Problem Dogs

You love your dog, but sometimes he can be a real pain! If you know what might be causing his annoying behavior, though, you might be able to do something about it.

Barking

A dog that barks all the time, for no apparent reason, is not only a nuisance to the owner, but can be a nuisance to an entire neighborhood as well. The most common reason for consistent barking is boredom and loneliness. Have your neighbors told you that your dog barks all day long while you’re at work? If so, then you should consider enrolling your dog in doggie day care. There will be plenty of activities to keep him busy all day long and he’ll have lots of other dogs to play with. If day care isn’t an option, make sure that your dog has plenty of toys to keep him occupied while you’re away from home. You might also try leaving the radio or television on while you’re gone – hearing human voices might help your dog feel less lonely.

Barking - How to Tone It Down!
Barking is normal for a dog, and it is completely unrealistic to think you can prevent your dog from barking. Just as talking comes naturally to a human and meowing comes naturally to a cat, so does barking come naturally to a dog. Barking only becomes a problem if it happens too often and continues for long periods of time.

The Key to Stopping Your Dogs Excessive Barking
Barking is the dog’s instinctive means of giving a warning and it would be against your interest to discourage it. However, once you have been alerted, your dog should realize that his job is done...

Dogs Barking
Unwanted barking is one of the most common behavior problems in dogs. It is normal for dogs to vocalize and bark from time to time but often this behavior escalates - much to the frustration of many dog owners and their angry neighbors! There are many causes of unwanted barking, and you must determine why your dog is barking before you can begin a program of retraining. 

Stop Dog Barking - How to Teach the "Quiet" Command
What can we do about problem barking? Well, first realize that barking isn’t bad. Excess barking is bad. Barking to warn you that someone’s trying to break into your home is great! Barking about a gas leak, the baby crying, or smoke or a fire is also a plus. Barking because a butterfly landed in a bush a block away is nonsense. If the dog is still barking ten minutes after the mailman left, or if he won’t stop barking when you tell him to, you’ve got a problem.

Aggression

Aggressive Dogs
Remember that dogs do not bite for fun. There is always a reason, although the reason may unfortunately not be clear to us! We must look out for warning signs and deal with them quickly, because once a dog learns to be aggressive, that aggression is not going to go away of its own accord.

Dog Dominance Behavior
People frequently ask how a Dog Behaviorist and Dog Obedience Trainer relates to dogs and earns their respect and control . . . and especially that of the Dominant Dog. The first part of that answer is simply stated but difficult for many people to internalize and act upon: To relate to a dog, you must first see and treat him fully as a DOG.

Dog Bites 
Every year well over 4 million people are bitten by dogs. While some of these bites may be minor, others can leave serious injuries or even death. If you own a dog which bites someone, you could find yourself in legal trouble.

Separation Anxiety

Dog Separation Anxiety
One of the greatest joys of dog ownership is the tight bond we experience and encourage with our dogs. However, if your dog becomes too reliant or dependant on you, dog separation anxiety can develop.

Digging

Some dogs just love to dig holes! Their reasons for doing so, however, will vary depending on the breed and the situation. Your dog might be digging holes out of sheer boredom. If you suspect this might be the case, simply exercise your dog more frequently. He’ll be too tired to dig. Maybe your male dog is digging in order to get to the female dog that is in heat next door. In this case, having your dog neutered will solve the problem. If your dog is digging holes to bury items or just for the sake of digging, then set aside one area in which he can engage in that behavior. Protect the rest of your yard by spraying a non-toxic dog repellant in and around the off-limit areas.

How To Stop Dogs Digging
Most dogs love to dig holes, so unfortunately if you own a dog you will come across a digging problem sooner or later...

Destructive Chewing

Most dogs engage in destructive chewing for one of three reasons: teething, attention or boredom. If your puppy is chewing up everything he can sink his little teeth into, there’s a good chance that he is simply teething. Make sure to provide the teething puppy with lots of chewable toys so that he won’t go after your shoes or other household objects. If your dog isn’t teething, then perhaps he’s engaging in this destructive behavior in order to get your attention. If you don’t spend a lot of time with your dog, but will chase him around for hours if he has your favorite shoe in his mouth, then your dog will understand very quickly that this is an effective way to get you to “play” with him. Spend more time with your dog and you may get him to stop chewing up things around the house. Bored dogs are also inclined to become chewers. If there’s nothing or no one to play with, they’ll make their own fun at the expense of your furniture and clothing. Provide your dog with plenty of toys and activities to keep him occupied.

Jumping

You might think its adorable when your big dog greets you at the door by jumping up on you and licking your face, but most of your guests probably won’t get the same kick out of this behavior. When a small puppy jumps on you it’s cute because you can control him and he’s not heavy enough to knock you over. Not so with adult dogs. Having a large dog hurl himself at you is not an experience that most people, even dog lovers, enjoy. So, how do you get your dog to stop jumping as a way of greeting you and your guests? Consistent training is really the only way. Ideally, you should begin discouraging this behavior when the dog is still a puppy. If you are unable to get your dog to stop jumping up onto people, then a stint at obedience school is highly recommended. More about Dog Training here.

Disobedience

Most of the time, dogs disobey their owners because they’re not sure what is expected of them. In order to get your dog to be consistently obedient, you have to spend lot of time training him. Obedience training should start when the dog is still a puppy and be reinforced throughout the years. Some owners can train their dogs without any outside assistance; however, most will need to enroll themselves and their dog in a local obedience school. You and your dog will enjoy your time together much more once you can communicate effectively with each other. More about Dog Training here.

Fears and Phobias

Canine Fears and Phobias
I would like to share some of my experiences with dogs who are fearful or phobic. First of all there is a difference between fears and phobias. Fears can be worked with and possibly get better but phobias can not be cured they can only be managed.

Put an end to dog behavior problems!