Foundation
Foundation work is about providing for your dog's basic needs, being a good leader, and being consistent! Sometimes this is all you need to do and problems will disappear on their own.
Basic Needs
This is the first step to living happily with your dog. Basic needs include good nutrition, physical exercise, a safe, comfortable resting place, attention from you and mental stimulation.
Nutrition
Some dogs will do fine on the least expensive dog food available. Other dogs have special needs and may not be able to tolerate certain ingredients. Sometimes behavior problems can result from inadequate nutrition. If you are interested in learning more about nutrition, talk to your vet or a pet store that specializes in nutritious dog foods.
Exercise
The need for physical exercise varies based on your dog's breed and age. At a minimum, your dog should get a nice walk and some aerobic exercise every day.
Attention
Dogs are pack animals and love to be with people. They need to learn to stay alone as well, but they should not be isolated too much. Make sure your dog has plenty of quality time with you and lots of positive ways to earn your attention.
Resting Place
Every dog needs a spot to call their own. It can be a crate, dog bed or small rug. In a busy household, your dog may choose this safe haven to get away from the kids and chaos. Make sure he isn't bothered there.
Mental Stimulation
Many dogs are bored and set out to find their own job - usually not something you would choose for them! If you can give your dog an actual job, such as herding, agility, therapy work or even fetching the newspaper, that is ideal. Otherwise, you can make up jobs to keep your dog busy. You can feed from a food dispensing toy, such as a Kong. You can train basic behaviors and tricks just for fun.
Leadership
It is imperative that you build a strong relationship with your dog in which your dog views you as the firm, yet benevolent, leader. Dogs are pack animals and understand the concept of leadership. There's no need to be harsh or overbearing. A good leader will ensure that the dog's basic needs are met and focus on training the dog how to behave in an acceptable way.
Some dogs are natural followers and will do fine even if you are a laid-back leader. Other dogs are strong-willed dog and may challenge your leadership. To stay one step ahead of your dog and enjoy a rewarding relationship, you may need to work on improving your own leadership skills!
Consistency
A quick way to confuse your dog is to be inconsistent about the rules. Jumping up during greetings, pulling on leash, stealing food off the counter, and whining for attention are all examples of unwanted behaviors that persist because they work! You and your family must be consistent about enforcing the rules.
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Now that you've laid a solid foundation, follow Buddy to the Clicker page.
