To correct your dog's behavior problems, it is important to understand why they are occurring. The companion dog is descended from wild animals and has been bred for hundreds of years to possess certain traits desirable to each specific breed. Many of these traits are still retained in our dogs today and may be a source behind some behavior problems.
Chewing, Barking & Digging
Most dogs were bred to perform specific duties such as pulling sleds, rescuing others, herding sheep and guarding property. These dogs have an inherent desire to perform some type of work, and without proper stimulation, boredom may lead them to activities that we humans deem unacceptable, such as chewing, excessive barking and digging. In the dog's mind, he has given himself a job and will continue to perform this job on a daily basis. This could include barking at every noise, chewing every shoe he can find or digging a hole from here to China. The goal is to modify this behavior by giving him a job that we choose. Interactive exercise, like chasing a ball, gives him a job, and the increased exercise will stimulate him enough that he is worn out and sleeps when you are not around. Kong dog toys are excellent for use as boredom busters. These toys enable you to fill them with treats, and I have seen dogs spend hours working on getting the treats out; peanut butter works great for this. In addition, there are actually doggie day care videos that are designed to engage your dog while you are away. Some dogs, especially terriers, will continue to dig regardless of our efforts to stop them. In this instance, a digging area where he is allowed to dig would be an excellent idea.
Dominant Behavior
Wild dogs live in packs with a dominant, or Alpha, dog, that rules the pack. Many behavior problems that we see in our dogs are related to that basic idea. Dogs with dominant behavior problems think they are the Alpha dog in the family pack. These behaviors include jumping up, growling, food aggression and ownership of humans. Teaching your dog that you are the pack leader is a difficult undertaking, and it is highly suggested that you consult with an animal behaviorist for solutions geared toward your dog.
Garbage
In the wild, dogs are foragers and will eat anything and everything they can find. So imagine, you're a dog, and you smell something wonderful just inside that thing sitting there on the floor. You look inside, and low and behold, there is yummy food inside. So, you knock over that thing to get to that yummy food. Several hours later, after a nice long nap, you hear "mom" coming in the door. You run to greet her all happy and excited and suddenly she is yelling, "Bad dog, look what you did" and points to that thing you knocked over. So, you sit there with your head down thinking to yourself while she is yelling, "What did I do wrong? That's where that yummy food was." So, the next day, "mom" heads out the door again, and you head to that thing sitting on the floor and what do you know, there is that wonderful smell again... The point is, your dog has no idea when you come home what it is he has done wrong. He knows you are mad, which is why he hangs his head in shame, but he cannot associate the fact that he got a reward (that yummy food) by knocking over the garbage can with the idea that you are mad and he did something wrong. Dogs are not capable of that type of deductive reasoning. The only way to stop your dog from getting into the garbage is to remove the "reward."
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