Dog Behavior Problems — Causes And How To Deal With It
All of us who have a furry best friend have wondered how to deal with dog behavior problems. Even the best-trained and behaved dogs sometimes have annoying behavior patterns.
Well, no one is perfect, right? But, some issues take more time to resolve and stem from different causes.
That’s why all dog owners and lovers must get acquainted with the most common dog behavior problems — their causes and solutions.
Those of us who are seasoned dog owners know that some behaviors can’t be avoided. Dogs bark, chew stuff, run around, and jump on us when they’re happy.
Therefore, the absence of these types of behavior can also be problematic. However, when does a specific annoying dog behavior become a problem?
Normal dog behavior vs. abnormal behavior in dogs
It is rather difficult to separate healthy from abnormal behavior in dogs.
Not only does each dog breed have a particular behavior pattern they follow, but each dog might have a particular set of behaviors that are normal for that specific dog (while it might be abnormal for others of the same breed).
Moreover, our puppies might act differently once they grow up — normal behavior will change once the puppy reaches adulthood.
Therefore, like humans, the terms normal and abnormal are relative when discussing dog behavior problems.
However, we can classify some behavior patterns as categorically abnormal:
- Excessive Barking
- Aggressive behavior
- Eating inedible items
- Destructive behavior
Here’s the thing — although we might not be able to classify all “bad” or “good” behavior patterns in our dogs, we can spot new dog behavior problems in our puppies.
If our quiet beasts start barking at everything and everyone for no apparent reason, while they didn’t do that before, it’s clear that this action is not only new but also an issue.
How to deal with dog behavior problems?
This question is especially crucial for new dog owners or for those of us who are adopting older dogs.
When we are taking in a dog that has already formed a particular pattern of behavior, it’s hard to tell if something is normal or not.
When we don’t have the chance to raise the pup from the litter, we have to pay close attention to all the signs of abnormal behavior in dogs.
Most common dog behavior problems — what they are and how to deal with them
Barking
Barking is the most common dog trait. Therefore, we can’t classify it as abnormal dog behavior from the get-go.
It is a type of annoying dog behavior, especially late at night. However, barking is integral to our pet’s personality and species. Hence, it’s unavoidable.
Nevertheless, excessive barking can be a real problem. If your dog barks when someone approaches the door — there’s no place for worrying.
The dog is protecting its territory and, in turn, his family. However, if they bark at anything that moves or goes past the house, you have a problem with your hands.
Of course, no one expects a tranquil dog. Once you bring a furry creature into your household, you accept that the noise comes with the territory.
But not at the expense of your sleep, correct? Still, keep in mind that dogs bark for various reasons. Therefore, 3 AM howling can also be justified in some cases. So, why do dogs bark?
They are warning you or trying to alert you of something.
This is the most common cause of barking. When we have a visitor at the door, our dogs have no idea we invited someone over for a chat.
Therefore, they immediately assess the situation as potentially dangerous and try to alert us. That is kind of them, but a real pain as well.
We shouldn’t yell at our pets to keep quiet to stop this behavior, which will make them more alert. Instead, we must assure them that they and we are acceptable and safe.
So, speaking to a dog in a soothing tone will be much more effective. If we aren’t in a panic over the “intruder,” our dogs won’t be either.
They are excited or playful and happy to see you.
Another case of excessive barking can happen when we step into our homes. And they vocalize that happiness. We can’t exactly blame them for it, right?
We do the same with our friends (minus all the yelling).
Therefore, instead of completely shutting our dogs up and attempting to out-yell them or rushing to them to pet them and show them how much we missed them, we should try using a soothing tone.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as barking
Try telling your dog to sit so they can calm themselves before rewarding them with a treat or a petting session.
After a while, this behavior will become conditional, and the dogs will stop barking their little heads off as soon as we walk through the door.
There are a few more reasons that our dogs might be barking. They might be bored and are seeking attention.
This can be remedied by not giving in. Reward positive behavior consistently and wait until the dog stops barking before you give them what they need.
Never reward barking. Instead, it’s best to find ways for the dog to communicate that don’t involve negative behavior.
For example, if you always stand up to fill the water bowl when your dog is next to it, it’s your fault that there’s a clamor every time they are there.
Try teaching the dog to signal the need to hit the bowl with a paw. That’s much better than barking.
Dog Behavior Problems. Digging
Digging, much like barking, is an integral part of dog behavior. It’s an evolutionary trait.
Once upon a time, before they had plushy beds in our homes, dogs used to explore the ground to make a more comfortable sleeping and tended to search for their treats and treasures.
Therefore, this abnormal behavior in dogs isn’t precisely that atypical.
However, we can say that our dog’s digging is abnormal when it’s excessive, done out of boredom, or destructive furthermore, if our dogs are digging so much that they are hue, then we categorize exploring under dog behavior problems.
In any case, there are various reasons why our dogs might be trying to dig their way to China in our yards.
They have too much energy expected to be bored.
This is expected abnormal behavior in dogs. If we don’t keep our furry friends occupied enough, they will wreak havoc on our homes and gardens.
Look, our flowerbeds are looking worse for wear lately; we might need to provide our dogs with more activities.
Try taking your dog for a long walk, hike, or run. Once you tire them out, they won’t have any energy left for digging.
They might be making a hiding spot.
If your dogs dig up the yard, they might be looking for a perfect hiding space. The ideal solution for this might be just to let your dog be.
Puppy, don’t allow your pup to reign over the entire garden. Set aside one small area that will be a “digging zone.”
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as digging
Dogs also dig out of anxiety and fear or when they are seeking comfort. We can stop them from digging by addressing the main issue.
Find out what got your pooch scared or sad, and deal with that problem. After that, the digging will stop on its own.
Dog Behavior Problems. Chewing
Another normal behavior that can turn into abnormal is chewing.
For example, excessive chewing in puppies is novelties surrounding them; they must explore them to get to know the world around them.
Moreover, even adult dogs use their sense of taste to check out their surroundings.
However, chewing that stems from boredom or spite are an annoying dog behavior that we need to stop.
Excess energy and boredom
One or two destroyed pillows are more than enough for most of us to start wondering how to deal with dog behavior problems like chewing.
Puppies are easy to handle. Firstly, they can’t help their chewing. Furthermore, we can easily contain them.
Puppy-proofing our apartments and homes is often a must.
Moreover, we must be mindful and place the most appealing objects out of reach. As we said, this isn’t a challenging task with a puppy.
But what happens when we notice those dog behavior problems in our adult pooches?
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as chewing
When our dogs are destructive, puppy-proofing works as well. When we aren’t at home or able to keep an eye on our furry friends, we need to create clear boundaries for them.
If training doesn’t work, physical limits will. Therefore, separate your dog into a secluded area with a fence, and remove all chewable objects from that range.
However, keeping your pup in close quarters for extended periods might lead to other dog behavior problems.
So you must take your dogs for plenty of walks and make time for play sessions. That will get rid of any excess energy, and it will keep the dogs more pliant.
Teething or teeth and gum issues
As mentioned, puppies are prone to chewing various items. Among other reasons, teething might be one of the causes.
Since this is perfectly normal, we must correct their behavior, not eradicate it. We must have a chew toy ready whenever our pup starts gnawing on something inappropriate.
This strategy also works for older dogs with teeth and gum tissues and on dogs who might be chewing on stuff for any other reason.
The most important thing is training. Every dog can be trained. Therefore, every dog can be redirected to the correct form of behavior.
Preparing a chew toy and stopping your dog from chewing on the wrong things is the first step in chewing training.
That will provide an acceptable outlet and save your furniture.
Therefore, whenever you see your dog chewing on something they should not be chewing on, stop them with a sharp yell or a clap.
Then, quickly exchange the wrong item with a chew toy.
Dog Behavior Problems. Inappropriate elimination
It’s natural for young pups, but adult dogs peeing or pooping in places they know they shouldn’t be — that’s a dog behavior problem you need to deal with immediately with peeing or pooping in areas they know they shouldn’t be — that’s a dog behavior problem you need to deal with straight away.
What’s more, this one is the most frustrating out of all abnormal behaviors in dogs.
Unless there’s a medical condition that the dog can’t control, potty-trained dogs shouldn’t urinate or defecate in inappropriate places.
Therefore, when this type of behavior occurs, we must first seek the advice of our veterinarians.
If there’s an underlying medical condition that’s causing this behavior, we must deal with it and treat it according to professional advice.
However, if the vet determines there’s nothing wrong with our pup, how do we deal with this issue?
As with everything else, we must first determine why our friends express this usually abnormal behavior in dogs.
Marking the territory
If our male dogs haven’t been “snipped,” they will be more likely to mark their territory by urinating indoors.
Athletic training and the reward/punishment system will help with this problem. However, asserting ourselves as clear leaders and the most dominant household member is also important.
Not enough house training goes hand in hand with the already mentioned cause of marking the territory. Therefore, these are the areas we have to work on to stop these dog behavior problems.
Not enough confidence or too much excitement
As with different behavioral problems, we must never reward abnormal behavior. If our dogs pee themselves because they are excited, we can’t reward them with petting or a play session.
We also must work on muting the events our dogs perceive as exciting. For example, we must teach our dogs that coming home from work isn’t something to pee about.
The lack of confidence is another common cause of inappropriate elimination. Some dogs might urinate to show submission or out of fear.
This is a much bigger problem than a puddle on the floor, and we must address it adequately.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as inappropriate elimination
First of all, we have to put a stop to this behavior as soon as possible. We can’t let the dogs form the habit of soiling the house.
The main issue with this dog behavior problem is that the dogs view relieving themselves as a reward. Therefore, implementing the reward/punishment system might be difficult.
Moreover, we must supervise dogs constantly because dogs can sometimes be sneaky. That’s the only way to stop them from soiling the house.
In turn, we need to reward the correct behavior. So when our dogs relieve themselves outside, we always have to have a treat ready and plenty of praise for them.
Dog Behavior Problems. Biting
As with all other dog behavior problems, it becomes a real issue if biting becomes frequent after puppyhood; it becomes a real issue.
Playful nips here and there, the ones that result from happiness, are alright, but painful bites meant to hurt aren’t.
Therefore, we must deal with this type of abnormal behavior in dogs. But why do dogs bite?
They might be scared or defensive.
These two causes go hand in hand. A dog might be protective of its property or scared someone will take it away.
The property can be anything — food, a toy, and even you. We can deal with this by trying to minimize possessive behavior.
We have to teach our dogs how to share and show them that no one will take what’s theirs.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as overprotectiveness
Protectiveness of food is the most common problem. Therefore, we must show our dogs that there will always be plenty of food.
However, we also have to show them that they need to wait and show obedience. Make your dog wait for your command to start eating.
That way, you’ll assert dominance and teach the dog patients.
We can also try a reward system. Dogs get defensive when someone approaches their food. Therefore, we must show them that it isn’t always such a bad thing.
From time to time, come to their food bowl and put in a couple of treats. Do so while they are eating.
Many dog behavior problems stem from fear.
Another cause for biting might be fear. Dogs that aren’t trusting and friendly can see outsiders as a threat and get scared relatively easily.
Therefore, when surrounded by strangers in an unfamiliar situation, you must show dominance and make your dog feel safe. Otherwise, they will lash out.
Working on early socialization and getting your dogs used to an occasional stranger is crucial.
Pin down the people your dog has the most issues with and give them treats to give to your dog. It’s incredible where bribery will get you, you know.
They might be in pain.
Even though biting can be understandable when the dog is in pain, it can still be negative behavior. That’s especially true for dogs with chronic aches and conditions.
However, there’s little that we can do for dogs with chronic pain. We must treat the primary cause first and then focus on correcting negative behavior.
The instincts that lead to biting
There are a few evolutionary instincts that can lead to dogs biting.
The first one is maternal instinct. Even if your pup is so well mannered that you’re bragging left and right after she has puppies — all bets are off.
The maternal instinct is strongest; anything the mother perceives as a threat can get bitten.
The best advice is to allow the mother a safe space and approach the puppies with care and thought.
If you have small children, teach them not to approach the mother and the litter carelessly since the mother might perceive them as a threat.
Another instinct to keep in mind is the hunting instinct.
A game of chase can quickly turn into an actual hunt, especially with more dominant dogs that haven’t been neutered.
Begging
We all love to give a treat or two to our pets and maybe even a bite of our meal. However, when we invite Fido over for dinner, we offer one terrible habit a firm stronghold.
All it takes is one slip-up, and our pets will form the pattern of begging.
As much as we love to make our furry friends happy, we must restrain the need to give in to their begging.
But not every time, because they can lead to obesity and digestive problems. Too many treats and in-between meals can lead to severe dietary issues.
Therefore, it’s crucial to break this abnormal behavior in dogs.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as begging
It’s easy. It’s a matter of self-control. Only this time, our self-control is the potential cause of bad behavior in dogs.
We have to stay firm and not give in to our pleading dogs. While eating dinner, we have to resist throwing food down at them. That’s not loving; that’s sabotage!
So the best course of action is to teach your dog to stay put while you and your family are eating.
It’s even better if they aren’t in the same room — that way, they can’t stare at you or whine and plead.
A simple treat system will help you train your dog to stop begging. If they don’t harass you while you’re eating and don’t beg for food, have a tasty treat for them at the end of the meal.
Dog Behavior Problems. Chasing
Dogs love chasing animals, objects, people, and even their tails! And while it’s lovely seeing them so carefree and focused, chasing can become a real problem for dog owners.
Not only does it scare other people and children, but it’s also a potential hazard.
Dogs can chase after something, fail to find their way back home, or get hurt.
Chasing after pray
Even though the urge to chase down something running away from them is natural, this behavior still falls under annoying dog problems.
Dogs were domesticated hundreds of years ago, yet they still have the evolutionary traits of hunters.
Even those picture-perfect poodles will chase after something that rushes past them. However, in those cases, the dog and the object of its attention are in danger.
Therefore, we must do our best to train our dogs to go against their instinct.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as chasing
Firstly, we have to be aware of what triggers our pups. Not everything will begin a chase — sometimes it’s a car or a kid on a bike.
The sooner we figure that out, the sooner we can start paying more attention and remove our dogs from triggering situations.
Furthermore, if our dogs are prone to giving chase, keeping them on a leash while on walks is best; then, once we deem an environment safe, we can release our dogs and offer them an artificial substitute for a real-life chase.
Throw the ball around or use toys designed for this purpose to get rid of excess energy and fill the need for the pursuit.
Seeking entertainment
Dogs can quickly get bored and give chase to something that catches their attention.
We must keep our dogs entertained and well-trained to prevent these types of dog behavior problems.
Training your dog to answer your call and come when called is the first step to getting the urge to chase under control.
What’s more, you can also use a dog whistle or a noisemaker to get your dog’s attention and to deter the attention away from a potential chase.
Still, teaching your dog to focus on you and your cues before concentrating on anything else is challenging. It takes time and patience.
Jumping
Jumping goes hand in hand with the excitement we already mentioned. It is a typical form of greeting among dogs, but, like anything else, it can become a problem when excessive.
Even though it’s a form of communication for dogs, we must keep it under control.
Not only is jumping, either in greeting or warning, annoying, but it’s also a potentially dangerous pattern of behavior, especially for dog owners with small children.
Dogs can easily hurt an adult, let alone a child. Furthermore, jumping isn’t acceptable behavior for many other reasons as well:
- It’s harmful
- It can be a form of attention-seeking
- The dog might be trying to assert dominance
Therefore, as with anything else — we can’t reward negative behavior. We can quickly stop jumping by lifting our knees and preventing the dog from essentially mounting us.
Furthermore, we can also grab the pup’s paws and set them down. These are easy fixes.
However, they aren’t always applicable. Some dogs are very enthusiastic when it comes to jumping. Therefore, we need better solutions.
As any parent will know by heart, the best option is to ignore the jumping. Turn away and ignore the dog until they are calm. Then, reward positive behavior.
Aggression
Last but not least on our list of dog behavior problems is aggression.
Probably the most severe pain with the most severe consequences, the charge has to be treated immediately and with care.
Dogs show aggression by:
- Biting
- Lunging
- Growling
- Showing teeth
- Snarling
Although there have always been rumors that some dog breeds are more aggressive, we must remember that any dog can become aggressive when mistreated.
A loved dog seldom turns to aggression, even if it’s a “dangerous breed.” Still, it’s also crucial to remember that history repeats itself.
Therefore, dogs that have shown signs of aggression are more likely to be aggressive toward other dogs and people in the future.
Dogs show aggression out of:
- Fear,
- Pain,
- Frustration,
- Possessiveness,
- And to show dominance.
We have all heard of the expression that there’s nothing more dangerous than a scared animal. The same goes for dogs.
Fearful dogs are more likely to turn aggressive, so we must make them feel safe. If other dogs are causing your puppy to be violent, try carrying treats on your walks.
Give pleasure to your dog before they spot the competition, thus averting their attention and lowering the chances of a violent outburst.
How to deal with dog behavior problems such as aggression
If our dogs are becoming increasingly aggressive or outbursts are becoming more frequent, we must call for help.
Consult a professional like a vet or a dog trainer. There might be some underlying cause that’s the source of the newly-established negative behavior.
Serious illness can often cause aggression, as the dogs are trying to defend themselves in a weakened state.
A few parting words
Although it is challenging to know normal from abnormal behavior in dogs, we hope our list has helped you along the way.
All characteristics can become dog behavior problems if they are frequent, excessive, and annoying.
However, with care, training, and patience, annoying dog problems/behavior and negative patterns can be broken.
Remember — you are responsible for your dog’s behavior, as it reflects everything you’ve taught them.
