Pheromones are chemical substances secreted by an animal that influence the behavior of other animals of the same species. Unlike other hormones, pheromones are secreted externally and influence other animals, typically by smell. In this case, pheromones may play a very important role in animal behavior. In dogs, pheromones probably influence group integration and are a factor in fighting and general aggressiveness. Some theorys suggest that dogs release pheromones in urine and feces, and perhaps through exhaled breath, subcutaneous glands at the base of the tail and the foot pads. This would tend to explain why aggressive, fighting dogs are often compulsive urine sniffers and urine markers, and why they become less aggressive when sniffing and urine marking are not allowed by their owners.
Pheromones may act as a trigger or primer for certain types of behavior. This case is typical of many wherein a dog appears to sense, by smell, another dog that may be perceived as a threat. Also typical among some vicious biting dogs is the need to brand a strange territory with their own pheromones before launching an attack. Some take place even when the biting dogs were on their home territory. Remedial programs include restricting urination of the problem dog to a single area of his own yard. This tends to lower the aggressiveness, as well as reduce the incidence of household urination.
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dogandmaster on April 15th 2007 in Dog Behaviour, Dog Health
All praise is good, but praise specially tailored to connect with the dog’s way of reacting is ten times as effective. Here are some tips to follow:
1. Use the right tone of voice. Dogs communicate with one another through sounds easily duplicated by humans. If you’re angry with your dog, for example, dropping your voice to a low rumble closely approximates the growling of a dog. For praise, use a sweet, high-pitched crooning voice: “Goooooooood, doooogggg!”
2. Tailor your petting style to your dog. Some dogs go crazy when petted; others hardly notice. Use a little chest pat or scratch for those who tend to be overly enthusiastic, and be a little more boisterous for the ones who really warm to being jollied. Don’t let the dog use petting as an excuse to go crazy - lighten up on the pats, but don’t correct him - and let your voice do most of the praising.
3. Smile. Dogs understand many of our facial expressions because they use similar ones to communicate with each other. A smiling face is understood in both species, but if you really want to get through, make the smile as wide open as you can. You’re trying to approximate that big panting grin a happy dog has.
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dogandmaster on April 9th 2007 in Dog Behaviour
Although very dangerous behavior, car chasing is very rewarding for the dog. Dogs love to chase anything that runs, and the faster it runs, the better. To extinguish the behavior, you must negate the reward of the chase. Car chasing is most often done by dogs that have the run of the property and are not exposed to many cars.
Expose the dog to traffic by making a point to walk on busy streets occasionally. Command him to remain in a sit-stay as cars pass, and snap the collar back if he attempts to move. You can set the dog up for a car chasing correction by having a friend armed with several cans filled with rocks, for noise effect, drive up to or past the area where the dog starts chasing. Instruct the helper to put on the brakes as fast and noisily as possible when the dog is at a full chase. When the car comes to a screeching halt, have the helper jump out of the car and create enormous noise and chaos by throwing the cans near the dog.
If the dog is not likely to bite, have the helper aggressively chase him home, throwing cans behind him. Repeat the setup with different cars, and if possible, different people, until the dog refrains from chasing cars. You can also use the corrections for car chasing when a dog acquires the nasty, dangerous habit of chasing bikers, joggers, and horseback riders.
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dogandmaster on February 9th 2007 in Dog Behaviour, Dog Training
The most common cause for dogs jumping through windows is social isolation. Most cases generally involve dogs that do not accept being left alone in the house and escape to seek some social contact in the neighborhood. Some escape and remain on the front porch to await the return of their owners.
Most of these dogs have experienced some sort of highly gratifying social interaction when outside. Males or females in heat may escape to obtain sexual satisfaction. Others have been fed by neighbors or otherwise welcomed into their homes. Some have been generally allowed to run loose when their owners are at home, but are confined when the owner is away.
A less common cause is genuine fear of confinement inside the house or in the yard, causing the animal to jump out of the yard and/or into the house. In these cases, there has usually been some sort of experience involving the area in which the dog is confined. Such traumatic events may include severe physical punishment, extreme hunger, pain from BB shots or rocks thrown at the dog, and firecrackers or other explosions nearby or in the yard. Such distress has caused some dogs to jump out of windows as well.
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dogandmaster on January 22nd 2007 in Dog Behaviour
