Behavior Problems
Behavior problems can range in scope from minor annoyances like jumping on visitors to severe problems such as biting. Many behavior problems can be addressed quite successfully. The free articles on this website may be very helpful with many of your dog’s behavior issues. I will try to add more as time allows.
Thousands of dogs die every year as a result of behavior problems that their owners are unwilling or unable to deal with. Once owners lose patience, “problem” dogs are often surrendered to shelters where they receive a death sentance, and dogs with aggression problems are routinely euthanized. The sad thing is how preventable many of these deaths are; with proper training and/or behavior management most problems can be corrected.
My book reviews section suggests a number of excellent books on solving various behavior problems. If you can’t find the advice you’re looking for online, I highly recommend purchasing and reading one of them. The internet is a wonderful information source, but it simply doesn’t hold detailed enough advice for solving many behavior problems. You’ll thank yourself for buying a book or two.
Stay away from “miracle” or “secret” dog training programs you see advertised online. Most of these are produced by people whose skills lie in marketing and hype, not effective, professional modern animal training.
My specialty as a trainer was working with dogs with fear and aggression problems, and I get many emails asking for advice on the topic. I’m afraid that while I can write in general terms about many aggression issues, individual aggression problems are too complex and the stakes for both the dog and for the humans around it for me to be able to give email advice. Seeking out a competent, experienced behaviorist is a must when dealing with dog aggression. This will cost money, but it is as vital to your dog’s survival as veterinary care, and far cheaper than being sued when your dog bites someone. Find a competent professional and book an appointment. Please.
ARTICLES ON BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS
Is This Dominance Aggression/Food Guarding?
Remedial Housetraining for an Adult Dog
How to Stop your Dog from Jumping on People
Teaching Your Dog to Climb Stairs
An Anthropomorphic Insight on Aggression
Do You Need a Dog Trainer or Behaviorist?
My 3-year-old chocolate lab mix will jump our fence (we have a 4-ft fence, but lots of snow). When I go out to get him back in, he comes just within reach then runs again, or barks like we are playing. He will do this for hours, then I give up and just hope he doesn’t get hurt or picked up (we live in town). Is he too old to train to come when I want him to?
January 3rd, 2008 at 3:59 pmHow do I get my 3-year-old lab mix to come when I call after he gets out of the fenced yard?
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:02 pmMy dog, a lhasa apso is two and a half years old and we have had him since he was 7 weeks old. Within a matter of weeks he was toilet trained. Recently he has periodically started doing his business in the house and I am getting so frustrated as to know why this is happening. Can you please offer any advice.
Many thanks.
January 18th, 2008 at 11:23 amMy 9 year old rottie / coonhound mix chews on my fiancee’s clothes. I realize that the quick fix is to make sure that her clothes are not left on the floor, but I am hoping that there may be a way to stop the chewing so that, should something be left there accidentally, she doesn’t see this as an invitation to destroy it. This behavior seems to only happen at night. Is this a dominance issue? Is the dog trying to send my wife-to-be a message? If that is the case, how long should it last? We have lived together for about 7 months now, and it is still going on.
Thank you for any help
March 11th, 2008 at 1:24 pmHello,
I looked through your articles and many other sites and couldn’t find what I’m looking for. I have an almost 5 year old standard poodle that I take to the dog park as often as I can on weekends. About a month ago he approached a tall, thin gentleman and attempted to lift his leg on him. Today he did the same to another gentleman, also tall and thin, only this time he did urinate on him. I don’t understand this behavior at all. My dog has a wonderful temperament with humans and dogs. I adopted him from am loving family about 2 years ago. I have adopted abused and neglected standard poocles in the past and they have never displayed this behavior. Do you have any insight or recommendations you can give me? If it helps, both of the gentlemen have the same height/body type as his previous owner/guardian.
March 30th, 2008 at 12:17 amMy dog seems to be over protective of me when there is a raised voice in the house and only to meneven if it is not the man who is yelling. We seem to have calmed him and have started crate training him which has been highly effective. He has also bit when I tried to hold him back. A few weeks ago, he was elevated and we calmed him and timed him out for a few minutes, which seems to be working. I’d also like to mention he listens very well and he is passive in every other way. Although what we’ve been trying seems to be wortking well. is there anything else you can reccomend?
April 8th, 2008 at 4:05 amI have a 10 month old Malamute puppy who is very afraid of people, and has been since I got her at 8 weeks old. She is especially afraid of my boyfriend, who came to live with us when she was just 3 months old. He is a very nice person and would never hurt a fly - well, maybe a fly. However, his movements are abrupt and he has never been patient enough to follow my instructions, or instructions I’ve found online that explain how to get a fearful dog to accept you. By now, it’s almost a phobia for her. She is still afraid of other people, but not as much as him. The only person she trusts is me, and it took two weeks to get her to trust me when she was a baby. When I tried to get her near other people, she would do submissive urination every single time. She seems to be very slowly getting less fearful, but she would never let anyone pet her. With me, she is over exuberant and jumps on me. She’s a very strong dog, and I’m pretty sure she won’t let a behaviorist near her, either. I’m going to try your suggestions to keep her from jumping on me, as I’m getting torn up! It’s embarrassing to go to work with scratches on me. She loves other dogs, but doesn’t want to get anywhere near the owners. She loves treats, but of course they don’t work when she’s terrified. I’m planning to get her a playmate that is much more outgoing, in the hopes that it will help shore up her confidence. Any advice you can give me would be deeply appreciated.
June 14th, 2008 at 7:12 pmhi my name is Amber and I have a 5 year old Rottweiler.
June 27th, 2008 at 10:26 pmIm not sure if you would know, but im having a dilemma with my dog.
I moved into a new house about a year ago, and the place is surrounded by hot wire fences. My dog has hit the fence many times and is scared to death of the yard now. She knows the fence is out there but doesnt seem to realize that the shock fence is only where the fence is. She refuses to go more than 3 or 4 steps off the porch to go to the bathroom unless i make her. Shes to the point where she will go to the bathroom in the house because shes so scared. Shes almost 5 years old and has never had any problems like this and Im just looking for advice. I’ve tried walking her into the yard far from the fence and laying with her and petting her and telling her its okay but as soon as i stop petting her she immeadiatly runs back to the house.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
Hi, I just can’t seem to find out how to treat this. I have a five year old dog who about a year ago started taking stuff outside. Shoes, trash, face wash from the bathroom, books, bags, pillows, towels, blankets, anything she can get her hands on. I rarely ever catch her in the act, and I rarely ever see her carry anything in her mouth. I don’t know what to do! What do you recommend?
July 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 pm