Develop a Plan for Dog Training & Stop Street Bullying

Unless you make a conscious effort to develop a plan for dog training to put an end to your dog chasing cyclists and cars passing by, it is highly unlikely that Tucker will stop this nasty behavior all by himself. Because chasing is instinctive in canines, chances are he will require a lot of very determined persuasion to get him to quit what to him is fantastic entertainment.

After all, before we came to live with you, we had to fend for ourselves and catch prey to survive. In fact, homeless canines still have to chase their own dinner. That is the main reason why children are taught not to run from a dog so they are not perceived as prey.

Dogs can be pretty much addicted to the thrill of the chase, some breeds more than others. And man has caught on and pretty much become addicted himself. Think of sporting dogs like greyhounds, or hunting dogs, and I'm sure you can associate some pretty excited dog owners to that very same thrill. Canines have been used as combat tracker dogs when soldiers practice their war games, and even during actual wars!

So it's up to you to take the situation in hand and educate your pooch before it's too late. Even if your dog has already been hit by a car and survived, you'll probably find that he's not been cured from his bad habit. The speed with which the accident happened and the shock of being hit are probably why he is not associating cause and effect, which means a more hands-on approach is needed to put an end to Tucker's bad dog behavior. We're in for some serious dog behavior modification.

You must teach Tucker that chasing cars and bicycles is not fine, and that it carries consequences. I mean immediate consequences. Here are some dog training tips you can use at home to help you accomplish that. First, we'll train Tucker to stop his chasing behavior when you are around, and then to continue his good behavior even when you're not there. And in order to achieve that, we'll spy on him. Provided you are consistent, we'll have him in control in four to five days.

Dog Behavior Modification With a Twist: Day 1

The first step to our plan involves tying a 35-foot clothesline rope to Tucker's slip-chain training collar. During this whole experiment, you must have him in your sight at all times so he does not get himself into trouble with that rope. Let him get used to it in your backyard, while seeming to pay no attention to him. Then, move to your front yard.

Keep a sharp eye on him, and the moment he starts his barking charge, pull on the rope with all you've got. Pull on the cord till he's at your feet, then give him an abrupt shaking, face him squarely, and give him a sharp telling off in a loud angry voice. The idea is to shock him in many ways to ensure he really gets the message. Only then will you really achieve lasting dog behavior modification.

Three important points to keep in mind here:

* react quickly;
* don't appear to lose control of yourself; and last but not least
* don't expose him to temptation.

It is vital that for the next few days and until this experiment is over, Tucker does not have a chance of repeating his bad behavior without being corrected immediately. If you allow that to happen, you'll have to start all over again because, in Tucker's mind, that behavior is allowed some of the time.

When you develop a plan for dog training, the important thing to remember is that you must stick to it no matter what. You slip once, you can be sure that Tucker will notice, and he won't forget!

Amber, Dog Training Star


Amber has been sniffing out top secrets from expert dog trainers & behaviorists in order to help you understand & communicate with your best friend. Being a dog whisperer is truly the key to stress-free dog & puppy training.

(c) Copyright Amber, DTS. All Rights Reserved Worldwide

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