Apr 17 2010
A Dog Obedience Digging Problem Begins With Bored Dogs
So how do you get your dog to respect your yard? For many people, dog obedience digging is a big problem. Lots of people feel that you shouldn’t own a dog unless your yard is fenced. While a backyard does make it easier to own a dog, this opinion might be a bit extreme. This will help you to begin housetraining right away and all the exercise and play space you need is right there for you, even before you begin leash training.
In fact, the backyard is so handy, some dog owners even use it in place of proper dog training, although this is not a very wise move. Many people find it easier to put the dog in the yard when friends come over to avoid jumping and over excited greetings. Maybe you are thinking of installing a pet door so you don’t even need to get up to let the dog in or out. While this is an easy option, it’s not the best one to actually do.
Keeping Your Dog In The Backyard
Unfortunately, this relinquishment of supervision and control can lead to backyard mayhem and the creation of an independent thinker - a dog that has little desire to please you. You’ll most probably end up with bad dog obedience digging problems.
Since dogs tend to be social animals, they consider their human family to be part of their pack, while other dogs might be additions. When dogs are left alone in the backyard, it makes them lonely and bored. They entertain themselves by digging holes, tearing out plants and shrubbery, and escaping under or over the fence in search of companionship. Some bark their butts off in an attempt to call their clan together or exchange vocalizations with other yard-bound dogs.
Social isolation isn’t the only reason dogs begin bad behavior, by digging, barking and destroying the backyard, but it plays a major role. After all, if a supervised dog is about to do the wrong thing, its owner is on the spot to give it a warning and redirect its attention to something preferable, such as fetching a toy or performing easy dog obedience training. When the dog does the right thing, its owner is able to immediately reward the good dog behavior with play, praise or a tasty treat; and as we know from psychologists, rewarded behavior increases in frequency.
An Isolated Dog Cannot Learn
Imagine that your yard is your dog’s playground. It’s a great place for exercise and stress reduction, but not meant to be the dog’s exclusive home 24/7. A dog isolated in the backyard cannot learn house manners, protect the residents and contents of the home, or build respectful relationships with its people. A dog digging problem will develop when a dog is left to its own devices.
If your teenage dog is too hyper to leave along all day, you should consider having someone walk your dog or take your pooch to a doggy daycare to prevent accidents and problems. Keep in mind that dogs who are bored tend to get themselves into trouble and display bad dog behavior. It’s not that your dog is misbehaving on purpose, but they need attention and often, when you give it to them, you’ll find that they don’t have a dog obedience digging or barking problem after a while.
No responses yet
