The Dog Behavior Problem Solver. Teoti Anderson
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don’t like, it’s easy to take it personally. Doesn’t he love you? Doesn’t he realize how good he has it? Both are typical human responses. Dogs see things differently. Your dog probably doesn’t see his behavior as a problem at all. Many of the things that annoy people about dogs, such as jumping, digging, growling, and chewing, are very typical examples of canine behavior. This doesn’t mean you have to put up with such behavior, but in order to fix any problems you need to understand that you and your dog may have different definitions of what a problem is. Heck, people don’t always agree on what is a problem and what is not!
For example, you have a strict policy of no dogs on the furniture. Your cousin lets her dogs up on every piece of furniture in her house. You don’t want your dog to jump up on you. Your cousin encourages her dog to jump up on her all the time. Which of you is correct? You both are!
Many canine behaviors are only problems if they bother you. The rules you have in your home can be completely different from those in someone else’s home. That’s completely OK.
When Behavior Becomes a Problem
Behavior becomes a problem when it annoys you, your family members, friends, or the neighbors. It’s a problem if your dog is destructive. If a behavior is unhealthy or dangerous to the dog, other people, or other animals, then it is definitely a problem behavior. Aggression, for example, is a serious problem behavior. It puts people or other animals at risk. It’s also a risk to the dog who is aggressive because it could mean euthanasia if it can’t be resolved.
If you are struggling with problem behaviors, there is one important thing to understand right away. The problem is not likely to go away on its own. You can’t ignore it and hope the dog outgrows it. Please don’t make excuses for your dog, either. It’s one thing to try to understand why your dog behaves the way he does and another thing to find excuses for his behavior. Saying “Oh, he growls over his food because he was a stray” isn’t going to calm down anyone the dog bites.
Postponing treating the problem will just make it worse. The more a dog practices a behavior, the more ingrained it becomes, until it becomes a habit or your dog’s preferred response to a situation. Ingrained behaviors are harder to fix.
A growling puppy can grow up to be an adult dog who bites. A dog who starts to dig will just learn to dig more or bigger holes. Unruly dogs will not magically turn into perfect ladies and gentlemen overnight. Luckily for you, you’re not ignoring a problem, or you wouldn’t be reading this book! You’ve already taken a positive step in the right direction.
Digging holes is a habit that can easily turn into a problem if left unchecked.
Why Problems Arise
Choosing to share your life with a dog means you’re bound to encounter a problem sooner or later. Maybe your dog won’t stop barking, pees in the house, drags you down the street, or won’t let you take a bone away from him. Maybe he runs away from home or hides when you try and groom him. Why?
There are many reasons why problem behaviors arise. Some are inherent simply because dogs are a different species to us. Dogs love to follow their noses, even if it means dragging their human along with them in the quest to find the source of the scent. They dig holes. They are born to chew on things. They also have to pee and poo, and they don’t understand why you don’t want them to do either in the house. We bring dogs into our lives and expect them to live by our rules, but we’re not always very good at explaining the rules to them in terms they can understand.
A vet will check for any physical causes of problem behavior.
Physical Problems
Having a “problem dog” can be disheartening and frustrating. You brought a dog home to be a pet, not a problem! Where did things go wrong? Why did your dog develop problems in the first place?
Many owners mistakenly put down changes in behavior to simple stubbornness. For example, your dog normally loves walking in the neighborhood, but one day, near the end of your walk, he balks and refuses to budge. This soon turns into a habit. Walks start out great, but after a while your dog just stops and won’t go any farther. Before assuming your dog is just being defiant or stubborn, it’s time for a veterinary examination.
If there is a physical reason for your dog’s behavior, then trying to get him to modify it will not be practical until the physical problem is treated. Fixing that may resolve the behavior altogether. This is why many modern trainers will suggest you take your dog to a veterinarian for a physical exam before starting a training program. Unexpected changes in behavior, especially, are a red flag for physical issues. If your dog suddenly develops a behavior problem, your first move should be to take him to a veterinarian to rule out any physical cause. For example, if your dog has been housetrained for a long time and suddenly starts peeing in the house, he could have a urinary tract infection or other related illness.
Medical Problems
That’s by no means all. For instance, your dog could be developing an orthopedic problem, such as hip dysplasia. This is an abnormal formation of the hip socket that is both crippling and painful. (It’s also a common genetic disease in many breeds, including Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Rottweilers, Shih Tzus, and Golden Retrievers.)
While hip dysplasia usually affects older dogs, it can occur in very young dogs as well. Like other orthopedic and joint diseases, it can cause a dog to limit his activity. So can a pulled muscle or a torn muscle or ligament. If your dog stops wanting to jump in the car or on the bed, or he refuses to climb up and down stairs, there may well be a physical issue at the root of the problem. It’s not defiance at all—it’s pain.
When a dog is in pain, he can be withdrawn or even aggressive. For example, the little dog who snaps when you pick her up may have arthritis. The dog who is normally social and friendly might snap at the veterinarian who examines his ear to treat an ear infection.
An older dog may find it harder to get around if his joints are painful.
Chronic Conditions
Other diseases, such as diabetes, can also impact on behavior. A diabetic dog can get very thirsty and will naturally drink a lot of water as a result. This may cause him to pee more frequently. If he can’t get outside in time, he may pee in the house. Arthritis or other painful joint conditions may lead a dog to pee and poo in the house as well. It’s just too hard and painful for him to get outdoors.
Deafness
Deafness can be a problem, too. As a dog ages, he may lose his hearing, so he can’t hear you when you call him or give him other spoken cues. He’s not being stubborn, he’s simply deaf.
Watch Your Dog’s Body Language: It Hurts!
Have you noticed that when petting your dog, he tenses when you reach a certain spot? Maybe he looks away or starts licking his lips? Or, he’s panting and when you reach a specific spot, he stops panting and closes his mouth tight shut? Once you move on from that spot, he relaxes again.
Do you have an older dog who used to love your younger dog, but recently has started lifting his lip when the younger dog gets near to him? Are you starting to see squabbles when they used to be best pals? These and similar situations call for a veterinarian visit. Your dog may be getting stressed or aggressive because he’s in pain.
With some dogs, it’s easy to tell when they are hurting. Others may be more subtle with their signals. You may have to play detective to find out what’s really going on. Your veterinarian can help you rule out any physical issues that may be causing a problem.
Lack of Training
Many problem behaviors are simply due to lack of training. If you’ve never taught your dog, then he doesn’t know what you expect from him. You also have to instruct