Many veterinary visits aren’t about health issues at all – they’re about behavior. Dogs who bark too much, destroy furniture, bite… Each of these behaviors is completely different, and some can be quite challenging to solve. Let’s explore ten of the most common behavioral problems in dogs and learn how to address them.
1. Begging at the Table
Who hasn’t seen that heartbreaking puppy face when dogs beg for food? It’s probably the saddest face in the world! Fortunately, this can be easily prevented in most cases by simply not feeding them at the table. If they beg, don’t give in.
If you establish this rule from the beginning, you’ll never have to deal with this problem. Dogs are clever, and if you feed them from the table, their brain makes a simple connection: sad face + owner eating at table = guaranteed food.
Another solution is to keep your dog out of the room while the family eats. There are multiple ways to handle this issue.
By the way, feeding dogs from the table, especially small breeds, can lead to an additional problem: obesity. That’s why it’s crucial to stick to their regular food (and occasional treats) and nothing else.
2. Jumping on People
Many dogs love greeting visitors by jumping up and showering them with kisses. However, this can be problematic for guests who might get scared, fall, or have their clothes soiled.
The best approach is to teach your dog to sit and then allow them to be greeted. Usually, they won’t stand up to jump on visitors after this. Another effective strategy is to ask visitors to ignore your dog until all four paws are on the ground and they’re calm.
The jumping behavior is triggered by excitement, so the key is finding ways to keep your dog calm.
3. Pulling on the Leash
Never let your dog pull you around. Keep the leash (though we recommend using a harness) short but not tight. If your dog pulls, stop walking until they realize you’re not moving forward. This will encourage them to stop pulling. When they stop pulling and return to your side, give them a small treat or praise and continue walking.
After a few days, they’ll learn that pulling gets them nowhere – literally!
4. Excessive Barking
This is annoying for everyone involved: for you and your neighbors who have to listen to it, and for your dog who’s in a constant state of excitement or nervousness. Whatever you do, don’t yell at your dog for barking – you’ll only increase their negative state and make things worse.
There’s no simple solution here because dogs can bark excessively for many different reasons. The only recommendation I’ll make is to take your dog to a veterinarian or professional trainer who can evaluate the individual case and figure out what’s going on.
5. Not Coming When Called
If you call your dog and they don’t come, don’t chase after them. Keep calling (not just their name, but using words they associate with returning to you).
Something that often works is to keep walking but in the opposite direction. This usually makes them follow you. If that doesn’t work, ask them to sit and, once they’re seated, go to them.
The best thing you can do is pet your dog and speak lovingly every time they come to you. This establishes the connection: “going to my owner = receiving affection.”
6. The Archaeologist Dog: Digging
Some dogs seem born to work at archaeological sites. However, when they develop this passion in our garden or at the park, it’s not very pleasant for us.
We need to train our dogs to stop digging, and the best way is to catch them in the act and tell them to stop. Ideally, you should also call them to come and play with them for a while, so they associate not digging with something positive.
Here’s something important to know, or it might backfire: never reward or give affection to a dog right after they’ve done something wrong. For example, if we give them a treat after they’ve dug a hole, they’ll think: “Oh great! If I dig a hole, I get a reward. I’ll dig four more holes so they’ll give me attention and play with me.” As you can see, this creates a big problem. Reward your dog when they stop digging, not after they’ve finished.
7. Whining and Complaining
Many dogs like to get attention by whining. The solution is often simple: when they do it, don’t give them attention or pet them. In fact, the best thing to do is leave the room and let them be. Don’t feel bad about it. Once they stop, that’s when you should give them attention to reward their quiet behavior.
8. Separation Anxiety
This is one of the most significant behavioral problems in dogs. First, dogs suffer tremendously – imagine being in that anxious state for hours every day. Second, it can really upset neighbors, which can lead to serious problems. Third, dogs with anxiety often destroy things around the house, which is quite common.
The best advice anyone can give you here is: see a veterinarian or professional trainer. You’ll often save time because these aren’t easy problems to solve, and you’ll avoid a lot of headaches.
If you want to try solving it yourself, teach your dog that you’ll return. For example, leave the house for 5 minutes and come back. Then try 10 minutes and return… Gradually increase the time away so your pet learns you haven’t left forever, which is maybe what they believe.
Leaving the TV on and providing toys for entertainment can also be very helpful.
9. Dogs With Indiscriminate Taste
Some dogs, especially puppies, love putting everything in their mouths. Often they do it because it soothes them. However, this is very dangerous behavior because they might swallow harmful objects, like pieces of clothing.
Sometimes, these objects can cause very serious conditions, like intestinal obstruction, which can even be fatal. Therefore, we need to address this behavior from day one.
Usually, it’s simple to combat this behavior by giving them appropriate items to chew on instead. For example, there are toys specifically designed for dogs to chew. This will calm them down and ensure all your socks stay in pairs!
10. Aggression
Be careful, because sometimes aggression isn’t a behavioral problem but a biological one (although this is much less common).
With aggression, I strongly recommend seeing a veterinarian because it’s a very serious issue. If your dog bites someone, they could be euthanized if the person files a complaint, not to mention the harm they could cause. They might also become aggressive towards you, and nobody wants a dangerous dog at home.
Usually, aggression comes from nervousness or fear, but the way to solve these problems isn’t the same. Therefore, identifying the type of fear is very important.
Tips: Put a muzzle on your aggressive dog when leaving the house, and never ever leave them alone with children.
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Further Reading
- Decoding Your Dog: Explaining Common Dog Behaviors and How to Prevent or Change Unwanted Ones by American College Of Veterinary Behaviorists
