If you’re new to dog ownership, chances are you’ll misunderstand or even mishandle your fur baby’s behaviour. 

That’s why it’s necessary to form a bond with your pet. Some owners even try yoga with their dogs to be closer to them. Others, meanwhile, use alternative methods to manage their canine companion’s behaviour.  

Although doga and alternative treatments are helpful, you should first understand common dog behaviour problems to solve or prevent them. 

Common Canine Behavior Issues

Aggression

Aggression is the most serious behaviour problem in dogs. It’s also the number one reason pet parents seek professional help from veterinarians, trainers, and behaviourists.

Generally, all animals can be aggressive, especially when protecting themselves and defending their offspring. Dogs in particular also show aggressive behaviours when guarding their territories.

However, to say that your fur baby is “aggressive” can mean a whole lot of things. The term encompasses a range of behaviours that typically starts with warnings and can culminate in an attack. 

Your canine companion may also abort its efforts at any point during an aggressive encounter. When your fur baby shows aggression towards people, it usually exhibits some aspect of the following sequence of increasingly intense behaviours:

• Becoming still and rigid
• Continuous barking that sounds threatening
• Making a sudden forward thrust 
• Growling and showing teeth 
• Biting and shaking 

Remember that not all dogs follow this sequence. Most of them display several behaviours simultaneously.   

Excessive Barking 

Pet owners are often pleased when their fur babies bark. It alerts them to strangers approaching their homes or tells them that their pet wants or needs something.   

However, if your dog’s barking becomes excessive, you must identify its cause. The following questions can help you interpret which type of barking your fur baby is exhibiting:

1. Where and when does the barking happen?
2. What or who is the target of barking?
3. What things trigger the barking?
4. Why is your canine companion barking? 

 If you suspect that it’s territorial barking, remember that territorial behaviour is often motivated by anticipating a perceived threat, or it may be caused by fear. 

Many dogs are propelled to bark when they detect approaching strangers or other animals near familiar places. 

You may be tempted to punish your pet for barking excessively. However, your canine companion’s motivation to protect his territory will remain strong. So, it may attempt to control its domain in another way, such as biting without warning. 

To treat your dog’s territorial barking, you need to reduce its motivation to defend its territory. You can block your pup’s view from the window so it can’t see other animals and people to help manage its behaviour. 

Try spray-based glass coating on windows or attach removable plastic films around its house to obscure your pup’s view of the areas it observes and guards.  

In addition, make sure not to allow your dog to greet people at your front door. Instead, you should train it to go to an alternative location. It would help if you also taught it to remain quiet until it’s invited to greet people appropriately.  

Destructive Chewing 

 It’s pretty normal for dogs to chew on various objects as they explore the world. Chewing may be a way to relieve pain, or if you own a senior dog, it may be a way to keep its jaws strong and its teeth clean.   

 In addition, when your pup engages in such behaviour, perhaps it’s trying to fight boredom and relieve frustration or mild anxiety.

However, if your fur baby’s chewing habit becomes destructive, you must do the following to help your pup overcome such behaviour:

1. Provide your fur baby with plenty of toys to chew. 
2. Discourage chewing improper objects by spraying those items with chewing deterrents.
3. Try to supervise your canine companion during waking hours until you feel confident that its chewing habit is under control.
4. Give your pup plenty of exercises and other forms of mental stimulation. 

Mounting and Masturbation 

Humping objects or other dogs are normal canine behaviours. However, if it becomes excessive, you should talk to a qualified professional, such as a board-certified veterinary behaviourist, to help you out.

The behaviourist can help determine the exact reason why your pet mounts. Remember that some dogs hump objects or other animals to display control or social status. 

Masturbating can also be a compulsive habit, especially if your fur baby does it in response to stress. So be sure to talk with a specialist to get an accurate diagnosis. 

Conclusion  

You can’t solve things that you don’t understand. So, familiarising yourself with various dog behaviour issues is the first step in managing them. 

Remember that your fur baby is unique, so you must explore other sources to determine why it’s acting up. 

You can talk to other dog owners of the same breed. These fur parents probably experienced the same thing, so make sure to get some insights from them.

Lastly, always seek professional help, especially if your dog’s behaviour becomes increasingly destructive. Call your vet and schedule an appointment immediately. 

Reference

1. Common Dog Behaviour Issues

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues  

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