Adding a dog to your family is a great idea and your new pet is sure to bring a lot of joy and fun to the house. However, what do you do if the little fellow gets out of control?
This is an especially pressing issue is there are children around him, as it can be extremely dangerous to have an uncontrollable dog around kids. Thankfully, there are some simple tips you can follow in order to bring your new pet under control.
Start with the Simple Things
You can't expect to in a day or two. This takes time and you might both get frustrated if you try and give him complex commands right away. The first steps are to praise him when he is doing something right and tell him off when he isn't. When you are praising him you should give him some treats and a reassuring pat on the head. This is a fairly slow process in some dogs, as they slowly get to understand what it expected of them and what is good or bad. However, if you stick at it then you will both get there in the end. Getting angry and hitting him isn't going t help at all and will probably just make him more difficult to control in the long run.
Give Him Chewy Toys
A common problem with out of control dogs is that they can start chewing up the furniture, their owner's clothes and anything else they come across. In extreme cases they might even put their teeth to work on grabbing any human limbs that come near them. A collection of chewy toys can help give them the dental workout they need and leave them more relaxed and tired afterwards as well. Even big dogs can respond well to new toys, while for puppies it is pretty much essential for them to play for a while each day.
Take Him for Controlled Walks
A lot of the time, pet dogs simply have too much energy in them for them to settle down and behave like saints all day long. This is especially true if he is a big dog and is now living in a fairly small house. One of the first things to consider is how to give him more exercise. A daily walk or two is the best solution. You should be sure to check how long you should walk your dog for each day, as this varies from one breed to another. There are some useful tips you can find online for making sure that you carry out this walk properly and that your pet gets what he needs to out of it. It is also essential to ensure that you have the right equipment. This means checking out a range of the best dog-leads on the internet. Adding some walking time to his day should lead to an improvement in his behaviour pretty quickly.
Remember to Speak to Him Correctly
The first thing we need to remember in our verbal communication with our dogs is that they don't understand the words we use. It might seem at times as though they do but they really don't. What they do understand, though, is the tone of voice we use with them. This means that you need to pay more attention to the way you say things that rather than the words you speak. This sounds strange at first but if you give it a try you will soon get the hang of it. Remember to not confuse him by using the wrong tone of voice when you are praising him or telling him off for being naughty.
Be the Leader
Perhaps the most important point of all is to show your pet dog that you are the leader in your house. Dogs have a natural tendency to follow a leader but if they feel that they are in a position to challenge the current leader and take over then they will do so. This means that you need to show that you are boss and that what you say goes. Some pet owners feel bad about doing this but life will be a lot better for you and for your dog if you establish early on that you are the leader.
Speak to an Expert if You Aren't Getting Anywhere
Having an out of control dog in your house is a dangerous situation. If you have tried following the tips here and aren't getting anywhere then it is probably time to speak to a professional dog trainer. The risk of your pet attacking someone is just too great for you to let things carry on for too long. An experienced dog trainer should be able to get him under control quickly and also give you the advice you need to keep him that way in the future.