In our series of articles on dealing with and correcting dog behavior problems, we aim to provide you with helpful information that is concise and easiest to understand. Remember that if you choose to ignore or dismiss unwanted behavior it could lead to unnecessary frustration and may be indicative of a lack of confidence issues with your dog.
Unwanted behavior can be identified in a number of ways. For example, they may be anxious, highly strung, demanding, overly dominant or demanding, demanding attention, dominant aggressive, and so on. The root cause of the problem may well be a general distrust of humans or a dominance issue if your dog is not getting the message that you are the alpha dog.
Here are some other behavior problems that you may experience if your dog is not getting the training and guidance that is necessary.
Barking, howling, and whining are quite common dog behavior problems. To manage these behavior problems, you need to establish yourself as the alpha dog, the provider of acceptable and sufficient shelter, food, and safety. This is a general overview of the types of behavior problems that may be experienced by a dog that is not getting the training and guidance that is required. It is important that you do your best to establish yourself as the alpha dog and to ensure that all members of the household are doing the same.
Leash pulling and inappropriate and excessive biting are also very common dog behavior problems. To manage these behavior problems, you need to provide the dog with a fair amount of freedom and make the job of walking the dog a positive experience for him. Don’t pull on the leash, instead, if the dog is to walk beside you keep the leash loose and relaxed and your hands close to your body. If you have the right equipment, then you may even walk two dogs on the same leash.
At the other end of the training spectrum, excessive barking and digging can be indicative of a more serious problem. To prevent digging and barking you need to ensure that your dog is provided with adequate and adequate socialization. Many dogs develop these habits because they are bored and under-stimulated. So try to provide the right amount of exercise and stimulation.
If you identify and effectively address the problem behavior early, you can prevent the development of serious behavior problems. So why not start identification of these behavior problems the moment you detect them and give your dog the help that may be needed to solve the problem.
For identification of problem behavior, you will need to consider the context, the breed of the dog, the make-up of its parents, and the dog’s lifestyle. The research you undertake into the make-up of your dog’s parents will provide a good starting point. For example, if your dog’s parents were guarding dogs then the behavior exhibited by your dog may reflect this.
If it is possible to get a good understanding of the dog’s behavior and the circumstances that lead to the problem, then step 1 and 2 are:
If you can determine why your dog is exhibiting the behavior and if you can explain why then you are one step closer to solving the problem. You may be able to prevent it or may be able to alleviate the problem or determine a previously unknown cause. What can you expect to observe and learn from your research?
Observation
You observe dogs and puppies when you are observing them. How do they relate to each other? Do they form a strong bond? Do they fight with each other? If you can answer yes to these questions then you have established a good foundation to help you understand the factors that influence their behavior. For example, you have discovered that when the mother dog is nursing her pups, some of her sounds may be distressing to the puppy. As a result, this may cause distress. Now how does this relate to your dog’s behavior? Well, the mother dog will no doubt be distressed when she is nursing her puppies. As a result, your dog’s behavior may be driven by this distress and drive him to constantly bitch about it. This is the key to understanding canine behavior, drive, and loyalty.
Loyalty
One of the main things that influence your dog’s behavior is his loyalty to you. Loyalty is a process, not a single entity. All dogs are born with a certain amount of loyalty to their species but it varies from dog to dog. All dogs form a close bond with their human master. Your dog is intensely loyal to you. It is imperative that you establish a good bond with him. This also forms the heartbeat of his ultimate loyalty towards you. Again, one of the factors that must be understood to fully understand canine behavior and drive. Dogs, like humans, are extremely social. Dogs are loyal to a fault.