All dogs exhibit some unwanted behaviors from time to time. However, if your dog's behavior is becoming a problem, there are things you can do to address it.
Here are some tips for dealing with common dog behavior problems:
Barking
Dogs bark for a variety of reasons, including boredom, anxiety, and excitement. If your dog is barking excessively, it is important to identify the underlying cause. Once you know the cause, you can start to address it.
Here are some tips for dealing with excessive barking:
Provide plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. A bored dog is more likely to bark. Make sure your dog is getting enough exercise and has lots of training and mentally stimulating activities to help satiate them.
Identify and address any underlying anxiety. If your dog is barking due to anxiety, such as separation anxiety or fear of strangers, you may need to work with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to develop a treatment plan.
Teach your dog a "quiet" command. This can be helpful for teaching your dog to stop barking on command. This is often ironically taught by first teaching them TO bark on command.
Chewing
Chewing is a natural behavior for dogs. However, if your dog is chewing on inappropriate items, such as furniture or shoes, it is important to redirect their chewing to more appropriate items.
Here are some tips for dealing with chewing:
Provide your dog with an outlet to chew. If you have a puppy, they are likely teething and need to be chewing often. Firmer rubbery toys can provide them (and you) with much-needed relief.
Remove inappropriate chew items from your dog's reach. If you don't want your dog to chew on something, or, you want an item to maintain its value, don't leave it where they can reach it all the time.
Jumping
Jumping is a common behavior for excited dogs. However, it can be annoying and even dangerous if your dog jumps on people or furniture.
Here are some tips for dealing with jumping:
Teach your dog a "sit" command. Have your dog sit and be sure to only greet them when they are sitting. Ensure your guests do the same. It is very easy to unintentionally reward jumping with attention, even if we think it is “negative” attention.
Ignore your dog when they jump. If you give your dog attention when they jump, it will reinforce the behavior. Do not back up, or turn when they jump–most will think you are playing.
Reward your dog for sitting when they are greeted. When your dog greets someone without jumping, give them a treat or praise.
If you are struggling to deal with a common dog behavior problem, you may want to consult with a professional dog trainer or behaviorist. They can help you to identify the underlying cause of the problem and develop a treatment plan.
Here are some additional tips for dealing with common dog behavior problems:
Be patient and consistent. It takes time and patience to change a dog's behavior. Be consistent with your training and don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately.
Use lots of reinforcement for behaviors you DO want. Focus on that more than correcting behaviors you do not want.
Socialize your dog. A well-socialized dog is less likely to exhibit unwanted behaviors. Socialize your dog from a young age by exposing them to different people, places, and situations. This does NOT mean dog parks. Please talk with a professional behavior before going to dog parks, or seek alternative smaller group “play dates”. Dog parks often cause severe behavioral issues or fights.
With a little time and effort, you can teach your dog to be a well-behaved and loving companion.
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