Mounting and Chasing Are Common Puppy Behavior Problems

It often seems like puppies have all kinds of behavior problems, but there are a couple of issues that are just almost too much to handle and for many people, those behavior issues include mounting and chasing. For many owners of puppies, these are common problems that can be frustrating to deal with and almost impossible to break, but you need to know that with some diligence and consistency, you can break your puppy of these problems.

Puppy Behavior - Mounting

Mounting might seem “gross” or disgusting to you, but to your puppy, this is playing at it’s very best. This is how your puppy learns to show dominance over others and in the wild, this behavior is essential to learn. In your home, however, when left unchecked, it can become a really big issue, so you need to make sure to stop it before it starts.

Even girl puppies will mount and it’s likely because she got caught up in playing with you and discovered that she could “be the boss” for just a second or two. Your male puppy, however, might be a different story. If he is about 5 months old and begins to mount things, then it’s time to have him neutered because he has other things on his mind than just being dominant.

In some cases, such as when your puppy is a female and playing with other dogs or puppies, it is often a good idea to just ignore the behavior, because your puppy is only playing with her equals. Most of the time, the show of dominance will simply stop on its own.

However, if your puppy begins to do this to your guests or your family, you need to work to stop the bad dog behavior. One of the best ways is to make sure to remove your puppy from whoever he or she has mounted and give them a firm no.

Another trick to prevent your puppy from mounting people is to stay on higher ground, so to speak. So if your pooch is likely to mount people who are on the floor in a show of dominance, then you need to make sure that no one who comes into your house is on your puppy’s level for a while. If you do wind up on the floor and your puppy decides to mount you, just stand up. When you stand up, you are much larger than your puppy and that will take the feeling of dominance away from her.

Puppy Behavior - Chasing

Puppies are chasers, but this is a common puppy behavior problem. When puppies chase you and your family, it can be all kinds of cute, but when they begin to chase cars, rabbits, your toddler’s friends and everything else, this can be a huge problem. Most of the time when your puppy decides he is going to chase something, he is actually interested in playing, but the thing is that cars don’t play, so you need to teach him what he can and cannot chase.

In other words, when your puppy decides to chase your six year old son’s bike around and causes him to fall, this is a good idea of what not to chase. You can offset any potential injuries to your family and friends by giving your puppy a firm “No” when he begins to chase after kids or other animals. You can also keep your puppy from being hurt by teaching him that it’s bad to chase cars as well.

Most of the time, you can simply tell your dog to “leave it” or teach him not to chase things by simply repeating and holding on to him until he stops trying to chase. Repeat the command that you will be using over and over until your dog calms down and then you can show him he’s a good boy by rewarding him with something “safe to chase”.

Always remember that like children, there are common puppy behavior problems which can seem hard to deal with, but are actually quite easy to break your pooch of doing. Make sure to take the time to teach your dog what should and should not be doing and be consistent in your training so that you have a healthy, happy dog who knows how to play nice with everyone.

Buying A Dog? How To Choose The Perfect Puppy

Picking the perfect puppy has less to do with how “perfect” your dog is and more to do with what dog you feel will be perfect for you. When you’re choosing a puppy, it can feel as if you are making the choice of a lifetime. What if you get a dog that you don’t like? What if your puppy turns out to be more of a challenge than you bargained for? What if it really has bad puppy behavior? How will you go about your dog training if it seems like an un-trainable dog?

Do Your Homework

So many people choose puppies that they just cannot deal with and drop them off at a shelter when “things just don’t work out”. Do not do this. It is cruel and more, it makes you irresponsible. That’s why it’s important to check out all different types of dogs before you choose your perfect puppy. Visit breeders of the type of dog you are considering, talk to people who own similar dogs and learn as much as you can about the animal you are considering taking home as your new buddy for life.

Know, too, that each breed of dog has a personality which might not suit yours so, if you are a quiet person and want a dog who will be quiet with you, then you need to look for a breed of puppy that will be happy to sit next to you on those quiet nights and won’t get too rambunctious. If, however, you love to run and play and will be happy to always be engaging the attention of your puppy, then you should choose an animal who is going to be happy to play anytime, no matter what.

Meet Lots of Puppies

Many people feel a connection with their puppies right away and will tell you that they got the perfect puppy because you felt it right away. You love the puppy behavior they are exhibiting. It’s really important for you to take the time to meet lots of different puppies so that you can choose the one that you connect with. Puppies are all so cute, so you will need to look past that and choose the one that you really feel a bond with.

Spend some serious time with potential puppies. Observe the way they interact with their “brothers” and “sisters” and see which ones are aggressive and which ones are quiet. You should also consider which puppy comes to you and notices you. Much of the time, puppies notice everyone, but there will be one who seems to see only you. This is the perfect puppy for you.

Be Responsible and Form a Bond

When you have found the perfect puppy, the first thing you need to do is form a bond with that dog so that she will know that you are her “person”. By making sure to get to know her and her personality, you will develop a relationship with her that is more secure than anything and this will help the two of you to grow together. Plus, when you get to know her, you are letting her get to know you and you will likely be building a lifelong friendship.

Truthfully, puppies are a lot like babies. There is no perfect puppy, but when you take your time and consider what it takes to have a dog that works for you, you can come that much closer to finding the perfect puppy for you.

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