Figuring out the cause of behavior problems.

Many dog behavior problems have a common cause or a combination of causes. In order of importance they include the following:

1. Boredom or frustration due to insufficient excercise.

2. Mental stagnation due to insufficient quality time with you.

3. Nutrition and health related problems.

Loneliness is prehaps the most difficult problem to overcome. By necessity, many dogs are left alone anywhere from eight to ten hours a day with absolutely nothing to do but get into mischief. Fortunately, there are some things you can do in addition to spending quality time with him when you're together. If Fido is really unhappy take him to doggy daycare or get another dog as his companion.

Before addresing behavior problems specifically I give you my general prescription for good behavior in this post.

Excercise

You notice excercise is on the top of the list. Excercise needs vary, depending on the size and energy of your dog. Many dogs need a great deal more excercise than their owners realise. Bull terriors are a good example. If the owner of an english bull terrior lives in an appartment in a large city, and the dog doesn't get enough free running excercise, he's bound to develop behavior problems. These problems can range from tail spinning, which is a neurotic behavior, to ripping up furniture. This dog would show none of these behaviors if he were living in a houysehold where adequate excercise, both mental and physical, was provided.

Dog trainers have a maxim: "tired dogs are happy dogs."Dogs who have adequate excercise can expend their energy through running, retrieving, playing, and training rarely show objectional behaviors. Dogs denied those simple needs frequently redirect their energy into unacceptable behaviors.

When your dog engages in behaviors that you consider objectionable, it can be a vexing problem.. Sometimes the behavior is instinctive, such as digging. Sometimes it occurs out of boredom, but never because the dog is ornery. Before you attempt to deal with the behavior, you need to find out the cause.

The easiest way to stop a behavior is by addressing the need that brought it about in the first place rather than by trying to correct the behavior itself. If theres one single cause for behavior problems, it's lack of adequate excercise.

Good company

Many years ago, I labled a set of behaviors I used to see in my dog obedience classes as single-dog syndrome These dogs would run away from their owners more frequently than those dogs living in multi dog households. They'd growl around their food bowls, be picky eaters, be possesive about toys, and much more unruly than dogs living in homes with other dogs.

Good company means not only that you act as a companion to your dog but also that your dog shares the company of other dogs as frequently as possible. Some possibilities include taking regular walks in parks where he can meet other dogs, join a dog club where dog activities are offered, or putting your puppy into daycare several days a week. Dogs are pack animals and thrive on the company of other dogs. Socialisation of your pet is a continuing process. For more information on dog activities follow this blog and see future posts.

Keeping Fido in good health isn't as easy as it was 50 years ago. It seems that with the advance of science in so many dog related fields, dogs should be healthier than ever. This isn't the case. Too often through poor breeding practices, poor nutrition, and overvaccination, a dogs health has been threatened as never before.

Having a dog that has constant health problems - from minor conditions, like skin irritations, picking up fleas, smelling, ear infections, and the like, to more serious conditions that affect his internal organs, such as kidneys, the heart, liver nad thyroid, is no fun! Not feeling well can cause your dog many behavior problems, from aggression to timidity, and health related conditions are often confused with behavior problems. Fido may have eaten something that upset his stomach, causing a house soiling accident. He may have a musculoskeletal disorder making changes of position painful and causing irritability and sometimes snapping. These concerns are obviously not amenable to training solutions, and certainly not to discipline. For more on your dogs health, follow this blog and see future posts.

Good nutrition

You are what you eat applies to dags as it does to people. Properly feeding your dog makes the difference betwen sickness and health and has a profound effect on his behavior. And with the abundance of dog foods on the market, figuring out whats best for your pet can be difficult.

There are several ways to correctly feed your dog. One way is to select a commercial kibble that has two animal proteins in the first three ingredients. You can add some fresh raw foods to the kibble. Another way is to buy a dehydrated version of a natural diet dog food, to which you add some yoghurt and meat. A third way is to make your own dog food. Your choice depends on your level of comfort and the time you have to devote to your dog. For more information on your dogs nutritional needs follow this blog and see future posts.

Good training

Behavior problems don't arise because your dog is ornery or spiteful, and dicipline is rarely the answer. Mental stagnation can also be the cause of unwanted behavior. Training your dog on a regular basis, or having him doing something for you, makes your dog feel useful and provides the mental stimulation he needs. See this site:



Use your imagination to get your dog to help around the house, and you'll be suprised by how useful he can become.