Contributed by Dogsintl
Anyone that has ever lived with an excitable, unruly, and disobedient dog will tell you that such an animal can make life unbearable for everyone who comes into contact with it. Such a dog will not only leave you emotionally drained; it can also destroy property and relationships with visitors and neighbors.
If you find yourself with a dog that has behavior issues, you’ll be glad to know that with proper training, the most common dog behavior problems can be treated. In this article, we identify some of the common dog behavior issues and how to treat them.
It’s essential to start by noting that looking after an animal is a responsibility that requires dedication. Just like you would never expect your kids to learn what is right or wrong without your guidance, you wouldn’t expect your dog to be well behaved without proper training.
Table of Contents
- Common Reasons for a Dog’s Behavior Issues
- Destructive Chewing
- Mouthing, Nipping and Play Biting
- Separation Anxiety
- Excessive Barking
- Should You Use an Anti-Bark Collar?
- Aggression
- Jumping Up
- Begging
- Digging
- Inappropriate Elimination
Common Reasons for a Dog’s Behavior Issues
Like humans, every dog is born with not much knowledge of what is acceptable in terms of behavior. Therefore, dogs need to be trained to prevent them from exhibiting irritating (jumping on people or begging for food), dangerous (being aggressive to other animals or people), or costly habits (chewing things). But why do dogs misbehave in the first place?
In an article published by the American Kennel Club, an organization that advocates for responsible dog ownership and advancement of dog sports, Stephanie J. Smith lists some reasons dogs misbehave:
- Insufficient training
- Dogs left alone for the whole day with inadequate exercise.
- Owners reinforcing bad behaviors
- Not knowing the dog’s breed.
- Failing to establish boundaries
- Medical conditions
Some other reasons that lead to destructive behaviors include genetic problems, constant change of environment, and negative socialization.
Below are some common dog behavior issues and the best way to treat them. It’s essential to start by providing a word of caution when dealing with dog behavior issues. Punishment, which is mostly associated with pain, is usually discouraged in favor of positive reinforcement, which incentives desirable behavior.
Destructive Chewing
One way that dogs, especially young ones, learn about their environment is chewing. For younger dogs, this could help release pain when new teeth are growing. Older dogs chew to make their jaws stronger. However, chewing could also result from boredom, frustration, or hunger.
Excessive chewing can result in a dog munching everything it comes across, including clothes on the washing line, shoes left at the door, and vehicle rubber and plastic parts.
Read on …