Dog Behavior

Dog behavior problems usually occur because of communication problems between humans and canines.



Humans and dogs have completely different ways of perceiving the world around them. They see, hear, smell and even taste differently. In the wild, canine behavior such as barking, chewing and marking with scent do not pose any problems. But when a dog becomes a part of a human family, these natural behaviors are no longer appropriate.



Therefore it is the responsibility of the human family to incorporate the dog into their world by teaching him the correct behaviors.

There are many different types of behavior problems displayed by dogs. Dogs can sometimes get aggressive out of defensiveness, pain, reproductive urges and territorial threats. Dogs may also bite for a number of reasons such as anger or playfulness.



Another common dog behavior is chasing cars. This may startle the driver and may even put the dog at risk of an accident. Puppies love to chew everything that comes in front of them. Much like human babies, this is due to the growth of teeth. Older dogs may also chew out of boredom or distress. Dogs may chew anything form curtains to shoes, thereby causing a great deal of annoyance to their owners. Some dogs may also take to excessive digging. This is usually harmless, but sometimes it can ruin your plants or garden. The dog may also bring mud and dirt into the house after hours of digging. Dogs in the wild maintain a hierarchical structure within their packs. As a result of this, some dogs may try to display their dominance over humans through aggression or fighting.  

Dog behavior training can be started at any age, but it is always advisable to begin as early as possible as younger dogs are more open to learning new things. Dogs learn effectively through regular practice and through positive reinforcement in the form of praise and rewards. The value of the reinforcement should be in accordance with the desired behavior. Identify what your dog sees as most valuable and use that appropriately to teach him correct behaviors. The dog training process must also be enjoyable so that the pet will look forward to it. It should also take place in a quiet environment, without any distractions. Punishment, either verbal or physical, must never be used as it will only serve to elicit fearfulness or aggression from the dog, and learning is not likely to take place properly after that.