Dog Behaviour Problems and How to Fix Them
Dog behaviour problems can lead to frustration for both you and your pet. Don’t give up! You can fix these problems with a little work and these tips. These are simple steps that can be done without forcibly reprimanding your dog for an impulse that may be second nature or improper training.
Barking Problems
Most dogs bark for two reasons. They are either wary of their environment or they have emotional issues (see below for more on emotional issues). The best way to cure your dog’s behavior problem is to fix the trigger for his barking.
For example, if your dog barks because he is afraid of people, try to keep him away from people. This can sound like an impossible task, but it is doable with a little thought. Try keeping the blinds closed so that your dog can’t see outside. Keep your dog in his crate in another room when people come to visit. Put a sheet over his crate when you are at the airport so that he can’t see other travelers. You get the idea.
Emotions
Dogs can be very emotional. More times than not, these emotions can be manifested as bad behaviour problems.
Lack of attention is a common emotional problem. When a dog doesn’t receive enough attention, they can act out inappropriately. They may chew on your shoes, scratch the furniture, or dig in the trash. No matter what they do, this is a cry for more loving. Even if the only attention that results from the misbehavior is a swat on the tail, to the dog that’s better than no attention at all.
To solve emotional dog behavioral problems, the owner can simply make an effort to spend more time with his dog. It is important to do this before the dog misbehaves. Punishing her or paying attention to her in any way after the fact only reinforces the misbehavior. The dog thinks, “Gee, chewing on the couch really works!” That’s not the message you want to be making!
Some of the things that you can do to show your dog more attention are:
· Walk her before you go to work
· Play ball with him
· Practice tricks or commands (complete with treats for a job well done)
· Scratch her head while you watch TV
· Take him swimming at the lake
· Take her to the biking trail with you
· Play Frisbee in the park
Reinforcing Good Behavior and Banishing the Bad
Reinforcing good behavior will make it stick, leaving your dog with permanent good manners.
Always give your dogs treats when you come home and the trash isn’t turned over, for instance. Point to the trash and say, “Good boy!” Then give your dog a treat.
On the other hand, if you come home and the trash is turned over, say nothing. Calmly set the can upright, clean the floor, and ignore the mess maker. Yelling will only give your dog attention for the naughty deed, reinforcing the bad habit.
Yelling can also confuse your dog. Dogs understand yelling as barking. Yelling may encourage your dog to think that barking is a great idea. Use a firm, steady voice when talking to your dog. You don’t have to yell to get across the point that you are disappointed in him. He’ll know by the inflection in your voice.
No matter what, be consistent with your dog. If he gets ignored today for knocking over the trash, make sure he gets ignored tomorrow and the day after. Falling back into old discipline patterns will make your dog fall back into bad behavior, as well. Also, make sure that rewards are just as consistent. Good behavior should be rewarded every time so that your dog always knows what to expect.
If your dog knows what to expect, is given plenty of attention, and is disciplined properly, you can solve most dog behavior problems.