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Bonnie the staff puppy, submitted by Charlotte and Alice
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Behavioural Problems
A dog with a behavioural problem can be a very unattractive attribute, but it should hopefully be solvable. Usually these problems develop due to poor care or training that the dog has received, probably at a young age. If problems aren't discovered or cured at a young age, they could lead to more severe, harder-to-cure problems in the dog's later life.
Barking problems
Toilet training problems
Pulling on lead
Jumping up on people
Biting problem
Barking problems
A barking dog can be a very annoying dog, usually it is a sign that the dog wants something - maybe attention, food, drink, toys, or maybe it is an indication of fear or anger shown towards something. The first stage in fixing this problem would be to discover the source of the problem, as there must be something triggering off the excessive barking.
Separation anxiety could be the reason of the barking. If the dog has been left on its own and it starts barking, when there are no other known explanations then perhaps it doesn't like being on its own. The best way to sort this problem would be to re-train the dog. Leave it for short periods of time, but make sure it has its favourite toys/ a treat to keep it company and so it is distracted whilst you are away. Slowly try and extend the length of time that you are away, and hopefully the problem will go away. Try and ask neighbours if they hear the dog barking whilst you are away, or leave a tape recorder set in the house.
Attention-seeking may be another cause of the barking. If the dog is used to being pampered, or craves the attention of its owner, it may turn to barking to get your attention. Usually this is the case because when the dog was a puppy or was being trained it would bark when it required attention - and you would always respond to the attention, even when it wasn't needed. The best way to avoid this problem would be to make sure the dog has had enough exercise during the day - mental and physical. Take it for a longer walk, preferably where it can meet more dogs. Hopefully it will be more tired after this, and won't crave attention by barking. You could also try getting the dog some more interesting and fun toys for it to play with, as it should be able to do this of its own accord when it is bored.
Perhaps the dog is barking due to it being scared - maybe fear of a dog, or of a person. The best way around this would be to introduce it to other dogs, and try and persuade it to socialise a bit more. If it tends to bark at other people this could be due to excitement or fear. Try and ask friends or relatives to help you out by approaching the dog, perhaps armed with a treat. Hopefully the dog won't be so worried, and will enjoy being visited by other people.
The dog may be barking due to fear of a loud noise - perhaps thunder during a storm. In this case it is best to take the dog to an enclosed area which it will feel safe in. Leave plenty of its favourite toys there, and maybe some treats for it to use too. This should hopefully keep the dog distracted during the storm, and keep it occupied.
Toilet training problems
If your dog has trouble waiting to go outside to go to the toilet, then it may need to be house-trained again. If house training doesn't work, then it may be worth taking the dog to the vets in case it has a medical problem, such as a weak bladder.
Cover the area the dog lives in with newspaper sheets, and after a while the dog should be going to the toilet in a regular place, due to the nature of dogs. Slowly remove the newspaper sheets, maybe one at a time or so, until there are only a few sheets spread out for the dog to use.
Make sure the dog is allowed outside whenever necessary - after it has eaten, after it has slept, after it has been playing, etc. Reward the dog when it does go to the toilet in the correct place, and hopefully it will continue to do so.
Pulling on the lead
An aching arm is not the only consequence of a dog pulling on a lead; the dog will not only feel in charge when being walked, but it will also try and boss you around due to it not respecting you fully. Show that you are in charge when you take him out to walk and that the dog should walk at your pace. To train your dog to stop pulling on the lead, next time he pulls just stop walking and stand there. Soon the dog will wander why you keep stopping, and the moment it stops you should praise the dog. This does sound very tedious, and trust me it is, but you must try and be patient. Eventually you will start to notice the results, and the dog will start walking at your own speed.
Jumping up on people
When a dog meets and greets somebody it may have the urge to jump up at them, and put its paws on that persons legs. This can be uncomfortable for the person visiting the dog, and is a bad habit to allow it to get away with. Whenever the dog jumps up on to its two feet, gently place the feet back on the floor. Keep down at the same level of the dog, and reward it for staying on the floor. Praise and reward the dog when it doesn't jump up at someone, but don't punish it when it does - it's not the dogs fault. Try and tell the person the dog is greeting that they shouldn't allow the dog to jump up, and tell them not to encourage the dog up.
Biting problem
It is not uncommon for your dog to have a fascination with biting and putting things in its mouth when it is just a few months old. This is a completely natural and normal event, which you shouldn't worry about. However when it grows in to an adult dog, it shouldn't tend to bite so often. Usually dogs only bite when they are play fighting with other dogs, and this is done in a controlled manner. However if they are biting when playing with other people, this can become quite nasty and if not resolved the dog could become used to biting other people too.
If your dog bites you, you should make a loud "Ow" noise, exaggerating the pain that you felt. The dog should appear shocked, and might learn that it has hurt you. If the dog bites you whilst playing, you should make the noise and stop playing, perhaps turn your back on the dog. Hopefully the dog will learn that every time it bites, the game will end. The loud, exaggerated noise that you make when it bites you should alarm the dog, and startle it. As a puppy, when dogs play fight with each other they learn how to bite, and how hard to bite. If they bite too hard, the other dog will show the pain and might stop playing. The dog will learn not to bite so hard next time, and to be gentle. This is why you must scream and turn away whenever the dog bites you, as this is the best way to alert the dog that it bites too hard, and that you don't want to play when it behaves that way.