Dog Behavior Management

Managing your dog's behavior doesn't mean punishing or yelling. It isn't about you physically controlling the dog. What it means is that you control the situations in which your dog exhibits unwanted behavior. Just as appropriate behavior is taught through repetition, remember that misbehavior is also something learnt with time and repetition. So the key to helping your dog break a bad habit is managing the situation in which this habit occurs. For example if your dog jumps on guests, then make sure he is behind a gate and does not have access to them while he is being retrained. You can also use your dog's house or leash as restraints to head off the problem. Whatever you choose to use make sure that your dog is not allowed to practice his undesirable behavior as this will only reinforce the negative. Here are some pointers on behavior management:

• Teach him to Sit/Stay in a crate if he is a chewer and you cannot be supervising him at the moment.
• him on a leash in the presence of visitors and keep your foot on it to prevent him from jumping on them.
• your dog ignores your command to Come while out keep him on the leash.
• your dog is too aggressive with other dogs, just avoid them.
• your dog's access to the front door if he has a habit of escaping.
• your dog is a biter then don't give him access to the front entrance especially if strangers, such as the postman, use it.
• Don't allow your dog to wander the house unattended if he has not yet learnt to only do his business in the appropriate location.

Management allows you to retrain your dog without him being reinforced in the old undesired action. It isn't the whole answer to the problem but it can be a good ally in your efforts at retraining. Encouraging alternate behavior