Canine Behavior Problems

Canine behavior problems start when your dog is a puppy.  Learn to detect these behavior problems in your dog at an early age so they can be corrected quickly and easily.

One of the cutest creatures on earth is a puppy. Puppies can add a fun spirit to an otherwise uneventful home. Many families adopt a young puppy in an effort to teach their children responsibility and also how to respect another living creature.

Puppies aren’t all about being adorable though.  

Many pet owners will tell you that canine behavior problems begin when a dog is just a puppy. If those problems aren’t addressed the puppy can mature into a dog that consistently misbehaves.

It’s understandable that when a puppy does something bad, most people will attribute it to the dog’s age. However many of the canine behavior problems that puppies exhibit should be addressed immediately.

One such example is when a puppy bites on things. Puppies do teethe just as human babies do. A puppy will lose it’s baby teeth and they will be replaced by adult teeth. During this process a puppy may find it comforting to chew on items such as slippers or shoes. If this type of canine behavior isn’t corrected, the puppy will assume that it’s okay to continue biting. It needs to be stopped before the puppy matures.

Another common problem that many pet owners face is a puppy that won’t stop barking. Dogs use their vocal chords to express how they feel. It’s not uncommon to hear a puppy whining soon after you bring it home. Puppies will also growl when they feel threatened. These two types of canine behavior patterns are normal and are healthy for the puppy.

However, if the puppy continues to repeatedly bark for no apparent reason this needs to be addressed. One of the biggest canine behavior problems is continual barking. If you have ever lived in a neighborhood where a dog barked and barked on end you will know how frustrating and disturbing this can be.  (Sometimes a bark or shock collar might be the only thing that works). If this particular canine behavior problem is corrected when the dog is young there is a much better chance that it can be changed, however, without going to this extreme measure.

A dog that jumps on people or furniture can also be problematic. This is especially true if the dog is large. It can be frightening for visitors if a large dog jumps on them as they enter your home. This canine behavior problem can be easily fixed when the puppy is still small. You simply need to remind it each time it does jump, by speaking sternly to it and giving the puppy NO attention until does stop jumping. This will help correct the problem before it gets out of hand.

Here are Some Canine Behavior Tips

1. Set yourself up as the "pack leader"
   As soon as you bring a puppy home it needs to know that you are now taking the place of its mommy and that you are the "alpha dog".  Do this immediately and any behavior problems that arise will be easier to correct.
   
2. You puppy needs to know that it can only chew on toys and food
   Any time you find your puppy chewing on anything else, you need to firmly take it away while saying "no" or "shhhhhh".  You should then immediately replace it with something that the puppy is allowed to chew on like one of its toys or "chewies" perhaps.  Do not give it a treat, however, or it may think its being rewarded for chewing.  It also helps to keep things you don't want chewed out of the way while the puppy is unsupervised.
   
3. Control the barking
   Many cities have ordinances against barking, so this can be a major problem. The trick is to use your alpa status and when ever the puppy barks or becomes aggressive, immediately correct it. A simple "shhhhh" sometimes works, but if you watch a mother dog correct her puppies, you will see her lightly nip it's neck to really drive a point home. You can do this technique with your fingers. When the puppy barks or gets aggressive, simply grab it's neck lightly with your fingers if a simple "shhhh" isn't enough. In aggression cases, you may have to roll the puppy on it's back and make it stay there until it becomes calm and submissive. This re-enforces your position as the alpa. Always BE CONSISTENT!
   
4. Contol the jumping dog
   It helps to teach your puppy to sit on command. This will help correct the problem before it gets out of hand. The dog will know that greeting can only be made from a sitting position. To keep the puppy off furniture, it's most important that they know furniture is for alpha only. Just like in a pack, the alpha picks his/her spot and no other dog can come there without permission. For puppies that simply cannot resist the couch or bed, there are mats available that have a texture unpleasant to a dogs feet and in the extreme case there are even electric mats which will give the dog a mild shock. If the puppy is consistently trained at a young age, it's so much easier and these excessive methods are not required.

I hope these tips help you.  Remember, be consistent in your approach to canine behavior.  This way you will be more effective.

Dogs are wonderful, loving animals and can make terrific pets. With a bit of attention when they are young, you can train your dog to be the perfect family companion.