Dog Breeds Dogs

Behavioral Issues in Dogs and How to Fix Them

Behavioral issues in dogs
Written by Arlene S. Lane

Behavioral issues in dogs are something that almost every dog owner has faced once or more than once in their life. Though dogs are friendly and intelligent pets to own, sometimes they may show some questionable behavior as well. 

The dog behavior problem can be quite annoying even for the dog enthusiast sometimes. However, instead of getting worried and stressed, let’s talk about some of the most common behavioral issues in dogs and how to treat them.

It is estimated that around 30% of dog owners will experience some form of behavioral problem with their pet dogs at some point. While some issues are more minor and easily resolved, others can be more serious and require professional help to overcome them. Don’t stress over dogs with behavioral problems instead find the propper solution. The most common behavior problems that dog owners face are listed below, along with some possible solutions.

1. Barking

Barking is one of the most common behavior problems that dog owners face. While some barking is normal and can even be considered cute or amusing, excessive barking can be a nuisance for you and your neighbors. If your dog is barking excessively, there are a few things you can try to help reduce the behavior.

-First thing to do to help dogs with behavioral issue is to make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise. A tired dog is a calm dog, and a dog who is cooped up all day is more likely to bark out of boredom or frustration.

-Secondly, try to provide your dog with some mental stimulation through interactive toys or games. This can help to tire them out mentally, which will in turn reduce barking.

-If your dog is barking for attention, make sure to provide them with positive attention when they are quiet. This may consist of petting, treats, or verbal praise.

-Sometimes, dogs with behavioral problems like excessive barking can be a sign of anxiety or fear. If you think this may be the case, consult with a veterinarian or professional trainer to help your dog overcome their fears.

2. Chewing

Chewing is another common behavior problem, especially for young dogs who are still teething. Though it is normal for dogs to chew on things, it can become one of those dog problems if they are chewing on items that are not meant to be chewed on, such as furniture or shoes. There are a few things you can do to help curtail chewing behavior.

-First, provide your dog with plenty of the best chew toys for dogs. This will give them an appropriate outlet for their chewing urges.

-Secondly, if your dog is chewing on something that it should not be, redirect its attention to a chew toy by calling its name or offering a treat.

-Finally, for the dogs with behavioral issues of overly chewing see if they are bored or anxious. Make sure to provide them with plenty of exercises and mental stimulation. As said earlier, a tired dog will always be a calm dog. However, a dog who is bored is more likely to chew on things out of frustration.

3. Digging

Digging is one of the most common behavioral issues in dogs, especially for dogs who are left alone in the yard for long periods of time. While some dogs will dig just for the fun of it, others may dig out of boredom, frustration, or anxiety. If your dog is digging excessively, there are a few things you can try to help reduce the behavior.

-First, make sure that your dog has plenty of toys and other things to keep them occupied when they are in the yard. This could include a Kong toy filled with treats, a dog-safe chew toy, or a ball to play with.

-Secondly, try to provide your dog with some mental stimulation through interactive puzzle toys or something that tire their mind.  This will in turn reduce digging behavior in dogs.

-If your dog is digging for attention, make sure to provide them with positive attention when they are quiet. This could include petting, treats, verbal praise and even playing outside.

-Finally, if your dog is digging out of anxiety or fear, consult with a veterinarian or professional trainer to help your dog overcome their fears.

4. Jumping

This is not one of the dog problems that you should be overly anxious about. Dogs with behavioral issues always cause stress among dog owners. Jumping, for instance, is considered a common dog behavior problem that you will face as a dog owner. While some dogs will jump up on people out of excitement or happiness, others may do it out of excitement, fear, or aggression. If your dog is jumping excessively, there are a few things you can try to help reduce the behavior.

-First, make sure that your dog is getting enough exercise. Because a dog will stay calm when it is tired. If your dog is idle all day then it is likely to jump out of boredom or frustration.

-Secondly, try to provide your dog with some mental stimulation through puzzle feeders or other indoor dog activities. This can help to tire them out mentally, which will in turn reduce jumping.

-Finally, if your dog is jumping out of excitement or fear, slowly desensitize them to the stimulus that is causing the behavior. This could be done by having someone enter the house while your dog is calm, then gradually increasing the level of excitement or fear until your dog is no longer reacting.

5. Separation Anxiety

One of the major behavioral issues in dogs is none other than anxiety. Just like a human, dogs also face this condition. This is one of those dog problems that will arise when they are left alone. or stay away from their owner for a longer time. This can manifest itself in a number of ways, including barking, chewing, digging, and pacing. If your dog is showing signs of separation anxiety, there are a few things you can try to help reduce the behavior.

-First, most of the dogs with behavioral issues do this when they don’t have anything to do other than being lazy or they don’t get to spend enough time with their owner. Make sure to take them on a walk and perform your dog’s favorite activities. Once they got tired, they will get calm. Also, don’t leave them alone for longer

-Secondly, mental stimulation is crucial for anxious dogs. interactive dog toys chew toys or soft toys should be available for your dog. Keep them busy for quite a while to reduce anxiety.

-If your dog is anxious for attention, make sure to provide them with positive attention when they are quiet. You can do this by petting the dog, giving treats, or praising him verbally.

Finally, if your dog has a fear that you will leave it alone, slowly desensitize them to reduce this issue. You can do it by leaving them alone for short periods of time. Then gradually increasing the amount of time until they are no longer anxious. Remember that Behavioral issues in dogs are mostly because of them being new to our world you can reduce them by introducing simultaneously to new things.

Bottom Line

Dogs are one of the best pet options around the globe. However, along with their touchy behavior, there can be some other behavioral issues in dogs that can be quite problematic for dog owners, especially for new dog owners. However, in this article, we discussed the most common dog behavior problems that you will face. Keep browsing our blog for more dog care tips and tricks to become a good pet owner.

About the author

Arlene S. Lane

Arlene S. Lane is a veterinary technician and hospital manager with over 12 years of experience. Arlene has been contributed expert content to The Pet's Rise for over 10 years.
Arlene has worked in veterinary medicine since 2017. Arlene's veterinary experience ranges from routine wellness care and preventive medicine to emergency and specialty care, where she has performed duties ranging from specialized nursing to clinical administration.

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