How To Stop Your Dog From Barking

Few things in life can drive you crazy as a constantly barking dog. Whether they have that deep shuddering “Woof, woof, woof” or that ear piercing “Yap, Yap, Yap” it can do your head in very quickly.

The great news is that barking is not something that dogs need to do in order to be happy. In fact, generally speaking barking is a sign of stress, frustration, anxiety or over excitement and none of these emotions are particularly good for your dog. Or you!

Remember a content, relaxed dog does not bark!

So lets take a look at one specific type of barking and get you started on putting a stop to it… Dogs who bark when you are not at home is a very common issue.

Usually people have no idea that they have a problem until the neighbor or even worse the dog control officer pays you a visit.

Understanding why your dog is barking is the key to stopping it so you can actually address the cause of your dogs problem and not just treat the symptoms.

Now bear with me on this one because… you MUST remember you have to see it all through your dogs eyes!

So think of it like this…

Your dog is a pack animal and understands that there are leaders and followers. And one of the pack leader's jobs is to protect the pack.

So when on Monday morning everybody leaves the house to go to work and leaves the dog at home alone they become stressed… and so would you if you lost your pack!

That’s the reason why they're stressed and barking. They are calling out to you to come back. They just are trying to do their job.

Think about it… If you are a parent with a young 3 year old child, one of your main jobs is to keep that child safe, so you keep an eye on them. All the time. All over the house you know where they are. They are safe.

You are relaxed.

If they suddenly walk out of the house and shut the front door behind them locking you in what would you do? Chase after them? Of course… But. What if the door was locked and you couldn’t open in. And all the other doors and windows are locked. Then what would you do…

Phone for help? Your dog doesn't have that option! Shout for help? Well that is exactly what your dog is doing…

You certainly wouldn't sit down, relax and have a cup of tea, knowing your young child was wandering around the streets alone.

Are you starting to see why your dog is stressed and barking when you leave now? And all those other annoying behaviors such as chewing, destruction and trying to dig under the fence, or jump over the fence that only happen when you're not around… Yep, that’s right. They are all symptoms of a stressed dog that’s desperately concerned about you not being home and safe. Remember your dog can’t speak English to tell you any of this!

So what’s the solution? Well it’s almost certainly not by giving them a bone to chew on whilst you are away. Imagine saying to the parent who is totally stressed that their young child is out on the streets…

“Don’t worry, here’s a box of chocolates”! You may love chocolates but it is not going to work in this situation.

Toys jammed full of food and other distractions do not treat the cause of the problem either. They are only treating the symptoms and so may work, if you’re lucky, for half an hour or so – max – but not long term.

Most of you will know that this doesn't work because you'll have already tried it!

The solution is actually very simple.

You need to become the pack leader in your dog’s eyes. Once you do this correctly your dog will not see it as their job to protect you.

You will be able to come and go as you please and they will be totally relaxed.

This is the real solution to having a calm relaxed dog. No tricks here, just an honest understanding.

Now. Becoming the pack leader is not complicated. Anyone can do it, however it's not really something that I can explain in 2 minutes here. If you take a look at Doggy Dan’s website  he explains very powerfully how to establish yourself as the pack leader and stop dogs from barking when you leave them. There is even a $1 trial of the site that you can take advantage of right now.

Here though are additional tips that you can use in conjunction with becoming the pack leader that will help stop your dogs barking.

• Exercise: Exercise your dog before you leave them – a tired dog is more likely to relax

• Find the right space: Try leaving your dog in different areas – some dogs will relax more outside, others inside and some prefer smaller areas such as a washroom

• Fed and watered: Always leave water down and make sure that your dog is warm and fed before you leave

• Pick up the bones: Leave toys around for your dog but not bones

• Music and TV: Consider leaving music on for your dog or the TV

– these distractions can help

• Herbal remedies: There are some herbal products for dogs which can help relax them – but again they do not really treat the cause of the issue, they simply help relax them, and are also quite costly

• Dog walkers: A break in the middle of the day can certainly help break up your dogs day

• Leave calmly: Leave your dog calmly – whilst it's fun to get excited when you leave your dog it's better if you leave calmly.

Say goodbye 5 minutes before leaving to help them stay relaxed as you go

• Comfort jackets: There are also jackets and shirts available that are designed to comfort them – however they are very expensive and have limited success in my experience. I even know of one dog that actually ate it!

Unfortunately the popular idea that getting another dog is going to stop the problem is something I would stay well away from. Remember the source of your dogs issue is not boredom. After all, many dogs who bark all day when the owners leave are the same dogs who lie around the house doing nothing most of the weekend when they are at home!

So with all that said hopefully now you have a far better understanding of your dog's problem!

I would suggest if you are really serious about stopping the barking immediately then take a look at Doggy Dans site and become the pack leader. That will be the end of your issue.

To take advantage of your 3 Day $1 trial and take a look around this amazing site CLICK HERE There is actually an entire section dedicated to stopping this sort of barking under the dog problem section "Separation Anxiety".

It’s not hard but you have to understand your dog's problem through their eyes rather than human eyes! They do not want more bones, or biscuits shoved into a ball – what they want is a strong pack leader.

So get started now, take advantage of the 3 Day $1 trial now, don’t hang around. The sooner you turn things around the sooner your neighbours will be thanking you for it!

How to stop your dogs digging

So what’s the score with my dogs digging? I hear you asking… Why are they doing it and how do I stop them destroying my beautiful back garden?

Well here’s the way your dog see’s it and its very different from how you think! In fact it will answer a lot of your questions.

Firstly though here’s what your dogs digging is not. Your dogs digging is not their attempt to annoy you, wind you up or simply ruin your new flower garden out of spite. Dogs simply are not like that…(you’re thinking like a human)

Natural behavior

Dogs are fun loving animals however and so many dogs will dig for fun. Younger dogs and puppies especially simply love exploring, investigating and having a good time in the soil, sand, mud, stones etc…it really doesn’t matter to them.

Sometimes dogs are doing it for specific reasons, such as they are too hot and are looking to dig into the cooler ground. Alternatively they could be cold and looking to build a bit of a den. They could simply have too much energy and are trying to channel it into something in which case more exercise will certainly help.

You need to cover off all these things before you simply start blaming your dog as a naughty dog!

Smelly fertilizers

One of the biggest motivators for dogs digging is if you have sprinkled some sort of fertilizer such as “blood and bone” or anything that has a smelly element to it. This will drive your dog wild so be careful where you sprinkle your magic garden food. Whilst we are on this topic be very careful with slug pellets which can be deadly for dogs. Some products on the market claim to be safe however if they do not say they are then you can assume that they are deadly and so do not use them!

Now back to the digging…so once you have given your dog plenty of exercise, removed any buried bones, stopped using smelly garden products and given your dog a nice shelter to stay warm you start to ask the question… “What now?”

Well digging like I say is a very normal activity, however excessive digging is not. In other words, most dogs dig and the secret is not to stop it but to work with your dog and manage their digging. And don’t worry I shall explain how to stop any excessive digging aswell.

Digging pits

If you can focus your dogs digging into one area then you are halfway there. This can be done by creating a clear digging pit, possibly just a few pieces of wood with a couple of nails….You could even start the digging with a spade! If you put a few toys in, bury them and encourage your dog to dig in and maybe even bury a couple of tasty treats…just a couple of times you will be amazed at how quickly your dog starts to pay attention and get involved! Once your dog understand that they are ok to dig in one area but not in the middle of the lawn you are on your way to success.

Holes in the lawn

But what about the holes in the lawn? I here you ask, well… he best solution for holes that have started is to put a small brick or rock at the bottom of the hole and wedge it in. Then bury it back in a pack the earth in around it. Then if your dog tries to return to dig in that area they will become stuck when they get to the rock. No fun for your dog.

Most will give up. If they continue, I would walk over to them, guide them back over to your digging pit and encourage them to dig. If they keep going back to the lawn to dig, place them in timeout somewhere.

They will soon learn that they are not allowed to dig in the lawn. Digging when you are not there One of the biggest problems that people have is digging when they leave the property however the solution is quite simple. Rather than this being a excessive energy problem or a dog who loves digging problem it is a pack leader issue.

That’s right, your dog is digging most likely to try to escape the property to find you. That is why so many dogs who dig when the owner is away are digging around the base of the fence or gate. Owners will often say to me “my dog never digs when I am home, only when I am away” That’s right when you are home they relax and are happy, when you leave they try to find you.

They see it as their job to protect you and look after you. Many dogs will simply become stressed when they are left and channel their stress into digging, anywhere. Destructive behavior such as chewing is the same thing, they are simply stressed as they think that their job is to protect and look after you.

Become the pack leader

In a nutshell you need to become the pack leader and then they will relax when you are not around. Not only this but so many other issues will also likely disappear when your dog understands that they are not in charge.

The best site I have come across to understand how to become the pack leader is Doggy Dan’s amazing website. And believe it or not but you can actually check it out here for $1! CLICK HERE

That’s right, Dan gives you a $1 trial of the site for 3 days just so you can first see if you like it!

Becoming the pack leader using Doggy Dan’s method is not harsh or difficult it is a very kind and gentle way of working with your dog. It explains in some very simple steps exactly how to become the pack leader and the site also has fantastic sections on both raising the perfect puppy dog and stopping any unwanted behaviors.

Quite simply it is a fantastic site and one that I fully recommend you take a look at. Whatever your digging issue, becoming the pack leader will help your dog relax, when you are home or away and then any training that you put in place will have an effect. When it comes to dog training, if you are not the pack leader you aren’t going to achieve anything fast.

So make sure that you get the order right…You need to first win your dogs mind and then you can train their body !

Make sense? And to win their mind and become the pack leader CLICK HERE then all the tips on stopping digging above will take care of the rest.

Remember, Dan gives you a $1 trial of the site for 3 days! To get YOUR access now just CLICK HERE 

How to train a dominant dog

Have you ever been in the situation where you are out for a walk with your dog, happily going down the street when your heart misses a beat and then sinks because you see another dog coming?

It means only one thing. Your lovely but very dominant dog is going to try to leave their mark on yet another dog. And you've no idea how badly this could go!

Even though the other dog is on a leash you know you're in trouble if they come too close, and so you start looking for an exit strategy…

But before you know it your dog is pulling like crazy and the hair on their back is starting to rise.

You’ve tried everything to stop this behavior. Like tugging on the leash, a different collar, distraction with food but nothing has made the slightest bit of difference. Now it’s just a case of keeping them separated at all costs.

You've started to give up all hope. So where did it all go so horribly wrong?

The thing that so many dog owners and trainers don’t seem to understand is that if you’ve been giving your dog the wrong messages at home then it's too late to turn it around when you see another dog on the street.

The simple fact is this... Dogs are simple animals. And I mean that in a very loving way. But they’re simply not interested in bigger TVs, faster cars or their next holiday.

Rather, dogs are about survival. First and foremost. Which includes protect the property and the pack, especially when they are outside.

Now. Think about it. Dogs are pack animals. They understand there are leaders and followers.

And the leaders decide what is dangerous and take the initiative protecting the pack.

So what do you think happens when your dog thinks that they are the pack leader and they walk down the street and see another strange dog coming?

That’s right. They walk up to them chest-up, head-up, tail-up and try to get them to back down. And that’s when it all goes pear-shaped.

But what started the reaction was giving your dog the message that they were in charge in the first place! That they're in fact the Pack Leader in your home.

This is where Doggy Dan’sdog training method is so cool. He totally understands how to show dogs that you're the pack leader and the site explains how YOU can do all of that in a very simple way. Dan even offers YOU a 3 Day $1 trial of the site that you can take advantage of.

But what's really impressive is that he does it in such a kind and gentle way. And its very simple, he uses 5 Golden Rules.

When you can see Doggy Dan's pack around other dogs they do not overplay their role because they all know that he is the pack leader and so can take it easy.

Now of course all dogs are different and some dogs are naturally more dominant than others, and there are some who like to be more submissive. It doesn't really matter what kind your dog is.

The secret is this:

YOU need to be the Pack Leader. Once you establish this you will find all the other training tricks will start to work. A gentle pull on the leash, the distraction using a food treat and the gentle word of warning.

The fact is that the training approaches that you're currently using are probably really good ones but without a solid foundation they simply don’t work.

Because in summary your dog is not taking any notice of you once the other dog shows up. Your dog has bigger things to worry about, like protecting followers in their pack (you).

So, to turn it around… again, YOU need to become the pack leader. Doggy Dan has given me some great training tricks that I can share that will help you achieve that calmer dog as the other dogs approach, so here are a couple. But remember, the pack leader foundation HAS to be in place first.

• Food distractions: This approach can really work with some food hounds! The key is this: use it as a distraction. Do not reward your dog after they have lunged towards the oncoming dog. Use amazing food, such as chicken or cheese. Not their usual biscuits!

• Take it slowly: Do not expect miracles overnight. Unless you've just put the pack leader rules in place! Often pushing things too fast will result in it going wrong, but going slowly builds confidence.

• Master the walk: Make sure that you've gotten control of your dog's walking before you meet the oncoming dog. If you need to consider a device other than a flat collar to achieve this then do so.

• Stay focused on what you want: It’s easy to get sucked into following your dog's behavior but remember that you need to continue to show your dog exactly how you want them to behave.

• Be ready to step in: Stay focused on the best result but be ready to step in and quickly guide your dog away or gently tug or correct them. Once you've done this remember to relax immediately afterwards. One of the things that I love about this whole method is that it works with your dog's natural instincts.

For example it’s natural that one dog will be above another. You can’t take that out of dogs. But by positioning yourself as the top dog in the pack, they will not be nearly as likely to become overly protective, tense, dominant or take things too far.

If you want to watch a great video of two dogs playing at being dominant and submissive then check this video out. CLICK HERE

If you're thinking that it's time to take control back from your dog, and become the kind and gentle pack leader that they are looking for then To get your 3 day $1 trial and take a look around this amazing site now, CLICK HERE

Remember that trying to deal with the problem when you see the other dog approaching is always going to be too late. It’s about sorting out the real cause of the issue that will turn things around. Your dog is just waiting for you to give them the right messages!

Introducing your dog to other dogs calmly

One of the most common issues that people experience on the walk is the over excited dog, and trying to introduce them to other dogs on the leash.

Everything from Great Danes to Chihuahua’s can get so excited it looks like they are going to explode. There is nothing worse than when they try to meet other dogs and they are almost pulling you over and dragging you along. It can be scary, dangerous, embarrassing and very quickly escalates till you feel out of control and at the mercy of your dog.

Aggression or Excitement?

Sometimes it is very hard to tell what they are experiencing and feeling. The behavior is very often a mix of both excitement and stress. This however is not a great state for your dog to meet other dogs in as there is far more chance that things will go wrong, especially over time if it goes unchecked. See it from the other dogs point of view as your dog approaches rearing up on their back legs, barking, eyes bulging, gasping for air… you’ve go the picture.

So how do you avoid such a situation? Well in this post I shall explain the 3 options available to you. Then you will have a simple, basic approach to select one of the three and go and practice with your dog.

Having a clear plan of action is the first stage to success.

Firstly it is important to be clear that there are ONLY 3 options available. And secondly, you must have established yourself already as the pack leader – this is crucial.

1. Approach the other dog – Your dog is calm and you decide to simply approach the other dog on the leash. Yes, this is the ultimate goal! Remember that we are looking to reward good behavior so do not get in the way in this situation. Stay silent as you walk your dog towards the other dog and let them meet. In other words stay out of it and do not upset the calm environment that you have in front of you.

2. Stay well away – Picture your dog barking like crazy, completely out of control… this is where your gut instinct knows that it’s best not to go and visit the other dog and you are better off just walking past. It could be for a number of reasons. You may feel that you do not have time to work with your dog and try to calm them down, the other dog may not seem keen to play, maybe they look a little unsure, old or small.

One other important reason to do this is to show your dog that sometimes you do not get to meet and sniff every dog on the walk. (This is how it is in life, so get used to it!)

3. Calm your dog down then make a decision – In other words do some training to calm and distract your dog. After you have done this you may choose to approach the other dog or not. The choice is still yours. The really important point to remember is that you are taking time out to show your dog that if they calm down (even just a little bit) good things happen. Over time your dog starts to learn that the calmer they are the more chance there is of meeting the other dogs.

What is the right option for me?

All three options are the right option at different times. In other words I still choose all three options for my dogs depending on the situation.

Younger dogs in particular will often need a bit more calming than older dogs and this training will certainly pay off in the long run.

Guaranteeing it will work

As I mentioned earlier, you really must have the pack leader foundations in place before you can trust how you dog will react in different circumstances. Learning Doggy Dan’s five Golden Rules of becoming the Pack Leader will give you the assurance that you are in charge and you dog is looking up to you and respecting you for all the decision making. Visit Doggy Dan’s video website here to learn how to become the Pack Leader  (Dan even offers a 3 Day $1 trial of the site that YOU can take advantage of, so I suggest the next thing you do today is take a look inside the site!)

The fatal mistake to avoid.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is rewarding bad behavior. Imagine a little dog barking because they wish to meet another dog on the other side of the street. If you simply cross over and meet them, even though the meeting goes well you have rewarded your dogs barking and excitement. This excitement will increase every time your dog sees a dog on the walk until it is almost unbearable and you realize you have a problem!

All dogs can learn to be calm as they approach other dogs, it just takes a bit of commitment from you to turn them around but it is not complicated once you know how. Take the time at home to establish yourself as the pack leader so that any training you do has the maximum impact. Remember the more your dog sees you as the one in charge, the more notice they will take of you and what you are doing!

Remember, Dan gives you a $1 trial of the site for 3 days. To take advantage of this offer and learn more about the 5 Golden Rules of Becoming The Pack Leader CLICK HERE 

Puppy Toilet Training

Is there anything worse?

You wake up in the morning the sun is shining and its another beautiful day. You come out of your bedroom and discover your puppy rolling around in his poo! Hmmm. Its everywhere.

It’s going to be 30-45 minute clean up minimum. You’re going to be running late today for sure.

Is there anything more frustrating?

You take your puppy or 1 year old dog outside to pee-pee. After they go pee-pee, you return inside. Within seconds of coming inside your dog decides to continue with a little sprinkle all over your new rug. Aaggghh!

Surely toilet training a puppy or a dog should not take this long or be so hard? You’re right. It shouldn’t and it isn’t. The thing is this...

There’s no magic wand but there are a heap of little tricks that will turn your puppy’s toileting around and you are probably not using most of them.

The crazy thing is that most people don’t do any of these things because they have never been told exactly what to do. Nobody has ever explained how important these little things are when you are toilet training your puppy.

And they are all simple and all logical. So let me point you in the right direction with a couple of them so you can get the idea and then I’ll tell you about the most awesome toilet training resource that I found for those of you who are interested.

1. Staying calm:

Firstly the thing that you have to accept is that you are responsible. Like training a young child or baby to use a potty. You can’t blame them for not being toilet trained and take your frustrations out on them.

In fact, it can really set you back. Becoming angry, shouting at your puppy, being annoyed will do nothing to encourage them to relax and follow your commands to toilet outside!

Imagine trying to go to the toilet with an angry frustrated person standing there staring at you!

So all of that rubbish about rubbing a dog's nose in it to show them not to do it again, is simply old school and so out of date. People who do this sort of stuff have completely missed the point.

Think about it…

Why do you think your puppy pee-peed in the house? Because they needed to go. Right? They were holding on, probably bursting, needed to go and so they thought, “OK, I gotta go pee-pee…like NOW!” And if the door was shut as well, then what do you expect?

Your puppy is not vindictive, or trying to wind you up. So when you rub your puppies nose in it…they are still not sure where they are supposed to go.

Repeat…They are still not sure where they are supposed to go. Got it yet? So when you start telling your puppy off for going pee-pee in front of the couch all you are doing is telling your puppy that this is not the right place. Try somewhere else… But…

“They are still not sure where they are supposed to go!” That’s right. You need to show them. You need to train them. That’s why its called toilet training.

2. Stay focused on the goal:

Its odd that the biggest mistake that people make with toilet training is the most important one. Most people take their eye off the goal too soon and start telling poor puppy off when they get it wrong. The secret is this...

Keep rewarding your puppy with amazing treats every time they go toilet in the right place…

That’s right. Every single time. With amazing treats. For a long time!

Nothing will motivate your puppy faster than rewarding them with a couple of amazing tasting little treats immediately after they have finished.

Notice I say immediately. Not 30 seconds later… It should be within 2 seconds. Too late and the connection to the pee-pee they just did will be lost. Get your treat in their mouth quick and they will very quickly start to link the two.

The Ah-Ha moment is when your puppy thinks… “So if I pee-pee on the grass you give me the most amazing treat?” “OK…Deal!”

Unfortunately most of us will reward for a week or two and then stop. We forget, get bored, run out of treats or can be bothered.

One little tip I heard on a great 40 minute toilet training audio the other day is to leave a jar with treats outside by the pee-pee area so that even if you forget to take treats out with you there are already some at hand.

3. It does take time

Remember that puppies are still young and small. They are still learning and it will take time. Anyone with young children will tell you…

Toilet training takes TIME and PATIENCE! Sometimes 3 years or more for young children.

Think about this for a second.

How old is your puppy? 16 weeks! Children can’t even lift their own heads at that age and we become frustrated that our puppy isn’t perfectly toilet trained by that age…

So take a breath and relax. The good news is that you can do it and your puppy is perfectly normal.

So focus on the successes and learn to quickly put the mistakes behind you. It's great learning for life. Look to see what you could have done differently but don't beat yourself up. We've all been there and the good news is that its not forever.

4. The rug

This is just a little tip I heard from that toilet training audio file I mentioned earlier that I’ll tell you about in a second. It made me smile because it is exactly what happens all the time.

Here’s the scenario…

Your puppy finds a nice thick piece of rug that is not the carpet. The rug feels nice, a bit like grass and looks like it is a good place to go peepee.

They go pee-pee or even worse poo-poo! Unfortunately for you it is your brand new, thick, white, shag pile rug and its very hard to get the stains and smell out of.

Even when carefully cleaned, your puppy can still smell the pee and poo and so now it even smells like a good place to go. Before long your beautiful expensive shag pile rug is a very costly toilet mat.

They secret is simple. Pick it up and put it back down in 6 months time in perfect condition. No stains, no marks, no regrets. Trust me on the shag pile rug. Do not take the chance! It is a very slippery slope.

5. Knowledge is everything:

When it comes to toilet training there really are so many things to think about and you will simply not think of them all on your own. You need to be told the secrets before your toileting goes pear-shaped.

And the best place that I have found by far to get hold of all the tips about dog and puppy training including toilet training is Doggy Dan’s websiteThe Online Dog Trainer Dan even offers a 3 Day $1 trial of the site that YOU can take advantage of, so I suggest the next thing you do today is take a look inside the site!

Inside the site are over 250 videos including a whole section with an amazing 40 minute recording on toilet training your puppy. It’s fantastic and covers off everything that you could possibly want to know.

Here’s a couple of tips to give you an idea of what's inside.

- Those tricky times. What to do during the night and when you are at work to prevent accidents. How long to leave them and what to leave them with.

- Setting your puppy up to win so that they can’t make mistakes.

- Why some older puppy’s regress at 4 months old and why you need to get them back on track immediately.

- Older dogs. Why much older dogs who are several years old can suddenly start going toilet in the house and what to do to stop it.

- Habit Breaking. How to break an old habit if your puppy is toileting all over the house.

- Crate training. Everything you need to know about crate training your puppy if you choose to use that approach.

Plus all the tips, and advice on every topic to do with toilet training such as cleaning up the mess, feeding, watering and toilet frequency and schedules.

So that’s all for now. As you can see it’s a big topic. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this and that you get a handle on your puppy's toileting sooner rather than later.

If you really are struggling and want to end all the frustration immediately then I strongly suggest you take a look at Doggy Dan’s site The Online Dog Trainer and check out the Toilet Training section inside the site.

Remember, Dan gives you a $1 trial of the site for 3 days! To get YOUR access now just CLICK HERE: