clicking sound with the treat.

Your dog will connect the clicking sound with the behavior he just performed. Since that behavior earned him a treat, he'll want to repeat it. As the training progresses, you can stop using the treat. The click will be sufficient reward. Soon, you don't even need the clicker either.

You can often train dogs with clickers faster and more effectively than with other means. Clicking is immediate, so your dog quickly learns that his behavior is producing the treat. This encourages repetition of the desired behaviors.

Dogs want to make you happy, and performing commands is a great way for them to do this. And get a treat in the process. The clicker is a great training tool for encouraging good behavior. - 29953

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