Having a dog is a wonderful experience! It’s a joy like no other. In no time, they become a significant member of the family.

Though they cannot speak, they do express their feelings and moods through their actions. Now just like us, there are positive and negative behaviours in dogs too. Hence, it becomes necessary for pet parents to interpret them correctly and help them become better.

However, many pet parents find this task quite challenging due to the amount of information available on the internet. That’s why we decided to bring to you the most common behavioural problems observed in dogs and their solutions to bridge the gap with ease.

Without wasting any more time, let’s check out different dog behaviours and their meanings.

One of the usual behavioural problems witnessed in dogs is excessive barking. Dogs bark as it is a way of communication for them. But, the problem arises when they do that a lot. However, before rectifying the problem, identify why your pet is vocalising in the first place. This may be because of:

• Alertness or warning
• Attention seeking
• Playfulness
• Anxiety
• Boredom, etc.

Try removing the cause of barking from the environment. And then consider training them with ‘bark’ and ‘quiet’ commands. Be calm and patient while teaching and give them time to learn. It’s always best to teach these cues out of context, when you don't need them.

Chewing is considered to be a natural action for dogs. It's about the way they are wired. However, excess of everything is bad, and a lot of chewing can also be destructive for you. Your pet can wander in the house and bite & chew things including furniture, carpets, mats, shoes, etc., whatever they like. The possible reasons for such repetitive actions may include:

• Anxiety
• Curiosity
• Puppy teething and boredom, etc.
• Chewing on stuff to get your attention

Focus on encouraging your pet to do the desirable things, like using puppy teething toys, stuffed toys to chew and rip. Try to keep personal or important things away from them. If you find them red-handed, make a sharp noise to distract them and train them well to not commit the same mistake thereafter.

Another behaviour observed in canines is frequent digging. When they are doing nothing, they will start digging. Your pet can also develop this as a habit. So watch out for these reasons to determine the underlying cause of such actions:

• Fear
• Boredom
• Desire to hide possessions.
• Hunting, etc.

This behaviour can be frustrating for pet parents. To reduce it, try to find the cause and eliminate it by training your dog not to dig. You can also consider spending more time with your furball, making them exercise with training toys. This will eliminate free time and will leave them exhausted. How about setting a kiddie pool with mud and encouraging the dog to dig there instead. Or put digging on cue, or make a digging pit out of old clothes.

It is not always about eliminating “undesirable” behaviours. Many of these behaviours are instincts for dogs. Let them practice these needs by giving them a legal outlet.

Apart from the above, inappropriate elimination, begging, chasing and scooting are referred to as unwanted behaviours. However, all these can be treated efficiently with the help of proper guidance and positive reinforcement training.

In addition, support from pet behavioural experts and vets can play a vital role in moulding negative behaviours effectively. To have a thorough conversation with these experts, you can attend online pet consultations from trusted platforms like Supertails.

For more such pet related healthcare content and information, keep following Supertails on Instagram.

Further Reading:

Do You Think Dogs Experience Mood Swings?

How to teach your dog basic mealtime manners?

How To Identify If Your Pet Has A Food Allergy?