What Is a Problem Behavior?

In general, a problem behavior is any behavior your dog exhibits that is annoying or potentially harmful. Dogs don’t know that they are behaving badly because “problem behaviors” almost always come completely naturally to dogs and are only problematic for their owners. This is what makes managing a dog’s problem behaviors potentially difficult: you are trying to prevent your dog from doing something you don’t want him to do, but he isn’t even aware of what he’s doing wrong. It’s up to you to address the troubling behaviors your dog exhibits and to show him the way you would like him to behave instead.

 

How to Prevent Problems Before They Start

• Anticipate your dog’s behavior: Canine behaviors are pretty predictable, so you should be able to anticipate many poten­tial problems. For example, puppies tend to chew things, untrained dogs will eliminate indoors, and most dogs have a natural inclination to bark or dig. When you know these things, you can plan ahead and prevent your dog from doing things he shouldn’t.
   
  
• Exercise your dog: In general, a tired dog is a well-behaved dog. How much exercise your pet needs depends in part on his breed or mixture of breeds. If you keep a toy dog who’s most comfortable lounging on your lap, 20 minutes of chasing a ball in the living room may be all he needs. If you keep a dog whose ancestors rounded up and guarded livestock, he probably needs at least an hour of good exercise every day. Age and physical health will also affect how much exercise your dog requires.
• Stimulate your dog’s mind: Dogs are intelligent animals. If you don’t provide your dog with mental stimulation, he will probably seek it for himself, and chances are you won’t be happy with the results. Physical exercise provides some mental stimulation, but you can also play games with him, give him toys, or provide him with formal training in obedience, agility, or breed-specific activities.
• Take charge: You and all the human members of your household should rank higher than your dog in the pack hierarchy of your family. If your dog is pushy, make him earn what he wants by responding to a command in order to get it. If he’s in your way, make him move rather than go around him. If he’s sleeping in your favorite chair, make him get off if you want to sit down. Your dog won’t see this behavior as rude or unfair: he’ll see it as the normal behavior of a higher-ranking individual. Both you and your dog will be happier if he knows that you’re the one in charge.
• Train your dog: A dog who learns to behave and obey in one setting usually behaves better in other settings. Training your dog helps him understand and trust you, and that makes him more secure and less likely to engage in problem behaviors. If you encounter a behavior you can’t control or that is dangerous (such as aggression), ask your vet to refer you to a qual­ified professional dog trainer or behaviorist before a small problem develops into a big one.