It might not feel like it at the moment but Spring / Summer are just around the corner, so what better time to book in for your dog / puppy training session at Ian The Dog Trainer. We come to you & help you & advise you on how to get the best from your pet. And if you just need a refresher / follow up lesson, no time like the present - make it happen. So whether you're in Melbourne or on the Mornington Peninsula, just call & get your pet & family all set for Summer! Remember, a well behaved puppy/dog is a great pet to have around.

I mentioned in my article on digging that giving a dog a nice fresh bone can result in the dog digging a nice big hole in the garden.

There are other more significant problems with bones that I have seen over my many years training domestic dogs at people’s homes.

In summer time bones will attract ants, flies, birds, wasps including the European Wasp.

Bones can become lodged in a dog’s throat, gut or abdomen causing unnecessary and costly surgery. And many dogs will vomit shortly after ingesting a bone.

The old adage ‘’Like a Dog with a Bone’’ is based on the real issue that some dogs become more protective over bones. Over protective behaviour can become aggressive behaviour and this is not breed dependant – it can happen in all breeds.

Contact Ian the Dog Trainer to find out how you can deal with separation anxiety your dog may be experiencing.

Puppies are not born with separation anxiety, owners / handlers create it. When you provide a puppy or dog with too much attention and affection it can become dependent as opposed to independent.

Dependent puppies and dogs will be most likely to bark, cry, chew everything and be a general nuisance and these puppies and dogs may develop separation anxiety.

Now I’m not saying that independent puppies and dogs don’t exhibit bad behaviour because they do, but it doesn’t mean that the label of separation anxiety applies.

Dogs that dig are doing so for a reason and not because they are suffering from boredom, or simply wish to upset you by destroying the garden beds, lawns, and sprinkler systems.

There are certain breeds such as Malamutes, Huskies and Samoyeds that like to lie in cooling holes and there’s no better place to dig a cooling hole than in a nice shady part of the garden.

The three stages of your puppy’s life are:

  • 8-20wks – puppy stage – the most crucial learning and conditioning period
  • 20wks – 7mths – adolescent – cheeky teenager period
  • 7mths – 15yrs - adult

Acceptable behaviour as an adult dog is acceptable behaviour as a puppy. Don’t allow your puppy to get away with behaviour that you do not want it to exhibit when it is an adult dog. Set your expectations really high, not really low.