Shawn Riley
Canine Trainer & Behaviorist
Shawn Riley is a Canine Trainer & Behaviorist based in Tualatin, Oregon. With over 40 years of experience, Shawn trains people to properly establish and maintain leadership roles with their canine companions. Shawn has trained with several acclaimed canine experts and refined The Dog Way training methods through experience and observation of dogs' natural interactions within their groups. Shawn has appeared on several local TV shows and was recruited by National Geographic as the on-set Behavioral Advisor for a national video series called “My Dog Ate What?”
wikiHow's Editorial Process wikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Forum Comments (3)
How do you get a dog to stop digging?
Really guys..... you're gonna teach the dog to dig more and then think they're gonna stop when you want them to... it's not gonna happen!!! Dogs don't need to dig it's an instinctive behavior but it certainly isn't necessary... Dogs dig for fun and they dig to go after rodents and those are the typical reasons I know because for the last 40 years I have owned and managed facilities where the dogs are all out loose in large acre plus yards completely autonomous 24 seven and I have had to deal with this every single day with large groups of dogs and every single one of them learns eventually that they're not allowed to dig anywhere. It's dangerous for the dogs it's bad for the lawnmower it's unsightly. There is NEVER a reason for you to allow or teach your dog to dig anytime ever unless it's in the wild and they have to do it for survival.
This is the very simple process to teach any dog not to dig and it really is the only way that works permanently and for every single dog in every single situation.
First remember the basic rule of canine dogs only do exactly what they think they're supposed to do 100% of the time their lives literally depend on it so they don't know they're not supposed to do it and then decide to do it anyway if they're digging it's because they think it's OK so we must remember the only thing we need to do is figure out how to help them understand that they are not allowed to dig under any circumstance or conditions
In order for a dog to understand that they broken a rule that has to be some sort of physical interaction. Just telling them over and over is not enough and remember also unlike humans dogs don't even possess an angry gene they don't even understand anger they act react and interact but they do not get angry about anything it serves no purpose in fact anger as a flaw that is specifically human and in fact is the only emotion we possess that serves no positive purpose. If we get angry at them it just creates confusion and anxiety so avoid getting angry at your dog at all costs we're only human it's gonna happen but remember it serves no purpose and it will just set us backwards.
The other thing to remember is that post-infraction interaction in education is absolutely indicated especially a situation like this. Meaning this: while it is preferable to catch them in the act it is not necessary to affect change. Being proactive is important if you wanna affect permanent rapid change in any scenario and especially in digging. Case the yard daily to be sure you find any holes every single time you find a hole go get your dog bring them over to the hole get a hold of them by the scruff for the collar so that you can take them over to the hole make sure and hold them there so that they see the hole and make sure that they understand you're trying to get them to see something they will eventually figure this out after you've done it several times go take them and put them in a time out ( a proper timeout is going to be locking them to a carrier kennel or a location where it is difficult to impossible for them to see or hear the normal going on of the group they must feel shunned from the group this by the way as a fantastic educational technique that when applied properly imitates exactly but what happened to them in the wild when they break a rule and works without fail with every dog in every situation) after they're in a timeout for a while and the time will be determined by the age of the dog and the infraction the older the dog the longer it can be the worst infraction the longer it can be so on and so forth. When they're done with the timeout bring them back to the hole show them again and let them go and then ignore them for a while let it sit with them they need to understand that you're upset by the digging and you will be upset every time they get near the hole scold them make them feel bad for being anywhere near a hole you have to do this with every hole and you have to do it every day and keep doing it until it's done once this is completed your dog should never dig again or maybe we'll go through certain specific phases of their life which they will test again go through the same process it should get shorter and shorter every time. It's never failed in 45 years of doing this not a single time. Good luck and remember loving your dog is not about pampering them or being sweet and nice to them it's about doing the things that they need to be healthy happy and well behaved so that you're allowed to give them unlimited freedom responsibility respect and trust if they're breaking rules they're going to feel that you're upset and that's never going to be good for them.... Teach teach teach until they get it don't give up never give up a dog never gives up when we teach them we provide structure and fierce leadership they feel protected loved and cared for and they're then mandated by instinct to follow us forever utilize these philosophies and it never fails you will have not only a dog that's the best behaved but also emotionally mentally physically healthiest and happiest animal you will ever see trust me again I depend on these philosophy and methods daily and I have been doing this with dogs in large groups literally my whole life and I just turned 63
This is the very simple process to teach any dog not to dig and it really is the only way that works permanently and for every single dog in every single situation.
First remember the basic rule of canine dogs only do exactly what they think they're supposed to do 100% of the time their lives literally depend on it so they don't know they're not supposed to do it and then decide to do it anyway if they're digging it's because they think it's OK so we must remember the only thing we need to do is figure out how to help them understand that they are not allowed to dig under any circumstance or conditions
In order for a dog to understand that they broken a rule that has to be some sort of physical interaction. Just telling them over and over is not enough and remember also unlike humans dogs don't even possess an angry gene they don't even understand anger they act react and interact but they do not get angry about anything it serves no purpose in fact anger as a flaw that is specifically human and in fact is the only emotion we possess that serves no positive purpose. If we get angry at them it just creates confusion and anxiety so avoid getting angry at your dog at all costs we're only human it's gonna happen but remember it serves no purpose and it will just set us backwards.
The other thing to remember is that post-infraction interaction in education is absolutely indicated especially a situation like this. Meaning this: while it is preferable to catch them in the act it is not necessary to affect change. Being proactive is important if you wanna affect permanent rapid change in any scenario and especially in digging. Case the yard daily to be sure you find any holes every single time you find a hole go get your dog bring them over to the hole get a hold of them by the scruff for the collar so that you can take them over to the hole make sure and hold them there so that they see the hole and make sure that they understand you're trying to get them to see something they will eventually figure this out after you've done it several times go take them and put them in a time out ( a proper timeout is going to be locking them to a carrier kennel or a location where it is difficult to impossible for them to see or hear the normal going on of the group they must feel shunned from the group this by the way as a fantastic educational technique that when applied properly imitates exactly but what happened to them in the wild when they break a rule and works without fail with every dog in every situation) after they're in a timeout for a while and the time will be determined by the age of the dog and the infraction the older the dog the longer it can be the worst infraction the longer it can be so on and so forth. When they're done with the timeout bring them back to the hole show them again and let them go and then ignore them for a while let it sit with them they need to understand that you're upset by the digging and you will be upset every time they get near the hole scold them make them feel bad for being anywhere near a hole you have to do this with every hole and you have to do it every day and keep doing it until it's done once this is completed your dog should never dig again or maybe we'll go through certain specific phases of their life which they will test again go through the same process it should get shorter and shorter every time. It's never failed in 45 years of doing this not a single time. Good luck and remember loving your dog is not about pampering them or being sweet and nice to them it's about doing the things that they need to be healthy happy and well behaved so that you're allowed to give them unlimited freedom responsibility respect and trust if they're breaking rules they're going to feel that you're upset and that's never going to be good for them.... Teach teach teach until they get it don't give up never give up a dog never gives up when we teach them we provide structure and fierce leadership they feel protected loved and cared for and they're then mandated by instinct to follow us forever utilize these philosophies and it never fails you will have not only a dog that's the best behaved but also emotionally mentally physically healthiest and happiest animal you will ever see trust me again I depend on these philosophy and methods daily and I have been doing this with dogs in large groups literally my whole life and I just turned 63
Why do people like dogs so much?
Exactly!!!! They're all very different and that's just one of the reasons we love them.
Help potty training a puppy
Here's my advice for what to do:
1.) The most important factor here is that ALL puppies need to be supervised 24/7 if they're in an area where they can be destructive, hurt themselves or make a mess. No puppy should be held responsible for any kind of destruction or mess-making until they're at least a year old. The better we are at true canine understanding and training the better this will go, but the results will be determined by several important factors. First and most importantly will always be OUR ability to train them. If we were perfect, they would learn everything VERY quickly!! Secondly, growth and developmental phases are going to be slightly different for every dog. Other variables are proper feeding and watering times and amounts. Most people mistakenly overwater their dogs AND just let them graze, instead of giving them specific times and amounts to eat. All dogs, but especially puppies, NEED to be fed on a schedule 1-3 times a day depending on their age and other variables. Once a dog is a year old, I personally feed them once a day, but that's a personal choice. Some people feed their dogs twice a day for their entire lifetime. Either is fine, although there are consequences for both.
2.) Once you have embraced the fact that you must be watching them all the time (not just when it's convenient) then you'll be able to teach them properly. Keep in mind a dog is never going to understand our inability to do things their (the proper true canine) way. No matter what you have ever heard, read, or what anybody ever tells you, unlike humans a dog CANNOT choose to do the wrong thing so WHATEVER they are doing is exactly what they believe is the right thing to do. A dog's instincts literally mandate this. If you see your dog going into the bathroom in the wrong place, gently say no and take them to where you want them to go and have them go there, and then praise them when they do go. Praising should be strictly limited to verbal and physical only, no treats or bribes or any of that – it just leads to more problems.
3.) Schedule your feeding and watering times so that you start learning when your dog needs to go to the bathroom before they need to go, and then schedule taking them out for a walk to the proper spot you want them to go and stay there with them until they actually go, and then give them lots of praises and hugs. If they still haven't gone and you can't stay there any longer, take them back inside and watch them like a hawk. The second they start to do it in the wrong place, start back at the beginning by telling them no and take them back out to go where they're supposed to go. Eventually, they will pick up on this and they will start learning that the only place they are ever allowed to go is the place where you are praising them.
Having a proper foundation with your dog is going to make all of this work better, of course. A "proper foundation" means that the dog owner has properly established the position that they're making the rules for their dog, which happens through built and established trust and respect. Most dog owners benefit from quality instruction from somebody who does not use any bribe or prevention-based methods (i.e. no training collar, treats, clickers, choke chains, or anything like that–just a solid true canine philosophy).
Best of luck out there and be good to your dog– remember, a dog is probably the only true unconditional loyalty that a human will ever experience!!
1.) The most important factor here is that ALL puppies need to be supervised 24/7 if they're in an area where they can be destructive, hurt themselves or make a mess. No puppy should be held responsible for any kind of destruction or mess-making until they're at least a year old. The better we are at true canine understanding and training the better this will go, but the results will be determined by several important factors. First and most importantly will always be OUR ability to train them. If we were perfect, they would learn everything VERY quickly!! Secondly, growth and developmental phases are going to be slightly different for every dog. Other variables are proper feeding and watering times and amounts. Most people mistakenly overwater their dogs AND just let them graze, instead of giving them specific times and amounts to eat. All dogs, but especially puppies, NEED to be fed on a schedule 1-3 times a day depending on their age and other variables. Once a dog is a year old, I personally feed them once a day, but that's a personal choice. Some people feed their dogs twice a day for their entire lifetime. Either is fine, although there are consequences for both.
2.) Once you have embraced the fact that you must be watching them all the time (not just when it's convenient) then you'll be able to teach them properly. Keep in mind a dog is never going to understand our inability to do things their (the proper true canine) way. No matter what you have ever heard, read, or what anybody ever tells you, unlike humans a dog CANNOT choose to do the wrong thing so WHATEVER they are doing is exactly what they believe is the right thing to do. A dog's instincts literally mandate this. If you see your dog going into the bathroom in the wrong place, gently say no and take them to where you want them to go and have them go there, and then praise them when they do go. Praising should be strictly limited to verbal and physical only, no treats or bribes or any of that – it just leads to more problems.
3.) Schedule your feeding and watering times so that you start learning when your dog needs to go to the bathroom before they need to go, and then schedule taking them out for a walk to the proper spot you want them to go and stay there with them until they actually go, and then give them lots of praises and hugs. If they still haven't gone and you can't stay there any longer, take them back inside and watch them like a hawk. The second they start to do it in the wrong place, start back at the beginning by telling them no and take them back out to go where they're supposed to go. Eventually, they will pick up on this and they will start learning that the only place they are ever allowed to go is the place where you are praising them.
Having a proper foundation with your dog is going to make all of this work better, of course. A "proper foundation" means that the dog owner has properly established the position that they're making the rules for their dog, which happens through built and established trust and respect. Most dog owners benefit from quality instruction from somebody who does not use any bribe or prevention-based methods (i.e. no training collar, treats, clickers, choke chains, or anything like that–just a solid true canine philosophy).
Best of luck out there and be good to your dog– remember, a dog is probably the only true unconditional loyalty that a human will ever experience!!
Co-authored Articles (5)
What to Do When a Dog Attacks
Protect yourself and your loved ones by defusing a situation with an aggressive canine Dogs make wonderful companions, but it's also true that some dogs will attack if they feel scared or threatened. While dog attacks ar...
How to
Treat Dog Splinters
A guide to removing splinters and preventing infections If your dog has a splinter, you should be able to safely remove it at home so your furry friend is back on their paws. All you need to remove a splinter are twee...
How to
Report a Dangerous Dog
If you come across an aggressive or dangerous dog you need to stay safe and report the dog to the proper authorities. Taking the right steps in this kind of incident should be done for the dog's sake, as well as for you ...
How to
Train Your Dog for a Dog Show
Showing dogs, or "conformation" is a popular and enjoyable activity for many dog owners. It gives you a chance to build a stronger bond with your dog, and also to show off your canine friend to an adoring public. But, be...
How to
Identify a Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a Japanese breed that has been around since ancient times. A member of the non-sporting group of dogs, they are small in size, but lovable and confident. If you're aware of the breed's temperament and ch...
