If you’ve ever owned a dog, chances are you’ve experienced undesirable behavior at some point. While seemingly harmless, it can be frustrating as well as cause damage to property and home. All behavior issues have a root cause, and the key is to figure out what it is. While not a comprehensive list, here are a few with some helpful solutions:
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Digging
The most common causes include boredom, anxiety and excess energy / lack of exercise. A dog may dig when left alone for a long period of time or feels anxious. Try:
- Interactive toys (like squeaky, rolling, chewable, tossable, tuggable ones) to keep your pup busy while you’re away. The dog will be distracted and less likely to spend time digging. Make sure the toughness of the toy matches the dog’s chew style to avoid indigestible bits.
- Exercise, such as a simple, consistent walking or running routine provides a healthy outlet for all that energy.
- Daycare supplies an active experience while also providing social interaction with other pups.
Chewing
Dogs, puppies especially, explore the world with their mouths. And chewing can be a great way to help keep their teeth clean. However, chewing can be a destructive and dangerous habit if directed at the wrong objects so you’ll want to control early. Some root causes include: puppy teething, anxiety, boredom or excess energy. Try:
- Making sure your dog receives plenty of exercise so she doesn’t take the extra energy out on your personal items.
- Encouraging your pup to chew on the right things will help him learn what is appropriate, so provide plenty of safe chew toy options. If you catch him chewing something inappropriate, make sure to correct him with a firm “No” (never strike or yell), replace it with an approved toy, then give praise for chewing it.
- Edible options like bully sticks & non-rawhide chews are another great option.
- Removing items she shouldn’t get a hold of.
- When you leave home, confining your pup to a specific area or crate to minimize the possibility of chewing the wrong items.
Jumping
Jumping is attention-seeking behavior and a common way dogs greet people when they’re excited or want something a person has. However, this behavior can scare or bother others. Try:
- Not giving the dog attention and turn or walk away when he jumps. Acknowledging the dog’s actions rewards and reinforces the habit.
- When the dog has relaxed, calmly greeting him/her, remaining neutral so that she learns to control her excitement.
Ask us about our daycare, dog training, retail toy and treat options, or if you need advice or assistance about other issues. We’ll be happy to help!