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How many times have I heard fellow dog owners say, I hate it when my dog barks non stop or he utterly embarrasses me when he mounts people’s legs. Dog owners usually have no problems to fill in tons of their dog behavioral problems into the above statements. What they should be doing, though, is asking, “Why do dogs misbehave?”. Once you figure out why your dog is misbehaving you can then come up with a plan to stop or control the behavior.
Dogs do not misbehave because they’re spiteful or are out to annoy or anger you. They just behave in a manner which is expected of a dog!
Why Do Dogs Do The Things That They Do?
The fact is that dog behavioral problems that we can’t stand are not problems at all to the dogs. In fact, do you know that dogs do these behaviors for a reason? To list a few:
1. Dogs bark because they have something to say, something to tell you. It’s one form of how they communicate.
2. Dogs dig because they smell something underneath the ground or they are trying to create a place to lay down.
3. Dogs chew because they are teething or are feeling uncomfortable.
4. Dogs chase after moving objects because they are following their natural prey drive instinct.
5. Dogs act aggressively because they want to protect something, often times their owner or things that are important to them.
The Top Reasons Why Your Dog Misbehaves And How To Solve Them
Although these behaviors are natural for a dog, there are things that we can do to help dogs behave in a way that is more acceptable to people. Some of these behaviors in a mild form aren’t typically problems but there are things that can happen that cause the dog’s behavior to get out of control. When this happens, it is our job to figure out why so that we can help our dog to get back on track.
These are the top reasons why a dog’s natural behavior can become a problem.
1. Health Issue
Many behaviorists and dog trainers believe that at least 20% of all behavior problems are related to the dog’s health in some way or another. For all that you might know, your dog could be misbehaving because he is sick or in pain.
Solution: Take him to the vet for a thorough check-up if he misbehaves suddenly, especially when he has always been a good dog. Even if his behavior is not caused by a medical problem, it is important to rule it out so that you can find the actual cause.
2. Imbalanced Diet
Feeding your dog the wrong food, that is too high in protein, fat or carbohydrates is known to cause hyperactivity. Sugars, starches and many other factors in your dog’s diet can also cause behavioral problems in your dog. Always read the label of the food before you feed him and seek advice if necessary.
Solution: Find out what type of food works best for you breed of dog. Ask breeders, veterinarians and other people who have the same breed of dog what they feed their dog. If you have a mixed breed of dog, speak to your veterinarian. Do you research before you switch your dog’s food to make sure that it is a good brand. There are many brands of dog foods that do not have quality ingredients that could make the problem worse.
Sometimes it is just trial and error to find a dog food that your dog does well on. Reading labels and comparing brands will help you find a food that works best for your dog.
There is a website called Dog Food Advisor that has reviews for many of the brands of dog foods and rates each brand. This is a great place to research various brands of foods. Click HERE to check it out.
Click on the photos before to check out my recommended dog food brands.
3. Exercise
Lack of exercise can also cause plenty of problems. A dog that doesn’t get enough exercise can become hyperactive and display destructive behaviors out of boredom and frustration. Dogs, depending on breed type, need lots of exercise. Make sure you consider this factor before you get a puppy.
Solution: Provide your dog with plenty of opportunities each day for adequate exercise. For some dogs, a walk around the block may be all that they need. For other dogs, they may need a good romp in the backyard with a game of frisbee or fetch, or maybe an off leash hike on a dog friendly trail. Knowing the exercise requirements for your dog will help you to develop an exercise schedule that works for your dog.
There is a saying that a tired dog is a happy dog. It is very true! A dog that receives enough exercise and mental stimulation is typically better behaved than a dog that does not receive these things.
Related Article: 9 Tips For Calming A High Energy Dog
Click on the photos to check out my recommeded toys for exercising your dog.
4. Lack of Leadership
I can’t stress enough the importance of the leadership issue. Dogs display TONS of behavioral problems when they lack a leader. Aggressive & destructive behaviors, leg lifting, marking, mounting, barking & etc It’s very important that you assume the role of the alpha leader!
Solution: Make sure that your dog sees you as the leader. Take training classes with your dog. Enforce the rules. Learn what it takes to be a leader in your dog’s eyes. Always be fair to your dog but you must also be firm too.
As soon as you bring your dog home establish the rules. If you don’t want your dog on the furniture, enforce that rule from the very start. Remove him from the furniture and show him where his bed is. If you don’t want him begging for food at the dinner table, don’t let him start this behavior and never feed him while you are eating your dinner. The alpha always eats first.
Being the pack leader isn’t difficult but you do have to be consistent. And every member of your family has to be consistent too!
These dog behavior problems never develop for no reason. They are always the outcome of the interaction between a dog and his environment, including you! Most canine behavioral problems can be controlled, if not solved completely. You just have to put in some effort and understand that prevention is better than a cure.
The next time your dog misbehaves, try to see things from your dog’s perspective. It’s important to always ask yourself, “Why do dogs misbehave?” Once you find the cause you can come up with a solution. You’ll soon find that you understand and love him even more!
These tips and solutions work with every day issues like the dog barking non stop or digging up the backyard and many other minor behavior problems. If your dog has severe behavior problems and is a danger to people or other dogs do not try to handle the situation on your own. You need to seek the help of a dog trainer with behavioral experience right away before someone gets hurt.
