Buying a new dog is a very exciting time for the entire family. In most cases people are so occupied with playing with their new pet that they forget about the most important thing - training him. Because there are so many dog bad habits it is crucial to identify them as soon as they surface and start the appropriate training straight away. In this short article I will share with you 3 most common dog bad habits and explain how to fight them effectively.

Dog Bad Habits Part 1 - Excessive Barking

Excessive barking is one of the most annoying of all the dog bad habits I know. It can often cause you and your neighbors to go nuts, especially if your dog is a night barker. The two most common reasons for dog barking are boredom and loneliness so if you can find a way to eliminate them you will be able to reduce the amount of barking heard. Make sure to provide your pet with plenty of entertainment while you're at home (take him on a walk, play games, try obedience training) or away (hire a pet sitter, leave the TV switched on and purchase a variety of toys) in order to redirect his attention from barking onto more appropriate things.

Dog Bad Habits Part 2 - Chewing

Chewing is often considered as the main argument against having a dog. However, in most cases it is possible to stop dog from chewing on your favorite items by substituting them with a toy designed for this purpose such as a Kong. It can be stuffed with dog snacks or food and will force your dog to work really hard to get the treat out of it. You can also fight the chewing habit by teaching your dog the 'off' command which will help you gain more control over his behavior. Last but not least, remember to simply hide all the items you care about so that your-legged friend can't reach them.

Dog Bad Habits Part 3 - Uncontrolled Urination

Dog bad habit that every new dog owner has to deal with. There are 3 main parts of the potty training process and if you implement all of them properly chances are your pet will quickly stop relieving himself indoors.

• a) Organize a small leaving area for your pet (crate or an isolated part of a room will do) and keep him in there for the first few weeks. Because dogs are clean animals your pup will not soil his new home and learn how to control his physiological needs.
• b) Use one command consistently ('outside' or 'go potty') to trigger the elimination process and take your pet to the same spot in the yard each time he needs to relieve himself.
• c) Schedule the meals regularly so that you can tell when your dog will have to go outside (canines need to urinate and defecate within the first 20 minutes after the last meal).