When you get a dog, there are some behavior modifications that you often have to make for yourself. These include remembering to not leave your socks within reach and storing all your snacks away so your pup doesn’t eat them when you’re in the other room. These small inconveniences are the price you pay for your loyal, adorable companion, and most dog owners agree – it’s totally worth it.
But there are some canine behavioral issues that you shouldn’t ignore as they can be distressing to you, your dog, and other people and pets in your life. Here is a breakdown of four common behavioral issues in dogs and what to do about them.
1. Resource guarding: If you’ve noticed that your dog begins growling and gets protective when people or other animals approach their belongings, your dog may be demonstrating “resource guarding.” They may have learned to do this because they’ve previously been in a situation in which they were deprived of, or had to compete for, resources like food. It could also be an inherent quirk. Left unchecked, this type of behavior can lead to bite injuries. Here is a great blog post with training tips to help your dog unlearn resource guarding.
2. Leash reactivity: Your dog is an absolute angel when she’s at home or running around the backyard, but when you take her for a walk, she transforms into a menace, pulling on her leash to lunge at every dog or child that crosses her path. Or, at the other extreme, when you’re taking your walks, you notice that your dog becomes a scared, whimpering mess. If either of these situations sounds familiar to you, your dog may be “leash reactive.” This basically means that your dog’s negative behavior is triggered by the fact that they are on a leash. Why does this happen? On a leash, your dog senses that they are more restricted in their movement, so when they are confronted with an external stimulus, they feel trapped. Some dogs cope with the feeling of entrapment by appearing to be more aggressive, while others express intense fear. Here is some advice on how to deal with leash reactivity.
3. Excessive barking: A bark every now and then is normal doggy behavior but if it becomes so frequent that it’s a nuisance, it’s now a behavioral problem. The root cause of excessive barking is more complicated than meets the eye. The simple breakdown is this: your dog could be barking because they are bored, seeking attention, or scared. This informative video is a 13-minute masterclass on how to identify each type of barking and train your dog to stop.
4. Destructive chewing: Chewing, like barking, is a natural canine behavior. However, when your dog has moved from chewing on their toys to shredding your shoes and furniture, it’s no longer a cute situation. Again, like with barking, it’s helpful to understand the root cause of the destructive chewing behavior. Is your dog just super bored and full of pent-up energy? Are they anxious? Are they frustrated? Your solution will depend on what is driving your dog to bark.
Unlearning these behaviors will take time and consistent practice. For particularly difficult cases, consider hiring a professional dog trainer for help.