All dogs misbehave at some point. They bark, chew, dig, or don’t follow commands, but these are normal. When these behaviors become so intense they disrupt your household and are affecting your dog’s health, it is time to take action and seek treatment or training for your dog. Below are the most common behavior problems in dogs and what you can do to get your dog help.

Aggression

What is serious aggression and what is normal? Any form of aggression has the potential to become serious at any time. A dog that threatens another animal or human by growling, baring his teeth, snapping or biting, is a possible danger to others and the problem needs to be addressed.

If your dog shows any signs of aggression, it is best to deal with the problem immediately. Hoping that it will just stop or that it will go away as the dog gets older doesn’t work. If your young dog is aggressive, it will only get worse as he gets older.

There are many different reasons that your dog is showing aggression. You first need to rule out the possibility of a medical condition that could be causing it by taking your dog to the vet. Let your vet examine your dog so you can be sure that this isn’t the cause of the aggression.

Once a medical cause has been ruled out, you need to identify the cause of the aggression. Some of the most common causes are:

• Fear
• Dominance
• Food or object possessiveness
• Territorial behavior
• Protective behavior

Talk to your vet about the type of aggression your dog is showing and ask him for references to reputable professionals that can help you train your dog out of his aggressiveness.

Phobias

Many dogs have phobias. A phobia is an intense irrational fear such as being afraid of thunderstorms, firecrackers, or loud noises. If your dog’s phobia is causing a serious disturbance in your household or you feel like it is affecting your dog’s health, you need to seek help. A professional behaviorist can discover the cause and re-train the dog.

Excessive Grooming

Not only does this drive the dog owner crazy, it drives the dog crazy too. Dogs can sometimes lick themselves incessantly until it causes skin sores or leaves bald spots on their coats. This behavior is usually a neurogenic problem and needs to be treated with a combination of drug treatment and behavior modification. Unfortunately, this type of behavior problem is the hardest to treat.

Treatment

If your dog is showing any of these behavior problems, you need to Get professional help. The first place to turn to is your vet. Some medical problems can cause behavior problems in dogs. If your dog is sick or hurt, it could be causing him pain and he may be acting aggressively because of it.

If a medical condition is ruled out, ask your vet to refer you to a reputable behaviorist. A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist has specialized training in behavior problems and can work with you and your pet to solve the problem.

An animal trainer may be your best option for some behavior problems. Animal trainers don’t have specialized academic training but are usually self-taught or have apprenticed with another trainer. Trainers usually have a good rapport with animals and can identify the cause and instruct you how to train your dog.

What to Avoid

If your dog has a serious behavior problem, you want to get him help. The problem is not finding someone to help with the problem, but finding the right person with the right training. When it comes to hiring a professional, here are some things to avoid:

• People who guarantee their work. Animals have a mind of their own so it is impossible for them to guarantee that they can solve the problem.

• People who focus on punishment as a means to training your dog. If you come into contact with a trainer who recommends that you choke, hit, or isolate your dog as a training method, do not work with this person. There are many ways to train dogs, but physical punishment is not one of them.

• People who misrepresent their qualifications. These are the people who give themselves titles and call themselves behaviorists but aren’t trained or certified. If they claim they are trained, they should be able to show you proof. Always check.

• People who want to train your pet for you. Good training is an interaction between the owner and the dog. Beware of anyone who wants to take your dog away and "train" them. They may not be using good methods of training.

When you have decided that your dog’s behavior has passed the normal range and has ventured into a serious behavior, seek help. Your dog can be your best friend and loyal companion. Reward him for his love and loyalty by returning the favor with love and the right treatment.

Jason Ladock

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