A smiling yellow lab sits in the grass.Dogs have different ways of expressing their emotions than people do. When they feel discontent, they’ll show you through a few familiar patterns. For one reason or another, a dog may decide to fixate on an undesirable habit — and this can happen out of nowhere. It may not necessarily be the owner’s fault that the behavior sprouted, but it is their responsibility to give their pup the tools to reverse it. 

Behavioral issues can go well beyond minor annoyances, too. They can make a dog more unpredictable, leaving them unable to enjoy the simple canine pleasures in life, like a day at the park or group socialization. 

If you have a dog with behavioral issues, getting friends or family to enjoy their company the way you do can be difficult. Fortunately, there are ways to help your pup reintegrate into society and reverse the habit preventing them from living a fully enjoyable and enriching life.    

What Common Behavioral Issues Do Dogs Face?

Sometimes with their cute faces and wagging tails, we forget to acknowledge a dog’s undesirable behaviors when they happen. Those big eyes can be such a distraction! 

However, even if your heart breaks in the moment, the right kind of reinforcement can actually save a dog from doing something dangerous. That’s because behavioral issues can lead to risky scenarios — and may sometimes even be life-threatening for a dog — if they end up with the wrong approach to a dangerous situation.

There are a few common unwanted behaviors that pet parents usually want to train out. Some of the most common dog behavior problems include: 

  • Excessive barking: At the very least, excessive barking can be annoying. It is also a sign that your dog is bored and looking for stimulation or interaction. If they are barking at nothing, chances are your dog is looking something fun to do or a way to feel better integrated into the environment around them. 
  • Chewing: Another bored or anxious habit, dogs may find objects around the house to chew for entertainment. This behavior soothes their need for stimulation, which could prevent other unwanted behaviors, like excessive barking, but it will also lead to ruin for some of your favorite things.
  • Begging: Avoid the temptation to share human food with your dog. If you do it once, they’ll ask every time. Giving your dogs a piece of your food at the dinner table is a recipe for disaster because they may grow attached to this routine and begin asking every day — or every meal. 
  • Jumping: When a dog is overstimulated and excited, they may jump on people or other animals. This can be dangerous for small children and the elderly.  
  • Running away: Escaping the yard is yet another sign of boredom. Dogs that like to escape and run off-leash may enjoy the thrill of you chasing them or may just need an opportunity to expel some pent-up energy. 

Types of Anxiety in Dogs

Dogs can develop many different types of anxiety. Dog behavior issues typically stem from fear or apprehension, so many dogs with behavioral issues tend to have underlying anxiety disorders. 

Not all anxiety will look the same, and each will require specialized care and assurance to reduce symptoms. Some of the most common types of dog anxiety include:  

  • Generalized anxiety: Described as a chronic anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety in canines is described as near-constant anxiety or fear, not tied to any specific trigger or provocation. 
  • Separation anxiety: Your dog just loves you so much! But this can lead to unpleasant feelings for them when you are not around. It is estimated that roughly 14% of dogs have separation anxiety. It occurs when they feel nervous just because you’re not near them. 
  • Noise anxiety: If loud, unexpected sounds like fireworks, thunderstorms, or even sounds like a vacuum make your dog nervous, it is possible they suffer from noise anxiety.
  • Travel anxiety: Some dogs don’t like to travel. Just like humans, they can get motion sickness, which makes the experience particularly unenjoyable. Also, past experiences or unfamiliar sights can make a dog distrustful of their environment. 
  • Confinement anxiety: Dogs that do not like small spaces, but are otherwise calm, may have confinement anxiety and need positive reinforcement about the environment. 

Getting to the root of your dog’s anxiety can help you improve their responses to certain triggers or situations where they are likely to respond in unwanted ways. Always check out any new or especially worrying behaviors with your vet, and refer to professional dog trainers for help with identifying and dealing with the situations that are likely to set your pet off.

Why Are Some Dogs So Aggressive? 

Let’s get one thing straight — there is no such thing as a “bad dog.” Dogs that tend to lash out or respond poorly to stress should instead be viewed as an untrained dog with an anxious life. Many dogs are abandoned or put down every year for their aggression, but these behaviors have to stem from somewhere, and they could potentially be reversible. 

This is the most common serious behavior problem in dogs. Some of the most common aggressive behaviors include: 

  • Growling: This is your dog’s first line of defense. A dog will growl to give you a warning that it feels threatened and uncomfortable in the current environment. 
  • Excessive and loud barking: This can be a sign of a dog attempting to establish authority in a situation. Excessive barking is sometimes playful but can be aggressive and lead to outbursts of violence. 
  • Snarling: This is often the precursor to biting. By showing teeth while growling, a dog is letting you know that they are getting ready to attack if provoked. 
  • Resource guarding: When a dog resource guards, they will hoard their favorite things and become aggressive if someone tries to take something away. This can be problematic or even dangerous, especially if there are other pets in the house or they begin to guard something shared. 
  • Territorial aggression: Dogs can also become protective of their territory. They will defend the home, yard, or their favorite space from any and all perceived intruders. Again, this can be dangerous in a home with other dogs or even young children. 
  • Redirected aggression: If a dog can’t reach the target of their aggression, they may take it out on a nearby person, pet, or even object. 

In order to untrain aggressive behaviors, a trainer will want to get to the bottom of why they are acting this way. There could be a plethora of reasons, most of which stem from fear. Aggression is a defense mechanism for when your pup feels afraid, so oftentimes, these trainers will be extra patient and calm when showing the dog that they are not a threat. 

It’s also important to get multiple opinions when assessing a dog’s aggression. If one dog trainer doesn’t work for your pup, that doesn’t mean the situation is hopeless. Try a different avenue — or a few — before giving up. 

How Should I Treat Common Dog Behavior Issues?

The following strategies can provide benefits to both you and your dog when seeking to address the root causes of unwanted behaviors.

Rewarding Good Behavior 

Positive reinforcement training is the most effective and productive way to communicate desirable skills to your pup. When teaching a new skill, a trainer will offer rewards like treats or pets when they complete the assigned task. This approach should be carried over into at-home training, especially during the beginning stages. To prevent your pup from gaining unnecessary weight from treats, opt for a low-calorie training treat or a comparable freeze-dried (low-cal cooking method) option. You can also reduce their daily feeding in order to distribute some of their regular diet out as treats throughout the day.

Stay Consistent

You’ll need to be consistent with reinforcement with managing dog behavior. A dog will quickly forget all they’ve learned if these skills are not reinforced. For example, if a dog learns skills in a training class, but the owners do not utilize the commands when applicable, the dog will plateau at this stage and may never grasp the skill. 

Socialization Is Key

Once a dog has gained a few basic obedience skills, they may be ready to hit the town and test it out! With most dogs, it is important that you give your dog the opportunity to show you that they’ve retained the skills they learned in training class. Exposure to various sights, sounds, and smells will reinforce the tools they gained from training and build confidence. 

Obedience Training Will Curb Common Behavioral Issues in Dogs

Training out bad behaviors is the best way to nip unwanted habits in the bud. Giving dogs tools for managing their emotions, following cues, responding to cues, and observing the world around them will keep them safe. If you’ve got a real mischief maker (pillow eater, fence destroyer, wildlife combatant), then obedience training just may save you another emergency vet bill from your dog’s latest adventure. 

Obedience training is a process that can take weeks or months, depending on the most important goals and how the dog responds. Owners must also take the initiative to reinforce training commands when they are at home, otherwise, the dog will never associate their owner or their home with the order they learned when in training camp. 

A Great Greenlin Getaway: Train Your Dogs In a Safe Environment   

The Greenlin Pet Resorts in Harrisburg offers different options for dog training to suit every family’s lifestyle. You can drop your pup off with us and pick them up at the end of the day, or send them on a canine vacay full of fun, enrichment, and socialization. The best training package depends on what your family expects from the course. 

If you want your dog trained fast and effectively, the Lodge and Learn packages will prevent outside influences from altering your dog’s training experience. Dogs that stay and train with us will retain commands faster and will seldom regress back to pre-training habits. This is because your pup spends uninterrupted time with the skill and reinforcement training throughout their training vacation. 

Day Play and Train is a great option for pet parents who want their pup to receive a refresher course in obedience. This can be a productive option for dogs that were previously trained but may have lost some of those skills.   

Each training program is personalized to your own goals and your dog’s unique needs and challenges. At the end of the program, you and the entire household will go over what they’ve learned and given pointers for continuing training in the home setting.

Have any questions about dog training? Want to know how we can help your beloved pet reach the next plateau of good behavior? Don’t hesitate to reach out! Greenlin Pet Resorts Harrisburg location is open 7 days a week. You can contact us online, or drop by for a walk-in tour. We look forward to seeing you and meeting your canine companion!

Posted in Animal Behavior Category