Behavioral problems

Introduction

About 99% of our interactions with our pets are emotional, meaning that there is very little intellectual exchange. If you think about it, if dogs were not so tuned into our emotions, we probably would not be so keen to have them for companions. When dogs feel insecure in their relationships with us they get anxious which in turn creates behavioural problems. It is the way the dog tries to alleviate the stress brought on by this anxiety (W.E. Campbell "Dog Behaviour Problems", 1999). Here are some tips:

Prevent the problem from occurring in the first place

It goes without saying that that the best way to correct a behaviour problem is to prevent it by properly managing the dog’s environment and training your dog so that he does not pick up unpleasant habits.

The technique we use to correct bad habits always follows the same rule: bad behaviour provokes an unpleasant reaction whereas good behaviour earns praise. To shape the wanted behaviour, we use what is pleasant to the dog. For some that might be food, whereas other dogs will respond better to a toy or a little freedom. It is up to you to figure out what your dog likes.

Our method is based on Pavlov conditioning. It is widely used to train dolphins and lions. Even zoos use it to modify the behaviour of wild animals (elephants, giraffes) thus making it easier to care for them.

Gentle Method

To avoid a problem, to correct a problem or if you do not want to use force, our conditioning theory is played out this way:

Bad behaviour = the dog gets NO reinforcement
Good behaviour = the dog gets POSITIVE reinforcement

This method works really well with small problems but it takes longer to get results if the problem has been there for a few years or if your dog is dominant.

Firm Method

If the gentle approach does not work, if the problem is extreme or if you want faster results, the firm method will resolve the situation. We observed how mother dogs do when their pups do not behave. There is an element of surprise involved (abrupt, quick action) and a NO said with a growl. Remember! An abrupt gesture is, for example, brushing a person’s arm with the tips of your fingers but so quickly they would not notice it. This method respects the principle as the gentle method, but in a more obvious way. It expresses the following:

Bad behaviour = gets very unpleasant reinforcement
Good behaviour = very large reward

Unfortunately, a lot of dog owners are stingy with their rewards and figure that their pet should listen out of simple adoration or whatever. They often prefer using a choker or even beatings. Some chokers have metal prongs poking into the dog’s neck. Even if this method produces results, it is based on a reign of terror that the poor animal has no choice but to submit to.

Most dog owners make the mistake of rewarding good behaviour but never miss a chance to punish bad behaviour. By doing this, you are telling your pet that he will get attention if he behaves badly. Dogs are so addicted to our attention that they will even take punishment as a reward and indifference as punishment. If you want your pet to behave properly, congratulate as soon as he behaves correctly with a treat or a pat. Below are some situations with their solutions (gentle, firm). It is up to you to decide which is best for you.

When I say NO, he does not listen.

Did the dog hear you?

First, he has to hear you. If a female in heat has just strolled by, you can bet his ears have ceased functioning. Often clapping your hands will be enough to get his attention. So, rule no. 1, make sure he heard you.

Your dog hears but disobeys

Most often in this case, there is a leadership issue. If the dog does not think of you as his leader, he has no reason to listen to you.

Excessive barking

Guess what? Barking is normal for a dog. It is a form of expression. Most dogs bark as soon as a stranger approaches. This is normal because he is warning the pack that there is danger lurking. Your dog should actually be praised for barking!

This section looks at barking when you have failed to make your dog stop. The reasons behind this behaviour are often linked to a lack of socialization, exercise, boredom, or separation anxiety. Whichever the reason is, the objective is to get the dog to understand that it is not allowed. As with all bad behaviours, the solution is to make it unrewarding for the dog to bark.

Gentle Method

Ignore the dog when he barks. As soon as he stops, reward him with food.

Firm Method no 1:

As soon as the dog barks, surprise him by abruptly throwing a bowl of water in his face with a firm NO. As soon as the water touches his face the dog should go silent. As soon as he stops barking, reward him. After two or three bowls, the dog is going to get the idea. The dog will not think that you are the instigator of the unpleasant behaviour either.

Firm Method no 2:

As soon as the dog barks, grab him and hold his muzzle shut. Do not let go until he whines and tries to pull away. After 5 seconds of silence, praise him.

Common mistake

Avoid the common mistake of saying NO when your dog barks. Think about it for a moment. Bark – No – Bark – No – Bark – No. All this does is show your dog that you can bark as well as he can!!!!! Barking is a social behaviour of the pack.

Pulling on the leash

You have to make the distinction between heeling (dog’s head is close to your knee); going for a walk (you let your dog run free at the end of his leash) and pulling so hard on the leash that you dislocate your shoulder. This is the problem we address here. Make sure you praise your dog as soon as he stops pulling. Gentle Method If the dog pulls, turn and walk in the opposite direction. As soon as he comes close to your knee, praise him. Keep doing this as long as he pulls.

Firm Method

If your dogs pulls on the leash, step forward so the leash is loose and abruptly pull HARD sideways to trip him. Careful, you do not do it from behind or you could damage his throat. DO NOT USE A PRONG OR CHOCKER for this method. Reward your dog as soon as the leash slacks.

Common mistake

We often observe people constantly tugging on their dog’s leash without ever praising the dog when he stops pulling. If your dog is at the end of his leash but NOT PULLING, praise him.

BE CLEAR
IF HE PULLS: IT WILL BE UNPLEASANT,
IF HE DOES NOT PULL: IT WILL BE PLEASANT

Jumping on people

This problem is often caused by dog owners reinforcing this behaviour without realizing it. If the dog jumps on someone, the person puts him back on ground and praising him, “Good dog.” What this means to the pooch is that if he wants attention all he has to do is jump on someone. Praise will be forthcoming!

Gentle Method

Ignore your dog by turning your back to him. As soon as he stops jumping, turn back toward him and praise him. Keep doing this until he gets the message.

Firm Method

Before your dog’s feet leave the ground, grab him quickly by his cheeks and push back down. The key to success here is surprise. Once the dog is on the ground, praise him.

Common Mistake

When it is time to praise the dog, what people often do is put keep their hands up too long. This encourages the dog to jump at your hand as soon as food is within reach. Put your hand down quickly to the dog’s mouth to keep him from jumping.

HAND BITING/MOUTHING

Puppies learn to control the force of their bite. At about four to five weeks, the puppy has learned to control his jaws by playing with his brothers and sisters. Since we do not have their thick fur to protect our hands, our dog must be taught that biting humans is forbidden. When they play with us, they will often mouth us. One way to avoid this behaviour is to not get your dog wound up. Remember that a dog’s equivalent of hands is his mouth.

Gentle Method

As soon as the dog’s teeth touch your skin, say NO. When he lets go, praise him

Firm Method

As soon as the dog’s teeth close on your hand, quickly push him away. The intention here is to surprise/scare him, not to hurt him. The move must be as quick as when you attemp to kill a moskito on your arm. The same amount of time than a camera flash. Wait 15 secondes and call him back and praise him. By the way, it is useless to be mad at him. All this should be done calmly...but the quickess way as possible.

Chewing

Chewing is defined as the bad habit of chewing things in the house. It is important to understand that biting for a dog is like holding an object for a person. A DOG NEEDS TO CHEW ALMOST CONSTANTLY. IT IS THEREFORE IMPOSSIBLE TO ELIMINATE THIS HABIT. However, it is possible to teach a dog what he can or cannot chew.

Prevention

Start early, leave plenty of toys around the house. When your dog has an urge to chew, he will have something appropriate to satisfy this urge.

Avoid encouraging the urge to chew

If your little rug rat is into the habit of spreading the contents of your garbage pail, it is only because it has been made pleasant … in some way. Have you ever left chicken or other table scraps in the garbage? If so, it is obviously a good reason for him dig into the garbage. So avoid leaving tempting things within reach. If you were to smear some peanut butter on a chair’s leg, there is a pretty good chance that you will end up with a chewed up chair.

Eliminate temptations

You would not leave your fine china within a child’s reach. Likewise, you should not allow your dog to have access to your belongings. And why not buy a garbage pail with a lid. This will save a lot of trouble.

Make it unpleasant

Is your dog attempting wood sculpting on a door jamb? A little hot pepper sauce in that favourite spot should do the trick. Remember though that some dogs actually like hot sauce!!! If what is on the counter strikes your dog’s fancy, a mouse trap or balloon filled with pepper should deter him. An empty toilet paper roll with carefully inserted tacks will make any sock bad news to a dog. Another tip: Sealing nails, screws or coins inside a metal box or pop can is something you can throw when your dog reaches for a forbidden object. An old set of keys works well too. Accompany the noise with a firm NO

Gentle Method

As soon as your dog chews something forbidden (or better yet, if he is ABOUT TO), say NO. Then offer a favourite toy. When he takes it in his mouth, praise him.

Phobias?

Dogs that have not been properly socialized often develop unreasonable fears. Negative first experiences can also have a lasting effect. Have you overprotected or cuddled your dog the first time he showed fear? When you do this, you are teaching your dog that it is normal to overreact. Depending on his self-confidence and his trust in you, your dog will react more or less in a negative way to these experiences.

Desensitization

To prevent or overcome these fears, you must show a lot of patience and understanding to your dog. Use a technique called “desensitization” which consists of gradually re-introducing the feared situation to the dog while rewarding the appropriate reaction. Any demonstration of fear should be ignored. Remember: a good leader adapts to all situations.

For example, the first time your dog will hear a vacuum cleaner, start by turning it on in a different room. The next day, let the dog investigate himself. Any good reaction should be rewarded. Remember that your dog takes his cues from your reactions. Frequent Mistakes Do not tease your dog by chasing him with the vacuum. First, it is not funny. Second, you just taught your dog to fear the vacuum, and third, that he cannot trust you.

SEPARATION ANXIETY

Separation anxiety includes all behavioural issues resulting from the stress of being left alone. Since dogs spend most of the day sleeping (hard working our furballs!), they are perfectly capable of behaving while you are gone if you leave them with a minimum of entertainment.

Causes

In reality, the anxiety is a result of pent up excitement. The major culprit is often the way we depart.

What NOT to do:

• Make a big deal of departures. Cuddle him by saying long goodbyes (which excites him) then wow, nothing more and you leave.
• Come back home and make a big deal of it. That way you excite your dog and your dog will spend the next day anxiously awaiting your sudden return.

Other less frequent causes of anxiety

• Lack of exercise : we frequently observe anxiety in active breeds. Unless they are allowed to rid themselves of all the energy through exercise, it can become anxiety.
• Poor leadership : If you have allowed your dog to think that he is the leader of the pack, he will be anxious. Imagine how you would feel if, as parent (leader), your toddler has spent the day on his own and you have no idea where he is. By being a good leader, your dog will accept the fact that you are gone hunting and will come back soon.

How to prevent the problem

From the beginning, accustom your dog to being alone for a bit. As if nothing happens, go into a room with the dog and leave him for 10 secondes. Go back into the room as if it was perfectly normal. Repeat this exercise often while gradually increasing the duration of your absence.

How to correct the problem

Ignore the animal for at least 5 minutes prior and upon arrivals and departures. As for phobias, you must gradually desensitize your dog. Leave a bit of musique on before leaving, or give him a prized toy (or bone) reserved to alone times. At the beginning, give him the toy and leave without interaction (not even a look). Come back home 10 seconds later, pick up the toy without interacting, and go about your business as if nothing happened. Gradually increase the length of time you are gone.