Pet Blog > Identifying (and fixing) Your Dog’s Behavior Problems

 

Identifying (and fixing) Your Dog’s Behavior Problems


To best understand your dog’s behavior, often the most effective approach is to think like your dog instead of like a human. Your dog doesn’t usually come pretrained and doesn’t understand what your expectations of a good dog are. However good behavior to us may be quite different from our dog’s point of view.  

For instance, when your dog barks, they are often simply communicating what is happening in front of them. Dogs who dig up the back yard, may be doing so to find a cool place to lie down it. Dogs who jump the fence, may be doing so to find a fertile mate. So, in an endless number of instances, dog behavior from the dog’s point of view may be very natural and very normal.  

Identifying the Root Cause of Your Dog’s “Bad” Behavior

When it comes to identifying a dog behavior problem, often this is pointed out when it bothers the owner, more than it bothers the dog. So how do you know if there is something bothering your dog, versus something that is normal dog behavior?  

  • Is the behavior causing your dog physical or emotional harm?

  • Is it unnecessarily repetitive?

  • Is it out of context? i.e. is your dog barking at an inanimate object in the home?

  • Is your dog physically well? Or could they do with a vet visit?

  • Is my dog experiencing distress or anxiety at the time?

Understanding What Else May Be Going On

These five questions are a good start to consider if your dog has a problem behavior. However, good questions to ask yourself also are:  

  • Is my dog responding to something that is too stimulating to them? Is my dog more settled when I change the environment?

  • Has my dog got enough to do each day?

  • Is my dog comfortable? Are they warm enough, not hungry, safe and well?

  • Has my dog learnt a better alternative to the behavior?

  • Have I actually trained my dog what to do? Or are they unsure?

Sometimes, we need to just sit and ask ourselves a whole bunch of questions from our dog’s point of view, to be able to understand why they do what they do. Dogs do not behave out of spite, or guilt. However, they can behave from distress and fear. So, often, removing the thing that is causing the distress can immediately solve the problem. It is also important to note that lots of dog behavior that we do not like is important and very normal for dogs, so we may need to learn to accept that dogs are dogs. Dog behavior is incredibly nuanced and requires careful consideration as a dog owner.  

Conclusion

If you are concerned that your dog has a behavior problem, or if it is a completely normal part of a dog’s life, it may be best to ask yourself the questions listed above, and consult your qualified trainer or veterinarian. It’s good to get an objective insight into understanding what exactly is going on in your best friend’s head.


 

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