Top 10 Dog Behavioral Problems
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What are most common dog behavioral problems? You may think first about biting, chewing, or housebreaking issues, but the list doesn’t end there. Here are some problems that you may encounter as you’re training your dog.
Digging
Dogs love to dig, especially breeds like terriers who were bred to hunt creatures that live underground. If your dog digs and won’t stop, then you may want to give him a deep sandbox where you bury toys for him to find. This gives him an outlet to enjoy digging in a way that won’t destroy your yard.
Separation Anxiety
This can be one of the most frustrating of dog behavior issues. Dogs with separation anxiety will bark, whine, chew, urinate and defecate, and generally destroy the home while you’re away. This problem needs a lot of training to reverse, but it is doable!
Barking
Dogs bark to communicate warning, excitement, anxiety, boredom, or just to communicate with you or other dogs. You can train your dog to speak and be silent on command, which is a great way to combat a barking problem!
Chewing
Puppies learn to chew because it soothes them when they’re teething. Dogs continue to chew if they’re bored, anxious, or excited. You can train your dog to chew only his designated toys and keeping him exercised before leaving him alone.
Housebreaking Issues
Your dog may have housebreaking “accidents” due to submission, fear, territorial marking, anxiety, or the need for attention. With puppies, this can be easily trained away. It will take more effort to modify the behavior of an adult dog.
Begging
Dogs love people food and many owners encourage begging at the table by feeding their dog table scraps during dinner time. Feeding your dog when he begs makes you less of a pack leader. In the dog world, the leader eats first, and then the rest of the pack can eat. Be sure your dog knows where he stands in your family’s hierarchy.
Biting
Puppies bite as part of exploring their world, just like babies! Adult dogs bite due to fear, defensiveness, protection, pain, or assertion of dominance. Proper socialization and training can keep your dog from biting.
Aggression
Dogs can be aggressive toward people or animals. Some dogs are aggressive about their food. See your vet, a dog behaviorist, or a dog trainer to help your dog calm down.
Chasing
Dogs are predators and love to chase down moving things – people, animals, and cars. You can curb this problem with good obedience training. Keep your dog on a leash when he’s outdoors and make sure he knows to come when he is called.
Jumping
Jumping is cute when a puppy is small, but as they get older it can be dangerous (for people and their clothes!). Since dogs jump to get attention, the best way to stop jumping is to not give your dog the attention they want. Turn around when your dog jumps on you. Keep turning away until your dog gives up and sits down. Then praise your dog.
All dog behavioral problems can be fixed with obedience training! Remember that dogs want nothing more than to please their pack leader. If you are a strong pack leader, they will want to do the behaviors that make you happy and you will have a very good dog!
