However good you think your dog is, sometimes, even the best dogs can play up from time to time, and whenever you find yourself dealing with a dog's behavior related problems, it is best to act as quickly as possible.
If bad behavior is allowed to continue without correction, you may well end up with a bigger problem on your hands.
The good news is, it doesn't need to come to that, there are many easy ways that you can deal with dog behaviour issues in a humane and friendly way.
Problem behavior in dogs can range from cute, but annoying little problems, to full fledged potentially dangerous issues such as biting.
While there are many causes of behavioural problems, usually the solutions are fairly simple.
Saying that you can't teach an old dog new tricks certainly doesn't apply here and with consistent training you can overcome most dog behaviour problems.
Here are a few simple, easy to implement dog training tips.
1.
Be Consistent.
This is absolutely key when training any animal.
You may be tempted to let things slip every once in a while, it's very easy to feel too tired yourself, or want to indulge your dog "just this once", but this will only serve to hamper your efforts.
Be consistent when you praise as well as when you correct and your dog will begin to understand that you are the master.
2.
Positive Reinforcement is Vital.
Many older style dog training techniques focussed on punishing the dog for not doing what you want without really teaching what you do want him to do.
This often led to more problems later on.
Positive reinforcement teaches your dog to associate good behaviour with rewards and is a very effective means of tackling even the toughest dog behavior problems.
If you are unsure, positive reinforcement just means that you reward a dog when they do what you want them to and do nothing when they don't.
All but the very worst dogs respond to these training techniques, provided they are applied consistently.
3.
Introduce a Crate.
If your dog is inclined towards destructive behaviour in your absence, one of the easiest ways to put an end to this, as with most behaviours, is to provide your dog with clear cut boundaries.
Crating them while you are gone, or when you need some space is an effective and gentle tool for training, though it must be done with proper handling.
You will need to introduce your dog to the crate slowly, over a period of time, and allow him time to get used to being confined.
Remember, be consistent and reward him for good behavior in the crate.
A crate is not there to be used as a punishment device, but rather as a safe place for the dog to go and relax.
4.
Involve the Whole Family A word of warning if you are teaching your dog better behaviour.
Once you start working on your dog's behaviour and training him, it is essential that all your family use the same training techniques.
Everyone must be consistent in the handling of the dog.
If not your poor dog will become very confused and may even end up worse than before the corrective training was initiated.
Once you focus on correct training you can easily begin to solve any issues of unacceptable behaviour shown by your dog without either of you suffering any stress.
A well behaved dog is a happy dog and you will appreciate not having destructive and potentially harmful dog in the home.