- April 9, 2022
- No Comment
- 12 minutes read
How to deal with common dog behavior problems, according to vets – Insider
Pets can make life more fun and active, but being a dog owner often presents a unique set of challenges.
Insider asked vets to share their best solutions to common problems that dog owners face.
Rebecca Greenstein, chief veterinarian and practice owner at Kleinburg Veterinary Hospital, told Insider that dogs who wake their owners too early in the morning may need to have their routine tweaked.
“If your healthy adult dog is getting up hours before your alarm clock, it might be that he’s going to bed too early,” Greenstein said. “Try shifting him to a later bedtime and increasing physical activity during the day.”
Keep in mind that young pups with smaller bladders often need to use the bathroom during the night and older dogs may be dealing with an underlying medical condition that makes them more restless than usual.
Greenstein said that owners who give their dog scraps of people food may actually be training them to beg.
“Dogs don’t inherently know what’s yours and what’s theirs,” Greenstein told Insider. “But if you give in to begging or whining for food, you’re inadvertently teaching your dog that begging works.”
She said pet owners need to be clear from the start that only humans get to eat from the table. They shouldn’t use leftovers as treats or a response to whining.
Sarah Wooten, veterinarian and contributor to Pumpkin Pet Insurance, told Insider that dogs who pull on their leash can be trained to walk calmly.
“Dogs do this because they haven’t been taught how to walk nicely,” she said. “Try using a leash trainer that turns your dog’s nose toward you when they pull.”
When your dog walks calmly, praise them and give them a treat. Wooten said that they will eventually learn pulling doesn’t work and behaving appropriately earns them your affection.
Some dogs seem to hate going outside in wet weather, but doling out treats and affection can help.
“From a young age, try to use treats and praise when taking your dog out in the rain,” Greenstein said. “Make sure they’re bundled up and walk them under an umbrella or in a sheltered area.”
Greenstein recommended rewarding your dog with a treat when you dress them up for inclement weather to help create a positive association with going outside in the rain.
Leslie Brooks, veterinarian and advisor at betterpet, told Insider that dogs who bark and whine when left alone are usually displaying symptoms of separation anxiety.
Brooks said that the best way to stop this behavior is to work with your vet to figure out what your pet is doing while you’re away and how to reduce their anxiety.
“Consider using a camera to film their behavior when you’re away,” she said. “You can also give them a toy filled with an extra special treat to keep them distracted, keep low music playing, or leave the television on.”
Dogs who have severe nerves may benefit from calming supplements or anxiety medication, but these should only be used with vet supervision.
Some dogs love to jump up when they’re excited, but this behavior can be dangerous for older people or smaller children.
Wooten said that you can discourage jumping by catching a dog’s paws in your hands and giving them a gentle squeeze while lifting them upwards.
“When your dog pulls away, let go and praise them,” she told Insider. “This will teach them that jumping up isn’t fun and that staying on the ground will earn them a treat.”
Consistent correction is the best way to protect your belongings from being chewed.
“When your dog starts to chew on something they shouldn’t, give them a firm ‘no’ and praise them when they stop and look at you,” Wooten said.
It’s important to never let your dog tug on clothes during play sessions or give them old wardrobe items as toys since allowing your pet to chew on some cloth pieces but not others can be confusing for them.
Instead, Wooten suggested, give your pup a chew toy to play with.
Veterinarian Daniel Levin, owner of Embassy Lakes Animal Hospital, told Insider that some dogs in the same household don’t immediately get along due to fear or behavioral problems, such as aggression.
“Limited and supervised periods of contact that gradually increase in duration can allow time for adjustment,” Levin said. “However, owners should know that some dogs will never accept each other.”
If you’re considering adopting or fostering a dog, it’s a good idea to allow your current pets to meet their potential housemate so you can observe how they behave with each other.
“Accidents in the house are either due to poor potty training or a medical problem,” Levin said. “If a thorough checkup doesn’t reveal any problems, then more training is needed.”
Medical problems like kidney stones or urinary tract infections could be the root of this issue, but if your dog is young, consistent potty training and frequent bathroom breaks should eventually help them learn that they aren’t supposed to relieve themselves indoors.
Dogs are curious by nature and have a strong sense of smell, so Brooks told Insider that they lick and chew things as a way of exploring the world.
“To stop this behavior, you can use a basket muzzle so they can’t physically eat things when outside, or give them something else to hold in their mouth like a toy or stick that they love,” Brooks said.
She added that it may also be helpful to carry treats with you outdoors to distract your dog if they begin to eat something on the ground.
Keep reading