Don't Give Up on Your Dog - Learn How to Correct Behavioral Problems

Do you have a dog with some behavior problems? Perhaps the dog barks incessantly and no matter what you do, you simply cannot get the dog to stop barking. While barking is a natural behavior of dogs, barking constantly is not, which means there is an underlying emotion or fear going on that is making the dog bark. What's important to understand is behavioral problems in dogs can easily be corrected once you understand the cause.

Constant Barking

Obviously, if your dark is barking constantly, it becomes very annoying and many people just want to throw their hands up and give the dog to someone else. However, you are just passing the problem rather than getting to the root of the problem. The number on reason for obsessive barking is anxiety and fear. You may not realize it, but your dog may be barking because he or she is fearful of their environment or something surrounding their environment.

While dog fears and anxieties may seem silly to humans, these fears are very real to your dog. Some breeds are more prone to develop fears or phobias than others, but by working one on one with your dog, you can begin to lessen his or her fears, which naturally lessens the barking. Some dogs are just filled with anxiety and you may never truly know what is causing it.

However, veterinarians can treat anxious dogs with various medications that help tremendously. These medications calm the dog's anxiety he or she is feeling and then the barking begins to cease. Of course, it does not mean your dog will never bark again, nor do you want that, dogs will bark, that is what they do, but it is the excessive barking that is often a clue that there is an underlying anxiety issue going on.

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Chewing Everything

If you have a chewer on your hands, there are many reasons for this. First, consider the age of the dog, if he or she is still a puppy, the chewing is natural, so therefore, you should have lots of puppy chew toys. On the other hand, if you are dealing with an adult chewer, this normally indicates they are bored and not getting adequate exercise.

Depending upon the breed you have, you will want to make certain your dog is getting enough exercise. For instance, if you have a very large dog, they need more room to run and romp and taking long walks with you will keep their bodies toned and their minds focused. Additionally, try using toys that make your dog think, because this tires them out and it keeps them occupied for hours. For example, there are small rubber toys with a hollow center where you can place peanut butter or other yummy food items your dog goes nuts over and then the dog has to figure out how to the yummy filling out.

Separation Anxiety

This refers to a normally well-behaved dog misbehaving when you leave him or her alone. The dog becomes anxious from being separated from you and therefore begins to become destructive and may potty on the floor or destroy items that he normally would not do if you were home. This is a very common behavioral problem and it can be upsetting coming home and your dog is happy to see you while you are cleaning up a torn couch cushion.

Let's face it, you cannot be with your dog 24 hours a day, so there will be times he or she has to remain alone. The problem often arises because you get dressed the same way, shower, put your clothes on, your shoes, grab your purse or briefcase and off you go. Changing up your routine so you do not prepare to leave the house the same way each day can lessen the dog's separation from you.

You can desensitize your to your "leaving routine" by doing those things when you are not planning to leave. For example, if you normally get dressed, put your shoes on, and grab the keys just before heading out the door, try doing these things throughout the day when you are not leaving. By doing so, your dog does not always know that putting on your shoes means your leaving, and therefore lower his or her anxiety.

Moreover, when you leave your home and come home, keep your greeting calm, in other words, don't jump up and down with a high pitch in your voice, keep everything low key. This teaches the dog that your leaving and coming home is not a big deal and with continued practice, he or she will get it, the more you put it into practice.

Digging....Digging...Digging

Some dogs are diggers and some breeds are simply more prone to dig than others. If you have a digger on your hands and he or she is digging up your yard, you will want to get to the root of the cause, which could be boredom. If you don't spend a lot of time with your dog, this definitely could be the the problem. Invest in a big sandbox in your yard and bury his or her favorite toys, soft sand feels better on the dog's pads than dirt and he or she will soon turn to their new sandbox for their digging delights. However, you still need to spend time with your dog, such as walking, playing fetch, or anything that involves you and the dog.

Potty Problems

A final dog behavior problem consists of eliminating in the wrong place, such as inside the house. If your dog is fully house trained and suddenly begins peeing in the same area repeatedly, it could be he is marking is territory. Contrary to popular belief, female dogs do sometimes mark with their urine as well. If it is territorial marking, have you recently brought a new pet into the home? This can certainly make your dog mark his or her turf. Make sure to clean the urine off the floor or carpet thoroughly, otherwise he or she will continue to return to it.

Final Thoughts

Working with your dog one on one will help to find the underlying problem of the misbehavior and help you to correct it so that you can keep and enjoy your dog. Most behavior problems are easily fixed, just remember to make certain your dog gets enough exercise as lack of exercise is linked to behavioral problems.

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