Some Common Dog Behaviour Problems - Part 1
If you have lived your life with a dog then you have probably encountered some common dog behaviour problems at least once or twice. You may have been left wondering why dogs do the things they do. Things like barking, biting, chewing and other ordinary dog behaviours are quite common but they are often misunderstood by dog owners and, consequently, mishandled.
On the
other hand, perhaps you are new to owning a dog, or you are just in
the process of thinking about getting a dog. Maybe you want to
learn to better understand your dog’s behaviour problems.
Understanding the motivations for your dog’s behaviour is the first
step in learning to modify or prevent the behaviour. You can
then approach the problems through obedience training to help you
prevent and control their behaviour problems.
1. Dogs Bark
It’s no secret that dogs bark.
This behaviour takes several forms, from simple barking to howling
to whining. It’s when the barking becomes excessive or
continuous that it is considered a behaviour problem. Before
you can solve the problem you need to determine why your dog is
barking. The most common reasons for barking are:
Playfulness/Excitement
Seeking Attention
Warning
Anxiety
At different times any of these
reasons for barking can be justified. There is nothing
inherently wrong in playful barking or even barking for a little
attention. But taken to extremes, barking becomes a problem.
To overcome problem barking you
will need to learn to control the behaviour. You should first
teach your dog to bark on command. Then you can teach him to
stop barking on command. When your dog barks (which he already
knows how to do), say “speak.” Give him praise and
encouragement for barking. When he stops barking say “stop” or
“enough.” Give him lots more praise. If you repeat this
exercise frequently your dog will get the hang of it. But you
must be consistent with your commands and your praise. If your
dog doesn’t stop barking on his own, try a loud noise to startle him
into stopping, such as shaking a can of pennies. Then stay
“stop” or “enough” and praise him.
2. Dogs Chew
Most of us know that dogs chew.
They chew shoes, remotes and other things left lying around the
house. Of course, chewing is perfectly natural for dogs.
It only becomes a problem when dogs chew things they aren’t supposed
to chew. The most common reasons dogs chew are:
Puppy Teething
Anxiety
Curiosity (how does it taste, feel, etc.)
The best thing you can do for your
dog is to provide him with his own things to chew on. If he
has his own toys and things to chew he is less likely to chew yours.
This may not solve the problem completely, but it will help.
You will also have to learn to keep some of your more precious
personal items out of your dog’s reach, at least while he is in the
teething/puppy stage. Puppies do not know all of the house
rules yet and they may not be able to tell the difference between
their toys and your more expensive toys, such as cell phones and
sunglasses. They will make mistakes.
When you have to leave your dog
home alone you may want to consider crating him or confining him to
one area of your house to limit his access to chewable things.
He won’t be able to cause as much destruction this way. If you
catch your dog chewing things when you’re home you should correct
him by making a sharp noise while he’s in the act to startle him.
Most dogs will drop what they’re chewing on instantly. You can
then replace whatever he’s chewing on with a more appropriate chew
toy.
In some instances dogs have to
learn, item by item, what is not acceptable to chew on. Other
dogs catch on faster and learn to leave people things alone.
But even old timers can have relapses and decide to chew on
something valuable.
One of the best things you can do
for your dog, for many behaviour problems, is to make sure they
receive plenty of outdoor exercise. Tired dogs get into much
less trouble as a rule.
3. Dogs Dig
Dogs like to dig. It’s an
instinct. Some breeds, such as terriers, are natural diggers.
It’s part of their hunting background. But all dogs will dig
from time to time. Some of the most common reasons are:
Hunting Instinct
Nesting (comfort or cooling off)
Boredom or Excess Energy
Hiding Possessions (bones or toys)
Anxiety or Fear
To Escape or Gain Access
Spend time outside with your dog to
see what he’s doing. Make sure he’s getting plenty of exercise
-- you don’t want him using digging as his main exercise. If
he is determined to dig then you may need to set aside part of the
yard where it’s okay for him to dig. Maybe your dog needs a
sandbox or a part of the garden for his very own.
4. Dogs can have Separation Anxiety
Dogs with genuine separation
anxiety usually cannot stand to allow the owner out of their sight
even when the owner is home. The dog wants to touch the owner
constantly. They may have inappropriate urination and
defecation from stress, and they may become destructive from anxiety
when the owner leaves them for just a few minutes.
True separation anxiety usually
requires treatment from a professional and help from a veterinarian.
It takes training, behaviour modification and even medication in
some cases.
Most dogs don't want you to leave
the house because they’re bored while you’re away. This is not
true separation anxiety, which is a psychological condition based in
anxiety. Alleviate your dog’s boredom while you’re away from
home and you can improve his behaviour when you leave the house.
5. Dogs can have Inappropriate Elimination
If you rule out a health problem
then you can look at behavioural reasons for your dog’s elimination
problems. Dogs have inappropriate elimination problems for the
following reasons:
Lack of Proper
Housebreaking
Submissive or Fear Urination
Anxiety
Attention-seeking
Territorial Marking
Remember that inappropriate
elimination is to be expected in puppies, especially before they are
three months old. They need time to learn to hold their
bladders and they can’t be expected to go very long between potty
breaks. Senior dogs can also have problems as they age.
But dogs in the prime of life who are having problems with
elimination are usually having some kind of behaviour problem and
you will need to figure out why they are doing what they’re doing
before you can overcome the problem.
Recommended Resource: Dog Trainer Pro
Dog Article
courtesy of I-Love-Dogs.com