Your Dog’s Common Bad Habits and How to Break Them: Tips from KOOWIN

Dogs are great companions, but some habits can test your patience. As dog owners ourselves, we know how important it is to foster good behavior in our pets, and KOOWIN is proud to be a leading manufacturer of top-quality PVC dog collars and leashes. Don't stress if your pooch has developed a few bad habits. Here are some of the most common obstacles — and tips to help you overcome them.

Excessive Barking

Dogs naturally communicate by barking, but excessive barking becomes a nuisance.

Now You Know Triggers: What Causes Your Dog to Bark? Is it sound from outside, other pets, or it’s just attention seeking? Identifying the trigger is the first step in confronting the behavior.

Train the “Quiet” Command: Positive reinforcement can help train your dog to quit barking on command. If they bark, say, “quiet,” in a calm voice and praise them when they do. Consistency is key!

Jumping on People

Jumping to say hello can be adorable when dogs are puppies, but can become a nuisance as they mature.

Ignore the Jumping: If your dog jumps on you or others, turn away and ignore them until they become calm. The only time you offer them any attention is when all four of their paws are on the ground.

Looking to Sit Instead of Jumping: Sit down while your dog is jumping all over you and reward them with rewards or compliments. It lends reinforcement to the behavior.

Chewing on Forbidden Objects

Many dogs enjoy chewing on the furniture, shoes or other items around the house — to the chagrin of pet owners.

The include dog toys that they can chew on. Change them out regularly so that they are still fun to play with.

Redirect Chewing When you catch your dog chewing something they shouldn’t be, gently redirect them to their chew toy. Encouraging them for chewing the appropriate items will encourage the behavior.

Pulling on the Leash

If the dog is pulling on the leash, walking may turn into a battle for you, for your dog, which will make this activity become unpleasant for both of you.

Invest in the Right Gear: One very important lesson is to invest in a solid PVC leash by KOOWIN that will allow you easy control while being comfortable for your dog. Other people try a harness which makes pulling less fun to do.

Train Loose Leash Walking: Teach your dog to walk with you without pulling. Stop walking once they pull, and only resume moving when their leash is loose. This teaches them that pulling does not pay off.

Begging at the Table

It’s fun to share food with your furry friend, but begging at the table can lead to bad habits.

Make a “Place” Command: Teach your dog to sit in a specific place during meal times. Give them a treat for staying there quietly as you eat.

Don’t Give In: Resist the temptation to share your meal with your dog. Making sure that you never feed them from your plate will teach them accordingly that begging has no reward.

Digging

Some dogs will dig to relieve boredom, or to soothe themselves (a common anxiety response), which can mean a mess in your yard or garden.

Within reason, provide mental and physical stimuli: Have your dog go on walks, play, and use interactive toys to keep your dog mentally stimulated. An exhausted dog isn’t going to be digging.

Dig Here: If your dog loves to dig, designate a digging area in the yard for your dog. Encourage your dog with toys or treats in this space.

Not Listening to Commands

When your dog decides they aren't listening to commands, it can be frustrating for owners who are trying to gain control.

Train Often: One of the most important training factors. Utilize positive reinforcement methods — praising or offering treats when your dog responds to commands.

Break It Up: Dogs have limited attention spans: Keep training sessions short and entertaining. Stay on a command until they are comfortable before moving on.

By keeping this in mind, one can achieve some good results as long as it realizes that patience, as well as consistency, is the key.

Becoming a dog with good behavior is something that can take time, patience, and consistency. With the right understanding of what is motivating their behavior and learning how to use positive reinforcement, pet parents can teach good habits to their furry friends.

We are here for you on this journey with our training dog collars and leashes, made of durable PVC for ultimate comfort and control in training. So, let’s work together to raise happy, well-behaved dogs who are a pleasure to have at your feet!