POSSESSIVENESS

Your dog may get very possessive when he gets a new toy or bone. He will react by guarding it closely by holding it tight in his front paws, licking and chewing on it or even retreating to a corner to protect it.

Dogs need to be taught early in their life to share so that aggressive behavior doesn’t show up later in life. Aggressive behavior cannot be tolerated, especially if you have other pets or small children in the house. You will need to put a leash and collar on your dog to train him not to be possessive. When you give him the new toy, you have to teach him to drop it on your command. Say “drop it,” and praise him highly when he responds even a little. If he decides to hold onto the toy, give him other commands, such as “sit” or “down” to remind him that you are the leader. Repeat your commands several times and take away his toy when you are finished. Repeat this exercise at a later time.

You can also offer your dog a treat or a different toy for the one he wants to hold onto. As soon as you say “drop it” and he obeys, give him a treat or a different toy. Repeat this exercise several times. You can create trust by handing back the same toy, along with other toys as you play this game with your dog. It shouldn’t take too long before he begins to trust that you will give him the new toy or an older toy back. He should begin to obey your commands if you are consistent.

Bones are harder to take away than toys. Many dogs will not give up a bone for anything else and it may be in your best interest to just let him have it. Be careful about giving out this type of item when you cannot seem to break the possessive behaviors. Remember that a distraction can be one of the best ways to break a dog that wants to guard his toys or other objects.

DIGGING

Dogs dig for a variety of reasons. This activity is not one that can be changed by obedience training because it is one that has to be worked with as it happens. There are several reasons why dogs dig. Sometimes dogs dig because they want a cool place to lie down. Other reasons include boredom, smells they are exploring and perhaps even the activity of guarding their territory.

Keeping your dog monitored is your best defense against digging. Also, the dog needs to know that digging isn’t acceptable. A stern “No!” will help him understand when he is caught in the act. This command will need to be repeated until he gets the idea. There are several ways to prevent digging, however:

* When you are not able to monitor your dog, put him in an undiggable place, such as out on concrete, a patio or a room with a closed door.
* Give your dog some favorite toys while you are away so he has something to keep him occupied.
* Make sure his environment is comfortable, sheltered from the heat, cold, wind or rain. Leave plenty of water for him as well.
* Give your dog a lot of exercise so he is less inclined to be actively digging.
* Dogs do not like to dig where there have been feces, so throw some into the area he has been digging and cover it.
* Place heavy objects, such as bricks to deter the dog from digging in the same spot. Place chicken wire around shrubs or plants you want to protect.
* Startle your dog with loud noises, such as a can with pebbles inside or even water spray. The water or noises may startle the dog and he will associate his digging with that noise or water spray.

If these measures don’t work well enough, you may want to consider giving your dog his own space to dig up that isn’t disruptive to your yard.