Q&A for How to Train a Hyper Dog

Try playing ball in the backyard, going on walks, or experimenting with agility to give your dog an outlet for its physical needs.

Use a clicker or marker word to capture cute things your dog already does on its own. If they howl, click the clicker or say “good”, and then run and get them a treat. Do this repeatedly until your dog has made the connection and is offering the behaviour regularly.

When I hear the word ‘nipping’ I think of puppies not understanding boundaries yet. That’s different from biting which is usually a behavior meant to increase distance between the dog and the person being bitten. Muzzles can be positively conditioned so that pups like wearing them. All pups should be conditioned to wear a muzzle. A muzzle isn’t used to correct behavior, but can be used as an extra layer of safety in case you make a training mistake. If your dog has a history of showing it’s teeth, growling, snapping, or biting, you need to seek the counsel of a veterinary behaviorist or certified behavior consultant.

Take something your dog really likes (ex: chew toys or treat). If she really wants something, hold it where she can see and, if you want her to sit, in a firm voice say, "sit." Use the dog's name to help her remember it. If she won't sit, move her to where she is sitting, by lightly pushing her bottom down. When she is in the correct position, say, "Sit. Sit," over and over again also using her name.

Try making sure that the dog loves the treats and would do anything for them. Then just take it slow. Start with the sit, then the down, and then move into more complicated things like the stay and the down. You could taking it to dog school, but sometimes the dog has a hard time focusing because of all the other dogs around.

Not effectively in a short time, and your temporary location may have local restraint ordinances that prevent this (which often require your dog to be leashed, tethered or in a fenced yard when outside), not to mention it's a bad idea for your dog's safety as well as that of any other pets in the area. Your best bet is to get a tether and post that screws into the ground (ensure you get one more than sufficient for your dog's weight) and tie your dog outside.

Dogs can pull for various reasons. If your dog is reactive, it’s important to first focus on counter-conditioning your dog to stimuli he finds scary. Teach your dog calmness (by kikopup) and just take a picnic with your dog. Play the ‘leash pressure game’ and teach your dog what the pressure on the leash means. Proof the cues ‘come’, ‘leave it’ and attention. Be sure to train your dog that walking on leash is contingent on getting what he wants: getting to a destination or sniffing a bush, by using the premack principle.

You can train without using treats but it’s easier and quicker to do so. Toys, the environment and your body movement can be used as reinforcement.