You’ve either just gotten a new dog or have had a god for a while, and they’re still behaving poorly. It can be easy to tell yourself that your dog is just bad, but that’s definitely not the case. Any dog that is misbehaving is missing something from its life that is making it difficult for it to act the way you want. Here are 7 of the more probable reasons why your dog is misbehaving.
1. Lack of Training
If you don’t take the time to teach your dog what is wrong from right, how would they learn what they should and shouldn’t do? Taking the time to give your dog obedience lessons will make all the difference and they’ll know what behavior they need to do to make you happy. You can try out a few videos online to get you started or you can hire the skills of a professional dog trainer from DogDayz Puppy Training to show you the ropes.
2. Lack of Exercise/Boredom
If you were to sit at home all day, doing absolutely nothing, you would lose your mind. The same goes for your dog. They need to be physically and mentally stimulated on a daily basis or else they’re going to find fun on their own. Even simple games such as playing fetch or tug-of-war can be enough, as long as your dog is worn out by the end.
3. Mistakenly Reinforcing Bad Behavior
You may not know it, but you may be accidentally reinforcing your dog’s bad behavior without you knowing. If your dog is a frequent barker, for example, yelling can actually make it works because it teaches them that they’re getting attention for barking.
4. Lack of Knowledge About Breed
Not all dog breeds are the same; some are going to have different requirements than others, and it’s important that you know what these are before you take a dog home. Some are going to need more exercise than others, some are naturally attuned to barking more regularly. Look for dog breeds that fit more with what you expect out of a pet instead of going for the cutest one out there.
5. Lack of Knowledge About Dog Adolescence
Just like human teenagers, dogs go through adolescence as well. They’ll go through this phase somewhere between 5 to 18 months, where your dog will test every single one of your limits to see what they can get away with. Staying consistent with training is key to keep them on the right path and show that you’re not going to bend to their demands.
6. Doggy Anxiety
Dogs can get anxious too, especially around things, people, or situations they don’t understand. Separation anxiety is the most common, and some dogs may even have phobias. Punishing your dog when they act out like this will only make things worse, so looking for ways to help your dog overcome these issues will produce better results.
7. Poor Socialization
Puppies should be socialized very early in their lives, within the first few weeks of puppyhood to learn what the boundaries of their behavior are. If you take a puppy away from its litter too early, then it doesn’t have those fundamental basics on how to interact with other dogs or even other people. Ensure that you provide positive socialization opportunities for your puppy so that they can become a well-rounded adult.
Having a dog isn’t a perfect science and does require some effort on your part for them to behave properly. Invest time, effort, and a little money into making your pooch happy so that you can have a happy home life with your new pet.
About Jammie Morey
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