Friday, May 16, 2014

Animal Behavior: Why Does My Dog Do That?

By Garrett McMahan


Does your dog jump up on you or guests? Is excessive barking driving you crazy? These are but two of the annoying behaviors that some dogs exhibit. A few others include chewing on furniture, urinating in the home or even running away from their owner. While we love our pets, difficult behavior makes dog ownership difficult, and it's important to understand why a dog misbehaves.

Every dog is different, just as all people are different. In general, dogs misbehave either because they have not been taught how to behave properly or perhaps because they are scared, lonely or bored. Dogs are pack animals and when their pack is gone, dogs tend to fret. Many dogs also have a great deal of energy and they need to run and play. If their exercise needs are not being met, they tend to become destructive. Taking long walks, going to the dog park and play time can be helpful.

An anxious animal also can exhibit behavior problems. Sometimes a dog chews on things to relieve boredom, but sometimes it actually is anxiety that causes this behavior. If you are not home, your dog is lonely and perhaps very worried, and chewing can be a way to self-soothe. This is an instinctual behavior, after all. You might consider providing your dog with a toy to chew on or perhaps placing a soft mat in a dog crate and leaving your pet there when you are gone. Dogs tend to feel secure in crates and it does prevent destruction of your home when you are away.

Even if you zero in on the problem and understand why misbehavior occurs, you still aren't going to be happy with your pet if they run away, urinate in an inappropriate area, scratch or bark. To stop these behaviors permanently, one of your best bets is to train your animal and teach them proper behavior and limits.

Dog training is important for several reasons, and it is important to note that being proactive with training prevents problems. If you come home to a scratched up or chewed up house, you're are going to be upset, but your dog really is not going to understand why, even if you drag the offending dog over to the chewed up sofa, point and say, "bad, dog." They don't really make the connection between your anger and something they did hours earlier. In addition, a dog that understands his limits and obeys commands will be safe in a multitude of situations and will be a happier animal in general simply because the owner is happy with them.

However, we often don't have a clue as to how to properly train an animal. The Dog's Way is one excellent training system that provides 12 step-by-step lessons, teaching you the techniques you need to be a great trainer for your dog. The Dog's Way also is handy because it is a set of dog training DVDs, which means you don't have to try to attend a local class or make time for a trainer to come to your home. You can complete the program yourself easily in a time frame that suits your needs. Just remember that training does take time and it doesn't happen in just a few days. You must be patient and work for several weeks with your animal to achieve success. Rome wasn't built in a day, and no quality dog training program works that quickly either. But with some perseverance, you will build a fantastic relationship and gain a sweet, loyal, well-behaved companion.




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