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The following information will help you manage undesirable canine
behaviors. These behaviors are normal, but require some patience,
persistence and positive reinforcement to communicate to your dog
what is and is not appropriate behavior. Behaviors such as barking,
destructiveness and attention seeking behavior can also be part of
anxiety behavior disorders. If your dog has a problem that is beyond
your control, do not hesitate to get professional help. While dog
trainers can usually help resolve management problems, a qualified
animal behaviorist specialist is needed to treat a behavior
disorder.
BARKING - Many dogs with barking
“problems” are merely exhibiting normal canine behavior in response
to environmental stimuli (i.e. sights, sounds, and scents). Some
breed types such as terriers and scent hounds have been bred to bark
more readily than others. Because barking is a self-reinforcing
behavior, it is important to teach you dog what type of barking you
find acceptable right from the start. To do this, you must first
discover what causes your dog to bark. Solving this problem may be
as simple as eliminating the source. For example, if your dog barks
out the window at other dogs, you might try leaving the
blinds/curtains closed and using a radio/TV to mask outside sounds.
If your dog barks in your presence, you can begin to teach the dog a
more acceptable behavior in place of the barking (such a sitting on
command). You will need to consistently interrupt (use a stimulus
such as water, a loud noise, head halter, etc.) the dog as soon as
she begins to bark and immediately redirect her to another activity.
As soon as your dog engages in the acceptable activity, praise and
reward her. Never give your dog any direct attention
(including verbal or physical corrections) while she is engaged in
barking. Some dogs regard even negative attention (such as being
scolded) as desirable.
There are a few quick or easy solutions to undesirable barking. PAWS
Chicago does NOT recommend Ultrasonic anti-bark collars or shock
collars. Ultrasonic anti-bark collars are not effective on most
dogs. The stimulus of barking is just more rewarding then the
deterrent. “Shock” or “electronic impulse” collars work by causing
pain and can heighten anxiety. If you need a humane way to
control your dog’s barking when you are away, you may want to
consider a citronella anti-bark collar (such as the ABS Anti-Bark
Collar™). Citronella collars emit a citrus oil mist in response to
the dog’s bark that discourages the dog from barking without causing
fear or pain. While you still need to address the cause of your
dog’s barking, citronella collars can be a useful tool is preventing
excessive barking.
INAPPROPRIATE PLAY - Mouthing,
jumping, mounting, and rough play need to be discouraged from the
very first day you bring your new dog home. Remember that what is
cute and playful in a puppy can be annoying and dangerous in an
adult dog. Teach your dog to only play with toys (not hands, feet
and other body parts). Avoid rough play. Teach your dog rules for
play (drop, stop, etc.) and constantly reinforce them.
ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIOR -
Attention seeking behavior is one of the most common canine
management problems. The high social nature of dogs contributes to
attention seeking behavior which can take the form of pawing,
pushing, jumping, mouthing, barking at, eliminating in front of, or
any other behavior which the dog has deduced will get her attention.
Attention seeking behavior may be either active or passive, and the
attention it elicits may be either negative or positive.
To prevent attention seeking behavior from developing, always ask
your dog to do something (sit, stay, come, etc.) before getting
anything (food, walks, attention, petting, toys, etc.) Ignore any
attempts to get your attention (even negative attention) through
undesirable behavior! This means that if your dog jumps on you to
get your attention, instead of pushing the dog down, shrug the dog
off and walk away. Do not give your dog any attention until she has
exhibited a desirable (sit on command) behavior. Your goal is to
teach your dog acceptable forms of attention getting (such a
sitting, lying quietly, etc.). In order to succeed, you will need to
praise and reward the dog whenever she is calm and relaxed.
DESTRUCTION – Destruction can
include normal chewing/teething or play behavior. Preventing
destruction by limiting access to vulnerable items is the easiest
way to deal with this problem. Redirecting chewing to appropriate
toys, increasing exercise, and providing stimulating playthings
(Buster Cubes™, stuffed Kongs™, etc.) can also help eliminate
inappropriate destructive behavior. Many plants are poisonous and
should be kept out of reach of your new dog. Digging in yards should
be curtailed by constant supervision and for breeds bred to dig
(many terriers); redirection to an allowing digging area should be
considered. Never directly punish your dog for destructive behavior.
If you can catch you dog in the middle of destructing, interrupt her
with an indirect stimulus, and then redirect her to acceptable
behavior. Praise her once she in engaged in good behavior.
AGGRESSION – There are many
types of aggression and treatment varies according to the type of
problem. Never attempt to deal with an aggression problem by
yourself. Safety should always be your 1st priority. If the
aggression is directed towards another animal, separate then until
you can get professional advice. If you can determine what triggered
the aggression (i.e. rawhide, food, a leash correction, etc.) try to
avoid any similar circumstances until you can get help.
Copyright 1998 by Stephanie Roman. All rights reserved.
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