Before we discuss the common bad habits and behaviors in dog, please remember that there are a variety of pet training and counselling service types providers available as discussed above.  Each have their different interests, functions, and specialties.  These training professionals can be very helpful in correcting a pet’s bad habits and behaviors.

Remember that a pet owner’s consistent involvement is critical to any successful pet or animal training outcomes.

Barking

Dogs bark as one form of communication.  Barking is of course natural for dogs.  When it becomes excessive for any reason, however, it is a behavioral problem.  There are several reasons why a dog barks:[i]

Protecting Territorial

A dog may bark excessively to establish and maintain its home and territory.  Barking may occur when people or animals enter the dog’s territory.

Sounding the Alarm

Alarm type barking is usually a response to sights and sounds that the dog experiences.  These sights and sounds may or may not be within the dog’s immediate territory.

Attention Seeking

Dog may bark to gain attention from people or other animals, to gain rewards, or during play.

Greetings

Dogs may bark as a non-aggressive, non-threating type of greeting.

Compulsive Barking

Compulsive barking is excessive, repetitive barking that seems to have no cause (but it actually does) and is often accompanied with other behaviors such as pacing or running back and forth.

Boredom or Frustration

Excessive barking may result when a dog is routinely unoccupied and searching for something to do or play with.  A dog may bark out of frustration because it is restricted, tied up, or otherwise unable to get where it wants to be.

Social Communication 

Other nearby dogs that bark may trigger barking as a means of communication with other nearby dogs.

Separation Anxiety

Dogs may bark and even howl unconsolably when left alone.  Other bad and disruptive behavior may also be present in a dog suffering from separation anxiety.  Other behaviors may include, but are not limited to, destructive chewing, pacing, urinating, digging, and escaping.

Injury or Illness

A dog may be injured or sick and barking in response to the pain or not being well.  It is important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian to make sure any excessive barking issue is not caused by an untreated injury or illness.

If you find your dog barks excessively, it is important to identify the type of barking the dog is exhibiting.  Closely watch your dog to identify the causes for the excessive barking.  Knowing the causes for the excessiveness can help you better address and solve the problem making life better for you, your dog, and your neighbors too!

Aggression in Dogs

Aggression can mean a lot of things when it comes to pets and animals.  In the end, a pet’s aggressive behavior is a show of force that may lead to an ultimate attack and bite.  The resulting injuries can be minor, significant, or even fatal depending on the pet and how extensive the attack may be.  There is also the risk the animal transmits a bacterial or viral infection because of a bite or scratch.  Addressing a pet’s aggression is necessary if an ultimate attack and bite are to be prevented.  This is particularly true for dogs.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals® (ASPCA), “Aggression is the most common and most serious behavior problem in dogs. It’s also the number-one reason why pet owners seek professional help from behaviorists, trainers and veterinarians.”[ii]

If your dog exhibits aggressive behavior, please consult with your veterinarian or animal’s medial provider to determine whether there are any medical issues, physical concerns, or other limitations your pet might be experiencing that causes or contributes to any bad behavior.  The veterinarian can also direct you to the best type of trainer for your pet’s specific behavior issue.

Aggressive Behavior in Dogs Comes in Many Forms

Aggressive behavior comes in many forms and can be displayed by animals, particularly dogs, in a variety of way.  The following is a list of some, but not all, the causes of aggressive behavior in dogs:[iii]

Territorial Aggression

Territorial aggression occurs when a dog believes its home, space, or area is being invaded by an intruder.  Such intruder does not have to be an unknown person or animal; the intruder just needs to be unwelcomed into the dog’s territory.

Protective Aggression

A dog may become aggressive to protect an owner, family member, or other person or pet friend from a perceived or real attack.

Possessive Aggression

Dog may gather and guard things such as food, toys, bones and chew toys, beds, and other possessions they value.  The dog may become irritated, hostile, and attack if it feels its possessions are in jeopardy – even if the aggression is directed toward a person or animal that is unaware of the dog’s nearby possession.

Fear Induced Aggression

Fear-induced aggression is the fight portion of the fight or flight response.  Typically, this type of aggression results when the dog feels trapped or cornered. When a dog finds itself without an escape route, it can turn to fight.

Defensive Aggression

This form of aggression is fear generated.  The dog’s response, however, is to move to make an initial, if not preemptive, attack. Unlike fear aggression that results when the dog is trapped or cornered, defensive aggression chooses the “best defense to be a good offense.”

Social Aggression

Dogs naturally reside in groups or packs.  The dog’s social status or role within the pack may cause the dog to aggressively exert dominance or become “status-seeking.”  This may be natural for the dog pack, but include humans and family members, especially children, and it could be disastrous.

Frustration Induced Aggression

Some dogs may respond to being held back, leashed, restrained, or contained with aggression.  The dog becomes frustrated when it cannot get to what it wants or where it wants to go.  As a result, the dog may become aggressive and bite the person or thing holding the dog back.

Pain Response Aggression

Even the gentlest dog can become aggressive and attack when it is in pain.  Always be mindful of and look for injuries, illnesses, or conditions that might cause your dog pain.  Be careful in handling an injured or ill dog.  The dog may not understand you’re trying to help.

Mating Aggression

Mating and reproduction desires cause strong reactions in dogs, particularly dogs that have not been spayed or neutered.  Both male and female dogs may become aggressive in response to breeding desires or opportunities.

Predatory Aggression

Predatory aggression is a link to a time when dogs were wild and hunted daily for food.  While today’s pets do not typically have such daily challenges, the behavior can still be present.  Usually such behavior today comes in the form of chasing cars, bicycles, runners, and other animals that are quickly moving past the dog.  Unlike other aggressive behavior, this type of aggression comes with little warning from the dog.

Some Common Signs of Aggressiveness in Dogs

Some warning signs that an aggressive dog may show before attacking and biting include, but are not limited to, the following:[iv]

• Standing very still and rigid;
• Barking in a deeper, threatening tone;
• Growling;
• Lunging or charging short of contact;
• “Mouthing” without fully biting;
• “Muzzle punching” or butting with the snout;
• Showing teeth;
• Snarling;
• Snapping or nipping;
• Biting (various amounts of pressure);
• Repeatedly and rapidly biting;
• Biting, holding, and shaking.

Other Bad or Destructive Behavior from Dogs

In addition to aggressiveness that can lead to barking, attacking and even biting, dogs also exhibit other bad or destructive behaviors.  These can include the following:

Chewing[v]

Dog naturally chew. Chewing can help a dog’s teeth, especially during the puppy teething stage.  Dog also chew to strengthen jaws, relieve boredom, and to be entertained.  These types of chewing are normal when done on things designed for dogs to chew on.  Chewing becomes destructive, however, its done for the wrong reason on inappropriate things.  Chewing that results from boredom, frustration, or anxiety can cause significant damage to household items and injure the dog in the process.

You can help reduce, redirect, and eliminate destructive chewing by making sure the dog has proper chew toys, bones, and similar items.  Teach the dog that these items are okay to chew.

Digging[vi]

Dogs dig for a variety of reasons.  They find it fun.  They may be looking for prey that’s living under ground (moles, chipmunks, and other rodents). They may be seeking comfort or making a protective spot. They may also be seeking attention or trying to escape.

Closely monitor your dog to determine the reasons for the digging.  If the dog finds it fun, it can be re-directed to perhaps dig in a certain spot only.  If the dog is looking for prey, perhaps make sure the dog has enough to eat and look at ways to eliminate a rodent problem.  If they are digging near foundations, make sure the dog has proper shelter for all kinds of weather.  If the dog is digging out of boredom, frustration, or attention seeking, be sure to give the dog sufficient exercise and stimulating toys to help relieve those conditions.

If the dog is digging to escape, a safe preventative barrier under a fence line to help deter and prevent escape.  Providing your dog with plenty of your attention and making the dogs regular surroundings more appealing and entertaining will help reduce or perhaps eliminate the desire to escape.

Adult dog “mouthing,” nipping, or playful biting[vii]

This type of “biting” is not the aggressive, attacking type bite discussed early.  Mouthing, nipping, or playful biting nevertheless can be harmful, especially from an adult dog.  More so from an adult dog on an unsuspecting person that encounters the dog and believes it is an aggressive bite.  Mouthing, nipping, or playful biting usually occurs in dogs that were not trained as puppies not to bite or chew the wrong things.  With proper training and re-directing, however, the adult dog can learn not to mouth, nip, or play bite.  Teaching the dog to be gentle, re-directing it when it places its teeth on hands, fingers, or feet to a chew toy or bone, or engaging in no-contact type play can help reduce or eliminate the adult dog’s bad habit of mouthing, nipping or play biting.

Aggressive, destructive, and bad behaviors come in many forms.  If your dog exhibits such unacceptable behaviors, first consult with your veterinarian to determine whether there are any medical issues, physical concerns, or other limitations your pet might be experiencing that causes or contributes to any bad behavior.  The veterinarian can also direct you to the best type of trainer for your pet’s specific behavior issue.  Properly training your dog to reduce or eliminate aggressive and other destructive or bad behaviors can lead to a happy and healthy relationship with your dog.

[i] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[ii] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[iii] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[iv] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[v] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[vi] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com
[vii] http//www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/common-dog-behavior-issues; https://www.avma.org; www.webmd.com