all about dogs

You’re at the football and your team scores; what do you do?

a) Sit there with your hands on your thighs.

b) Clap delicately while smiling.

c) Jump up, throw your hands in the air while yelling “Yesss.”, and then clap wildly.

I behave like the last listing and I understand that all dog breeds get excited too. They may show their excitement in many different ways, and it can depend on the dog breed.

Dogs can show excitement by:

* Barking

* Pulling on the lead

* Jumping up

* Chasing their tails

* Nipping clothes, body parts gently

* Peeing

Active exercise and good basic training can help prevent over-excited behavior. Planning also helps. If you know your dog may pee himself then make sure you greet the dog outside and have a ball ready to throw. The dog will play, have a pee and then settle down.

Would you like to be sitting around the house and locked in a yard 24 hours a day? If a dog sees a lead come out, then it WILL get excited because it will be free for a little while at least to investigate the smells, sights and sounds of the wide, wide world.

Some possible solutions are:

* If your dog barks when you get home, give a toy; or a ball to takes its mind off things until it settles down.

* If your dog pulls on the lead, don’t try to match it for strength, the dog will win. If you don’t like the pulling, you will need to train the dog in basic heeling obedience until they walk quietly by your side.

* If your dog jumps up, some people recommend that you simply turn away and let the dog slide off. Another way is to simply ignore the dog for a while each time you come home, then when the dog has settled, give the command “SIT” and then reward it with a quiet “Hello” and a few pats, while giving praise for the calm obedience.

Terriers are terrors for nipping when excited. Overcome this unpleasant habit by training your dog to carry a toy. If the dog is busy with they toy, they will find it very difficult to nip.

Remember:

* Dogs are simple creatures and they have needs that arise from the fact that they are DOGS, not people.

* Dogs need rewarding mental, physical, and social activity to be content.

* Dogs can quickly develop undesirable habits, so its best to be prepared to recognize and correct them early on.

Seek professional guidance if matters are getting out of hand.

Bored dogs cause more problems than active, engaged, stimulated ones. Bored dogs are prone to excessive licking of their forelegs.

Remember to keep your dog entertained. Bored dogs are capable of the following anti-social behaviors:

* Chewing anything really doors, wallpaper, rugs, clothing, linen, cars, even themselves. Labrador Retrievers and Doberman Pinschers are particularly prone to excessively licking their forelegs when they are bored, leading to skin problems that need veterinary attention.