Common Dog Behaviour Issues

Common Dog Behaviour Issues and How to Fix Them

From time to time, dogs will have behaviour issues, and this may be really frustrating to pet owners. There are a few common types of issues that you may have deal with, but the good news is that there are things that you can do to stop these behaviours so that you can enjoy your pet rather than view them as a burden.

House Training Issues
One of the most common issues that dog owners experience relates to house training. Teaching your dog not to eliminate their waste in the house is sometimes a very troubling experience. While crate training and other methods can work, you may still have some issues with it from time to time. The best thing that you can do is have a routine that you stick to, and give them praise when they do as they are supposed to do. Just remember that getting angry at them won’t help the situation. We sell ultra-absorbent puppy pads with plastic backing to line your dogs crates with and a handy multi purpose spill kit to clean up a variety of fluids.

Aggression
Some dogs are aggressive at times, whether it is food aggression, aggression to children or people, or aggression to other dogs. This can be frustrating, especially if you don’t really know how to deal with it. The best way to handle their aggression is by allowing them to get adequate exercise to get rid of some of their excess energy. You may also need to use positive reinforcement to praise the good behavior, and while you are working through it you may want to keep them on a leash or fit a muzzle when you are around other people or other animals.

Chewing
Puppies like to chew on things, and there is nothing that seems to be more frustrating than dealing with a puppy that won’t stop chewing on things in your home. You may feel inclined to shout at them, or even hit them, but you should never do this. It really won’t stop the misbehaviour, and it can only lead to further problems. The best way to handle this is by giving them a substitute that they can chew on, such as a rawhide bone, or a chew toy. We also sell a spray that will deter chewing.

Digging
There are some dogs out there that like to dig, but most of them only do it if they have a reason to do so. When they start digging, they can really become obsessed with the behaviour. The best way to get them to stop digging is to use a dog toy and play with them and make sure that they get enough exercise. Sometimes, this behaviour stems from boredom - which is something that is really avoidable if you spend time with your pup. You may find that they just simply won’t stop digging, and in that case it may be time to use fences or netting to keep them out of it.

Barking and Whining
Barking is something that is natural for dogs, as this is how they show their enthusiasm or get your attention. Some dogs, however, just bark way too much. If it seems that they are barking too much, you don’t want to give them the attention that they are looking for. The same goes for whining. They are whining and barking often times just to get your attention to get you to give them something they want. If you use positive reinforcement and teach them simple commands, such as ‘quiet’, it can really help.

As you can see, while there are a lot of behaviour issues that dogs may sometimes experience, there are a few things that you can do to get them to stop these unwanted behaviours. You don’t have to just put up with it.

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