Seven Recommendations For Stopping Your Dog’s Excessive Barking

Dog behavior is sometimes a result of our behavior when interacting with the dog. Beyond the basic requirements of food, water and shelter, a dog needs social interaction, positive attention from his human companion, exercise and mental stimulation. Several of these additional  needs  can be met by simply taking your dog for a walk. Walking your dog daily gives him the attention from you that he needs. Possibly more than anything else, our dogs merely want our companionship. Even if you stay at home during the day, much of your time is spent doing household tasks instead of interacting with your family dog. When going for a walk, take along a plastic bag or other disposable container and be certain to pick up after your pet.

A walk allows you to reinforce obedience skills with your dog to increase the reliability of training. Going over the fundamental commands also increases the advantages of a walk as your dog isn’t merely ambling along, but is also performing extra tasks. Taking your dog for a walk keeps him mentally alert through local investigation. With nose to the ground and alert to the sights and sounds of the neighborhood, your dog collects clues about how his territory has been altered since the last walk.

Together with the emotional advantages, there are physical advantages. Taking your dog for a walk is the best way to exercise a dog that may not be very active in your home or even in your yard. Aging dogs should be kept as limber and fit as possible. However, he may not be disposed to exercise without some encouragement. Whether or not your pet is active in your backyard, it is definitely more active during a walk. Merely sharing an activity with you is one of your dog’s greatest motivations to exercise.

If you pass by another dog or person along the way, your dog has the opportunity to socialize. Studies of dog behavior show that dogs are social animals. It is only natural for them to investigate new individuals. Puppies ought to be encouraged, at an early age, to appropriately respond to and get along with other dogs and people while away from home. These friendly encounters help the puppy learn to behave well when greeting visitors to your home, or when he is with you no matter where you might be. If a dog does not have a chance to socialize, it will not understand how to interact appropriately with other people or dogs.

Walking your dog is one of the most effective ways to preclude behavior issues. At least one walk each day will help prevent elimination issues, destructiveness, separation anxiety and other general behavior disorders. Take your dog for a walk soon after each meal, as this is often the time it’s most likely to urinate or defecate, and you’ll be able to direct your dog to an acceptable spot. Praise must be given promptly to be effective. If you just let your dog go out in the yard, you lose an opportunity to bolster good behavior.

Permitting your dog to roam freely is dangerous both to your dog and to other pets and people. It also gives the unsupervised dog freedom to regress to unacceptable wild behavior. Your dog’s life could depend on his listening to your commands. Not permitting some activity cannot be viewed as unkind when considering the possible consequences.