Problem Dogs; Dealing With A Nuisance, Even When He Is Your Own
December 2nd, 2008

You love your dog, but sometimes he can be a real pain! If you know what might be causing his annoying behavior, though, you might be able to do something about it.

Digging

Some dogs just love to dig holes! Their reasons for doing so, however, will vary depending on the breed and the situation. Your dog might be digging holes out of sheer boredom. If you suspect this might be the case, simply exercise your dog more frequently. He'll be too tired to dig. Maybe your male dog is digging in order to get to the female dog that is in heat next door. In this case, having your dog neutered will solve the problem. If your dog is digging holes to bury items or just for the sake of digging, then set aside one area in which he can engage in that behavior. Protect the rest of your yard by spraying a non-toxic dog repellant in and around the off-limit areas.

Barking

A dog that barks all the time, for no apparent reason, is not only a nuisance to the owner, but can be a nuisance to an entire neighborhood as well. The most common reason for consistent barking is boredom and loneliness. Have your neighbors told you that your dog barks all day long while you're at work? If so, then you should consider enrolling your dog in doggie day care. There will be plenty of activities to keep him busy all day long and he'll have lots of other dogs to play with. If day care isn't an option, make sure that your dog has plenty of toys to keep him occupied while you're away from home. You might also try leaving the radio or television on while you're gone - hearing human voices might help your dog feel less lonely.

Destructive Chewing

Most dogs engage in destructive chewing for one of three reasons: teething, attention or boredom. If your puppy is chewing up everything he can sink his little teeth into, there's a good chance that he is simply teething. Make sure to provide the teething puppy with lots of chewable toys so that he won't go after your shoes or other household objects. If your dog isn't teething, then perhaps he's engaging in this destructive behavior in order to get your attention. If you don't spend a lot of time with your dog, but will chase him around for hours if he has your favorite shoe in his mouth, then your dog will understand very quickly that this is an effective way to get you to "play" with him. Spend more time with your dog and you may get him to stop chewing up things around the house. Bored dogs are also inclined to become chewers. If there's nothing or no one to play with, they'll make their own fun at the expense of your furniture and clothing. Provide your dog with plenty of toys and activities to keep him occupied.

Jumping

You might think its adorable when your big dog greets you at the door by jumping up on you and licking your face, but most of your guests probably won't get the same kick out of this behavior. When a small puppy jumps on you it's cute because you can control him and he's not heavy enough to knock you over. Not so with adult dogs. Having a large dog hurl himself at you is not an experience that most people, even dog lovers, enjoy. So, how do you get your dog to stop jumping as a way of greeting you and your guests? Consistent training is really the only way. Ideally, you should begin discouraging this behavior when the dog is still a puppy. If you are unable to get your dog to stop jumping up onto people, then a stint at obedience school is highly recommended.

Disobedience

Most of the time, dogs disobey their owners because they're not sure what is expected of them. In order to get your dog to be consistently obedient, you have to spend lot of time training him. Obedience training should start when the dog is still a puppy and be reinforced throughout the years. Some owners can train their dogs without any outside assistance; however, most will need to enroll themselves and their dog in a local obedience school. You and your dog will enjoy your time together much more once you can communicate effectively with each other

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