Dog Behaviour
Barking
Most dogs bark - it's a normal part of their behaviour.
Sometimes, however, it can cause problems. It can become annoying
to both you and your neighbours.
There are many reasons why a dog may bark; it may be bored and
bark for attention. Ignore the dog when it barks and this shows it
that it's not going to get any attention for this bad
behaviour.
Boredom
To prevent your dog from getting bored, try leaving it a toy
that it really likes. Don't let it have the toy all of the time -
just when you're about to leave the house. This will keep it
occupied and take its mind off the fact that no one is with it.
Dogs that bark when they are left alone usually spend the first
20 minutes barking. If you give them a toy that they really enjoy
and see as their 'special' toy, it will keep them occupied for that
time and they will forget that you've gone. A good toy to use is a
hollow one that you can fill with some food. Make sure it's a
suitable size for your dog so that he can't choke on it.
Leaving your dog
A dog may bark when he is alone because he wants you to return
home.
Try not to give your dog too much attention when you are at home
with him. Try not to make a big fuss of your dog when you leave him
alone.
Leave a toy that he really likes and only gets when you do go
out.
Protecting property and owner
A dog may bark to protect you or to alert you to danger, for
example when someone knocks on your door. It is best to ignore his
barking and not give him any attention. It will probably get worse
before it gets better as your dog tries even harder to gain a
reaction from you, but eventually he will understand that barking
will get no reaction from you.
Aggression
All cases of aggression should be treated as individual cases as
all dogs are different and the reasons that they show aggression
are vast. Some breeds are more likely to show aggression than
others. You should contact your vet if you are concerned about your
dog, as there may be a medical reason for your dog's behaviour;
otherwise your vet can refer you to a behaviourist.
Chewing of furniture
There are a number of reasons why dogs chew:
- Puppies chew things when their teeth are growing, just like
babies like to chew on a teething ring.
- If you leave a dog on its own for long periods of time, he may
chew because he is bored. Try leaving him with toys that he really
enjoys, particularly ones that he can get food out of.
- Your dog may chew things when he is on his own because he is
nervous about being away from you.
- Rescue dogs may chew as a comforter like children suck their
thumb.
Contact a behaviourist for more information.
Going to the toilet in the Home
Puppies have to be trained to go to the toilet outside, but
adult dogs that go to the toilet in the home may have an underlying
medical problem and should be checked by a vet. It is also possible
that it is a behavioural problem. The dog may wet itself when it is
nervous or very excited, and if you shout at it this will make the
problem worse. You should never punish a dog when it has an
'accident' - they are not doing it to annoy you. Clean up what the
dog has left without making a fuss about it with a biological,
non-ammonia, detergent. Don't shout at your dog as he will think
that it is wrong to go to the toilet in front of you and will only
go when you are not around - usually when you have left him alone
at home.
When your dog does go to the toilet outside, praise it quietly
so that it knows what it is doing is right. Severe problems may
need to be addressed by a professional behaviourist.