How To Train A Dog To Be Calm
The following question comes from one of our valued DVD clients.
Hi Ty,
I have a terrier mix who is about 12 months old and just WILD!!! She doesn’t just jump on the furniture, she FLIES from a couch to a chair. She FLIES onto my lap from the across the room when I am holding hot coffee. We have had many close calls where she has just missed spilling it all over me.
ALSO, she scratches, chews, licks & nips myself and others CONSTANTLY on hands, legs, and FACES. (i have bandaids all over my arms and legs and she has even tried to bite my face, i.e. my nose and chin and cheeks! I had her nails ground down with a dremmel and that seems to help some. (any other ideas?). She has destroyed a $300 down comforter and many throw pillows. When she chewed a huge hole in the down comforter, I woke with feathers flying all over in the air and in my hair! I now have her sleeping in her crate, and she does well with that, although I do like her sleeping with me.
I have your Foundation Obedience dvd set and we are doing well with it. She walks loose leash in the house w/o distraction, she sits and lies down, but only stays for seconds and then she is up and running again. She is wearing a training collar and seems to do well with that.
PLEASE help me Ty, and tell me what dvds you suggest that will help! People don’t tell me to give her up but it would just break my heart!
Again, I hope you can help me!
Sincerely,
Jacqueline
How to Train A Dog to Be Calm- Video
Here is my video response to her question:
How to Train a Dog to Be Calm on Youtube
How to Train a Dog to Be Calm- Key Points
There are two key things I’d recommend:
- Keep a leash and training collar on at all times. Keep that leash in your hand, for now. Make sure to correct every little infraction and praise when she stops.
- Be firmer when it comes to your ‘stay’ behaviors. When she gets up from any position make sure to correct her back into position.
You are on the right path, you’re moving in the right direction. No, you don’t need to give up on the dog. I think you need to be a touch firmer and you’ll be in great shape.
Fortunately, my puppy (going on 3 now) has never been too rambunctious… However, I’ve come across many puppies (a friend’s pitbull comes to mind) who just never settle down, always high-strung! Honestly, it doesn’t bother me too much, but when kids and old folks get thrown into the mix, it can definitely be a problem.
Dogs really like to challenge us on the stay command. And some just don’t quite understand what to do. I think a lot of people just give up after a few tries, but with some dogs it just takes many repetitions for them to either get it or know that the owner is serious. I like the tip about keeping the dog’s leash on.
Ty, I’m looking for that post you wrote a few months ago about “flooding” a dog to overcome its fears. Do you happen to have a link to that post? I think it would be useful for my readers. The treat-treat-treat-treat-treat approach to helping a dog get over a fear of stairs, for example, just doesn’t work for me. I’d rather “force” the dog down the stairs.
With the ‘stay’ behavior I always tell people it’s not about over-powering the dog, it’s about out-lasting the dog. Every time he gets up, we correct him back. Be pig-headed enough and you’ve got a dog that stays put.
Good advice.
Never mind. Found it! I’ll be linking to it in one of my posts next week. https://www.dogbehavioronline.com/my-daughter-is-terrified-of-the-beach-how-it-can-help-you-with-your-dog/