Dog Behaviour Problems

Let’s face it, the difference between a dog being a pleasure to have around or an absolute pain to live with, is all down to how we deal with dog behaviour problems.

Most dogs will show some kind of behaviour problems at one stage or another, whether that is chewing holes in the cushions during teething, barking non-stop at the postman or jumping up at your visitors.

How we react to their bad behaviour is crucial because, if we get it wrong we could not only make the problem worse but set ourselves off on a downward spiral that ends in a one-way trip to the dog rescue.

Identifying Dog Behaviour Problems

Behaviour problems can include aggression, biting, snarling and barking excessively, eating problems, pulling on the lead, jumping up, stealing food, attention seeking, destructive behaviour, chewing, scratching, digging, urinating or pooping in the house, and self mutilation.

Free Video Training on Dog Anxiety

However, some dog behaviour problems are not really behaviour problems at all, but natural dog behaviour which we don’t like. Training a dog out of something that comes naturally to them is not always easy and may need a realistic compromise instead.

For instance, a dog barking at a potential threat to their safety is simply a dog acting on their instincts. However, if they bark manically at every potential threat (person) that rings on the doorbell, it can be considered a behaviour problem by those of us who have to put up with it!

Equally a dog digging to bury his bone would be considered natural behaviour in the wild, but if it’s in the middle of your lawn you’re likely to classify that as a behaviour problem. A compromise might be to find an area in your garden where you don’t mind them digging and use positive re-enforcement to encourage them to use it instead.

How do Dog Behaviour Problems Develop?

Often behaviour problems are a symptom of something else that is wrong and is the dog’s way of trying to cope with situations. A good example of this is separation anxiety in dogs, which can lie behind a whole range of behaviour issues from urinating in the house, to chewing the furniture.

Sometimes dog behaviour problems are learnt responses to situations. Aggression is a good example of this, such as where a dog has learnt to react aggressively to someone raising their hand in order to defend themselves (especially where a dog has been mistreated), yet will carry on reacting like this even when the situation has changed and the dog has been re-homed.

Any major change in a dog’s life can be the starting point for behaviour problems too, as they struggle to adjust to new surroundings, new territory, new people in the house, or perhaps another dog. Changes to a dog’s health can also create problems as a dog can feel more vulnerable or be in pain.

How to Deal With Dog Behaviour Problems

If you can work out what lies behind your dogs bad behaviour, you’re half way there, as rather than dealing with the behaviour problem itself you can deal with the root of the problem and the behaviour should change quite naturally.

Take for instance a dog with separation anxiety that regularly chews the furniture whenever they are left at home alone. You could spend a long time training them not to chew, but if you have not dealt with the anxiety behind it, they could start showing that anxiety through other behaviour such as scratching at doors, howling when left alone or urinating in the house.

Never use punishment based training, as this can backfire and actually make the problem worse by teaching them to fear you. It can also encourage some dogs to do it again, because while you’re shouting at them you’re also giving them attention, and for some dogs even the negative kind of attention you are giving them is better than none.

If in Doubt, Seek Help

A good training programme that helps you understand your dog and shows you how to use positive training techniques to change their response to the things that trigger their behaviour problems, is the best way forward for you and your dog.

If you don’t want to tackle the problem alone, a vet or professional dog trainer could help you decide on the right course of action for your dog.

Whichever way you approach the problem, you’ll need patience, persistence and a consistent response every time they use the behaviour you want to change. That way you give yourself the best chance of success. Check out our new Dog Anxiety eBook for a highly effective training programme for dog behaviour problems.