We all know that dogs are wonderful companions. They love us unconditionally and enjoy our attention at all costs. A well-trained dog is ideal when you intend to socialize your pup in bigger crowds or have it be around humans and other animals often.
However, sometimes your dog’s behavior can cause problems both inside and outside your home. Often, dog owners will ignore these issues because they think it is just their dog’s personality or temperament. But, uncontrolled dog behavior can sometimes become serious, which indicates that your dog might be in need of more training, either by you or with the help of a professional trainer.
Here are some signs and behaviors that you can watch out for that demonstrate the need for your dog to take some more training classes and that you should consult with your veterinarian about their behavior.
Excessive Digging
Many owners believe their dog’s digging to be instinctual, and while that is true, digging excessively can be related to other behavioral issues for your canine friend. For example, dogs will often dig when they feel anxious, need relief from feeling bored, or just have much energy.
It might be helpful to know if you are spending enough quality time with your pet. Trying to fix the issue without knowing the real reason behind why your dog is digging in the first place might cause them to develop further behavioral problems.
Dogs typically need some exercise every day, so you should ask yourself, “Am I meeting my dog’s physical needs?” A large part of dog training is to ensure that they are healthily releasing their energy and getting enough attention from you. Once you are able to identify the reason, you can channel their energy or provide the offer to spend some quality time to prevent them from indulging in digging habits.
Barking
Dogs bark for numerous reasons such as out of fear, loneliness, as a way to greet other dogs, because of separation anxiety, and also they bark because of their instinct to protect their owners, and often that includes barking when they hear or sense another presence near their property. The problem is that even though people may want their dogs to protect their homes, they also don’t want their dogs barking at every single person that comes around the property.
We don’t necessarily want our dogs barking at our relatives, neighbors, friends, delivery people, etc. However, a dog doesn’t know how to distinguish when to protect instinctively and bark and when not to. That’s where more training can be helpful, and as a responsible dog owner, you can teach and train your dog to recognize the difference.
Aggression
Sometimes dogs exhibit more assertive behaviors than just barking, such as full-on aggression. For example, they may be aggressive with their food or at any point that they feel threatened by another dog or a person. Aggressive behavior like growling can also be more severe, like biting. Enrolling your dog in more training for this type of behavior should be a priority. However, just like barking, there are many reasons why a dog gets aggressive, so it’s always best to pinpoint the main reason behind that before trying to fix the issue.
Jumping on People
When dogs jump on people, although it might be really rewarding for the dog because they get to greet the person on a face to face level for the one being jumped at, however, this can be very annoying, not to mention that a relatively large-sized dog could knock over a small child by jumping and cause injury. It’s also irritating to be dressed nicely or in new clothes and have a dog with muddy or wet paws jumping and ruining your lovely apparel!
Again, many owners view this behavior as natural, but this is a definite indication that training is needed. There are many ways to address jumping, such as turning around and not giving the dog attention when it misbehaves in this way or keeping calm when anyone enters the home so as not to get the dog overly excited.
Leash Pulling
Let’s face it, being on a leash is not natural for a dog as it limits their speed and also the way they interact with their surroundings. Some dogs might get accustomed to it after some time, but some never do. As a result, it can be troublesome to take your dog for a walk and have it constantly pulling on its leash. Not to mention, it can also look as though you are choking your dog by holding the leash, and the dog is straining against it.
Dog training in this situation may include on and off-leash training, but it is essential that you exercise training commands for a dog when on a leash so that it does not pull. The goal is to have your dog walk with you and not be working against you, and the training helps to promote your dog to learn and develop better habits.
Tail Chasing
Dogs exhibit tail-chasing behavior when they are bored, are having fun, or it may also point to a more serious medical issue. Owners tend to find dogs chasing their tails as cute and funny and like to watch their dogs run around in circles. However, sometimes it can also be indicative of a compulsive behavior issue that might need a thorough examination from a veterinarian and of course, a trainer.
Puppies will often chase their tails as they get to know their bodies, but if you notice your dog doing it more often, you must train it to burn up that energy in another fashion. For instance, taking your dog for an extra walk or playing with it more often can do the trick.
If your dog exhibits any one of these signs, it can indicate a need for more training so that your dog becomes more comfortable and well-adjusted within the home and around other people and pets. So the next time you start browsing French Bulldog puppies for sale online, don’t forget to take into consideration how much time you can dedicate to your dog’s training. It is more crucial for your pup’s upbringing to include proper training so that it won’t display unwanted or unwarranted behavioral issues later on.
