{"id":3271,"date":"2019-11-25T23:51:27","date_gmt":"2019-11-26T04:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/?p=3271"},"modified":"2019-11-26T12:36:05","modified_gmt":"2019-11-26T17:36:05","slug":"behavior-problems-in-dogs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ovrs.com\/blog\/behavior-problems-in-dogs\/","title":{"rendered":"Addressing Behavior Problems in Dogs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What steps should you take to address behavior problems in your dog? In a perfect world, our beloved pooches would be wonderful in every way. They would always respond to our commands and never cause trouble. The reality, though, is that most dogs do have a few behavior issues. You can easily address some behaviors with basic training and socialization, but sometimes that isn\u2019t enough. What steps do we take in addressing more serious behavior problems in dogs?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The team at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services<\/a> is here to address behavior problems in dogs and offer some helpful solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Correcting Behavior Problems in Dogs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Most behaviors that your canine displays, good or bad, are simply behaviors that make sense in the \u201cpack\u201d. These behaviors are sometimes instinctual, but they can also be learned. Certain behaviors we don\u2019t like in our homes are merely expressions of a dog following their pack mentality or how a former owner raised them. The good news is that basic obedience training, retraining or redirection will address most problem behaviors. Others, though, require a professional behaviorist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Aggression <\/strong>\u2014 Aggression is one of the biggest behavior complaints among dog owners, and with good reason. If left uncorrected, it can lead to injury for you, your dog, or others. Your dog may manifest aggression as teeth bearing and growling or as a full-on attack. Because of the potential threat of an accident, deal with aggressive behavior at once. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Aggressive dogs are reactive. Reach out to local trainers or a practice that offers behavior counseling for help with these reactive behaviors. Aggression often stems from fear so your trainer or behavioral modification counselor will likely focus on increasing your dog\u2019s confidence, trust and feelings of safety as part of reducing the reactivity. Choose someone who uses positive techniques to help your dog feel more confident. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Fear and Anxiety <\/strong>\u2014 While some dogs manifest fear through aggression, others exhibit their fear and anxiety. Some dogs are afraid to go on walks, while others cower and shake near other people or dogs. This is a behavior issue that is best addressed by professionals. Seek out training specifically for anxious dogs (some trainers offer one-on-one and in-home training for anxious dogs) and ideally pair training with behavior modification counseling. <\/li>
    2. Barking <\/strong>\u2014 Barking is something most dogs do and enjoy, but when it becomes incessant, you have a behavior problem. When you scold your pet for barking, you may not realize that you\u2019re actually reinforcing their barking. One of the ways to redirect this issue is to teach them to bark. Yes, that\u2019s right. If you teach your pet to bark on command, then teach them with the \u201cquiet\u201d or \u201cshh\u201d command, and finally reward them after they stop barking, you are reinforcing their silence. This is a behavior you can train on your own or reach out to a local dog trainer. Be consistent with this training and be patient, as you will need time to get your dog used to these new commands.<\/li>
    3. Digging and chewing <\/strong>\u2014 These two behaviors are sometimes a result of separation anxiety or boredom if you leave your pet alone for long periods of time. Digging and chewing are natural behaviors, and many pets enjoy them, but obviously it can become a problem. Digging may also increase your pet\u2019s risk of escape<\/a>. Redirect digging and chewing by giving your pet an area to dig in, or things they can chew on instead of a shoe, for example. Reward them with verbal praise or treats for choosing the new correct area to dig in or thing to chew on. This is another behavior you can potentially address at home.  <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Other common problem behaviors include the list below and can be addressed through professional training with the best results from individual training:<\/p>\n\n\n\n