Dog Body Language | Pawmos Dog Training

How Do I Teach My Puppy Not To Bite My Hands?

by Gabriel Riesco | May 19, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Dog Training, Puppy Training

Getting a new puppy can be an exciting and fun time, but it also requires a lot of work and patience. One of the most important things you’ll need to teach your puppy is how to not bite your hands or your clothes. Here are some tips to help you train your new furry friend:

– 1. Set Boundaries

The first thing you’ll need to do is to learn how to set boundaries for your puppy in a calm and effective way. Teach them that biting is not acceptable. If your puppy bites your hands, you can stop the play or use the underhand technique to calm them down.

– 2. Do NOT yell or say NO

Using a high-pitched yelp to mimic the sound of a littermate being hurt to help discourage biting is NOT a good idea. This usually riles them up and makes them bite harder. Saying NO in harsh voice will either scare your puppy or make him/her more feisty.

– 3. Provide Chew Toys With Movement

Puppies like to chase things. Instead of just throwing toys to the floor and hope for the best, move the toys around with your hands. Make them chase the toys so they become interested in them. Offer your puppy a variety of textures and shapes to see what they prefer. This will help redirect their biting behavior to an appropriate outlet.

– 4. Encourage Positive Reinforcement

Positive reinforcement is a very effective training method for puppies. When your puppy exhibits good behavior, reward them with a treat or verbal praise. This will help your puppy learn what is expected of them and will encourage them to continue appropriate behavior.

– 4 Be Consistent

Don’t let your puppy rehearse biting your hands. Consistency is key when it comes to training your puppy. Make sure everyone in your household is on the same page and using the same training techniques. If you’re inconsistent with your training, it will confuse your puppy and make it harder for them to learn.

– 5. Control Excitement

Excitement can encourage biting behavior, so it’s important to be aware of it. If you riled your puppy up with excitement and move your hands fast your puppy is more likely to get bitey and target your hands.

– 6. Seek Professional Help

If your puppy’s biting behavior becomes aggressive or doesn’t improve with training, it may be time to seek professional help. A professional dog trainer or behaviorist can help assess your puppy’s behavior and provide more targeted training techniques.

Training your puppy not to bite your hands or your clothes takes patience and consistency. By setting boundaries, providing chew toys, encouraging positive reinforcement, not letting the practice it and seeking professional help if necessary, you can help your puppy learn appropriate behavior and develop into a well-behaved adult dog.

Why Dogs Sniff Each Other’s Butts?

by Gabriel Riesco | Apr 14, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Dog Training, Fun Doggy Wisdom

Dogs are known for their curious and playful nature. They love to explore and interact with the world around them, including other dogs. One of the most common ways that dogs interact with each other is by sniffing each other’s butts. This behavior may seem strange to humans, but it is actually a crucial part of canine communication.

So, why do dogs sniff each other’s butts?

To understand this behavior, it is important to know that dogs have a highly developed sense of smell. Their noses are much more sensitive than ours, and they use their sense of smell to gather information about the world around them. This includes gathering information about other dogs.

When dogs sniff each other’s butts, they are essentially gathering information about their fellow canine. The area around a dog’s butt is rich in scent glands, and the odors produced by these glands contain a wealth of information about the dog. For example, the scent can tell a dog about the other dog’s age, sex, health, and even what it has been eating.
Another reason dogs sniff each other’s butts is to socialize. It is a way for dogs to say hello and get to know each other. Dogs are social animals, and sniffing is a way for them to gather information and build relationships. They bond and establish trust with each other.
Sometimes the manner in which dogs sniff rear ends can establish which of the two dogs is dominant and set the foundation of a canine relationship. The dog that is sniffed first is usually considered to be the lower-ranking dog, while the dog that does the sniffing is the higher-ranking dog.
Sniffing also helps the dog know when others are ready to mate or helps puppies locate their mother when they’re ready to eat.

Is intense smelling a sign of aggression?

There’s been some reports where a correlation between intense smelling and aggression has been noticed. In my experience the smelling part is never the issue, but the intensity can cause problems. If your dog is smelling to intense and too pushy I advice you to work on slowing down your dog before interacting with a new dog or group of dogs. Dogs who interact too intense can create a lot of tension when socializing.

Why do dogs smell another dog’s poop?

Dogs possess very powerful olfactory senses that can decode a lot of information. For dogs, poop is not gross, is just a source of very useful data Dogs sniff poop to gather information about health conditions, diet, distress, home environment, and even another dog’s mood. The main aim of smelling poop is to gather information and learn more about the dog.

Sniffing each other’s butts is a natural behavior for dogs. It is a way for them to communicate, establish hierarchy status and bond with each other. So, next time you see your dog sniffing another dog’s butt, let them be. Your furry friend is simply engaging in a behavior that is a crucial part of dog communication.

What’s Dog Trancing? Is This Normal?

by Gabriel Riesco | Apr 5, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Fun Doggy Wisdom, Mindfulness & Psychology with Dogs

What is Dog trancing?

Trancing, also known as “ghost walking” or “shadow chasing,” is a behavior that some dogs exhibit when they enter a hypnotic-like state. It involves the dog walking slowly and deliberately, with their head lowered and their body rigid. During trancing, the dog may appear unresponsive to external stimuli, including their owner’s commands.

Trancing is not a harmful behavior, but it can be concerning to some dog owners who may not understand why their dog is behaving in this way. It is important to note that not all dogs will exhibit trancing behavior, and it is more commonly seen in certain breeds, such as Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, Whippets, and Salukis.

So why do dogs trance?

There are several theories, but no definitive answer. One theory is that trancing is a self-soothing behavior that dogs engage in to relieve stress or anxiety. In this sense, trancing may serve as a coping mechanism for dogs who are feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

Another theory is that trancing is an instinctual behavior that is related to the hunting and stalking behaviors of wild canids. When a dog is in a trance-like state, they may be more focused on their surroundings and better able to detect prey. This may explain why some breeds, such as Greyhounds, which were originally bred for hunting, are more likely to trance than other breeds.

Is Trancing a concerning behavioral disorder?

It is important to note that while trancing is generally considered harmless, there are some cases where it may be a cause for concern. For example, if a dog is trancing excessively or in inappropriate situations, such as when they are outside and should be paying attention to their surroundings, it may indicate an underlying medical or behavioral issue. Additionally, if a dog is exhibiting other concerning behaviors, such as aggression or anxiety, it is important to seek the advice of a veterinarian or experienced dog behaviorist.

Can Trancing be learnt from dog to dog?

Some dog owners with multiple dogs have reported that their non-trancing dogs will start to trance after watching the other dog trancing. The new dog may trance under the same trigger the first dog tranced under, but oftentimes one dog will prefer to trance under different triggers or environment.

Should I do anything about it?

Trancing is an odd peculiar behavior that some dogs have. For the most part trancing is harmless and is not a pre-cursor obsessive compulsive disorder. So when you catch your dog trancing go ahead and let them be.

Overall, trancing is a relatively common behavior in dogs, and while the exact reasons for it are not fully understood, it is generally considered a harmless behavior. If you are concerned about your dog’s trancing behavior, it is important to speak with a qualified professional who can help you determine if there is an underlying issue that needs to be addressed.

Is My Dog Mad At Me?

by Gabriel Riesco | Mar 20, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Fun Doggy Wisdom, Mindfulness & Psychology with Dogs

As pet parents, we often anthropomorphize our furry friends and assume they experience emotions similar to our own. One of the common emotions we attribute to dogs is anger. Have you ever wondered if your dog is mad at you? Well, the answer is not that simple.

Dogs do not experience emotions in the same way that humans do. While they can certainly show signs of discomfort, fear, or happiness, anger is not an emotion that dogs experience in the same sense that humans do. However, dogs do have their own ways of communicating discomfort, annoyance, or frustration.

So, how can you tell if your dog is upset?

Here are some signs to look out for:

Body language: A dog’s body language can tell you a lot about their emotional state. If your dog is upset, they may avoid eye contact, have a stiff body posture, or growl.

Barking: Barking can be a sign of annoyance, frustration, or anger in dogs. If your dog is barking excessively, it could be a sign that they are upset.

Refusing commands: If your dog has been trained to follow commands and suddenly stops following them, it could be a sign that they are upset, frustrated or overstimulated.

Avoidance: If your dog starts avoiding you, it could be a sign that they are upset. They may stop coming to you for attention or treats or may hide from you.

It’s important to remember that dogs do not hold grudges or have long-term memories of negative experiences in the same way that humans do. Never take it personally!

There can be certain triggers that can activate an emotional response that sets them up into a “red zone”. Sometimes this trigger could be a human for a variety of different reasons even if that human never did anything bad to that dog. So, if your dog is acting out, it’s likely due to a recent event, a change in their environment or a trigger that sets him/her off.

In conclusion, while dogs may not experience anger in the same way that humans do, they can still show signs of discomfort, annoyance, or frustration. As pet parents, it’s important to pay attention to our dogs’ body language and behavior to better understand their emotional state. If you think your dog is mad at you, try to identify the cause of their discomfort and make changes to improve their overall wellbeing.

How Do I Get My Dog To Trust Me More?

by Gabriel Riesco | Mar 9, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Dog Problems. Behavior Modification, Mindfulness & Psychology with Dogs

Dogs are our loyal companions, and getting their trust is essential for developing a strong and healthy bond with them. Building trust with your dog is a process that requires kindness, clarity, confidence and competence.

Love is all you need?

There is a misconception that you’ll get trust from your dog by just being kind, loving and compassionate. This is not true. Animals, including humans, do not think like that.

Being kind, loving and compassionate is where you should come from. At least that’s my philosophy. Any animal lover comes from kindness and from compassion. But that’s not entirely what you trust, that’s just the starting point. Although it’s a must, it doesn’t stop there and it’s not enough.

When you trust someone is because he or she knows what they are doing, not just because they are kind or compassionate. Dogs and animals in general are the same way.

Let me give you an example. If you are in an airplane would you trust a kind and compassionate pilot that doesn’t know how to drive? Of course not. Would you trust a pilot that is insecure, incompetent or not qualified to drive? You wouldn’t, even if he or she was a very nice person.

When you really think about it what you trust is competence and confidence on top of kindness. The reason why I emphasize this is because most dog problems that I deal with don’t come from the lack of compassion or kindness. The problem is usually the lack of clarity, confidence and knowledge. Without clarity, confidence and knowledge, competence becomes an impossible task.

What’s the missing piece?

If you are a kind and a compassionate person the main way to gain trust with your pup is with guidance and leadership. By leadership I don’t mean being the Alpha or using dominance. I mean taking the responsability to guide and being accountable for it. Like parents do. YOU are responsible of your dog’s behavior and education. The difference between leadership and dominance is that the first one comes from acceptance and the latter one comes from imposition, force or fear.

Your dog won’t trust you if you don’t give guidance and lead with kindness, clarity, confidence and competence. The same way you wouldn’t trust someone that doesn’t have those virtues.

Here are some game changers to build trust with your dog:

1. Communicate Effectively:

Dogs communicate through body language, so it’s essential to learn to read your dog’s body language and respond appropriately with your own body language. This will help you to understand your dog’s needs and feelings better, and it will help your dog understand you better. This will make your dog feel understood and valued and will take your trust to higher level.

2. Be Patient:

Building trust with your dog sometimes can take time. Be patient with your dog and allow them to adjust to their new environment at their own pace.

3. Develop good timing skills.

Good timing means to read the rhythm of your dog’s learning and adjusting process. Allowing your dog/s to learn and grow at their own pace doesn’t neccessarily mean slow. Finding the rhythm and the learning pace of your dog it’s an art form and can safe you a lot if time and frustrations. Is like syncing with your dog.

4. Respect their uniqueness:

Every dog is different and it’s essential to respect this. If your dog seems uncomfortable or scared in certain situations, don’t force them to do something they don’t want to do. Instead, work with your dog and help them overcome their fears at their own pace. Helping a dog overcoming fears takes trust to a whole different level.

5. Be Consistent:

Consistency is crucial when building trust with your dog. Guiding in a consistent way will make your dog feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their environment, and it will help them to trust you more.

6. Set up clear boundaries:

Dogs feel safe when they have a clear understanding of what’s permitted and what’s not. When you don’t know the rules you can’t play the game. You don’t need a lot of rules, but the rules need to be clear. When rules are not clear, dogs become anxious, restless and aggressive. Providing structure and clarity will make your dog really trust you.

In conclusion, building trust with your dog is a process that requires kindness, clarity, confidence and competence. Building a strong and healthy bond with your furry friend will last a lifetime.

Why Dogs Mark? What’s Marking?

by Gabriel Riesco | Mar 7, 2023 | Dog Body Language, Dog Problems. Behavior Modification, Mindfulness & Psychology with Dogs

Dogs are fascinating creatures and have unique behaviors that make them who they are. One of these behaviors is marking with urine, and it is an instinctual behavior that can be seen in both domestic and wild dogs.

What’s marking?

Urine marking is the act of a dog lifting its leg and depositing small amounts of urine on vertical surfaces such as trees, bushes, or even furniture in the home. This behavior is more commonly seen in male dogs but can also be seen in females. Dogs mark their territory as a way of communicating with other dogs, and the scent of their urine serves as a signal to other dogs that this is their space.

Why dogs mark?

There are several reasons why dogs mark with urine.

In cities and urban areas is very common that dogs may mark with urine as a way to relieve stress or anxiety. Dogs that are nervous or stressed may mark more frequently, as it provides them with a sense of comfort and security. This behavior can also be a result of changes in their environment, such as moving to a new home or the introduction of new people or animals into their space.

Dogs also mark to establish territorial boundaries. Dogs have a natural instinct to protect their space, and marking with urine is one way they communicate this to other dogs. This behavior is especially common in male dogs who are trying to establish dominance over other dogs. The scent of the urine will tell other dogs that this is their territory, and they are the dominant dog in the area.

Another reason why dogs mark with urine is to signal their reproductive status. When female dogs are in heat, they will mark more frequently, and their scent will signal to male dogs that they are ready to mate. This is a way for female dogs to attract potential mates and communicate their reproductive status.

Summing up

Marking with urine is a natural behavior for dogs, and it serves several purposes. It is a way for dogs to communicate with other dogs, establish territorial boundaries, signal their reproductive status, and relieve stress and anxiety. Understanding why dogs mark with urine can help us better understand and manage this behavior in our pets. If you are experiencing a problem with your dog marking in the home, it is important to consult with a veterinarian or professional dog trainer who can help you find a solution.

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