With proper training, canines conform to the wishes of their owners. This process allows them to be better companions throughout their lives. Sometimes, dogs adopt undesirable habits that frustrate their owners. Enrolling back into training classes or using positive reinforcement techniques at home are usually sufficient for curbing the unacceptable behavior.

Puppies are different. They lack the history – and thus, memory – of past training. You’ll need to start from scratch. If you intend to train your puppy yourself, it’s worth reviewing the most common behavioral problems you’re likely to confront.

Chewing Everything In Sight

There are a couple of reasons pups tend to chew anything placed in front of them. First, they explore their world using their mouths. Chewing is an expression of their curiosity. Second, puppies are less capable of controlling their emotions than older dogs. If they feel anxious, they often relieve their tension through chewing.

Improper Soiling

This problem may simply be due to lack of housebreaking. Young pups under eight weeks old are still unaware regarding where and when to urinate and defecate. You might find the results on floors or furniture throughout your home.

Other causes for this issue can include medical reasons, marking behavior, and factors related to showing deference to others. Housebreaking alone is unlikely to resolve these problem.

Incessant Begging

Once a puppy learns that his begging will produce the desired result (i.e. food), he’ll continue to beg until it becomes clear that doing so is a waste of time. As a pup, the behavior may be cute. The problem is, puppies grow into adult dogs with habits learned during their youth. If you neglect to take steps to modify the behavior, your adult canine will beg whenever you eat a meal.

Jumping On Others

Dogs jump on each other for a number of reasons. For example, they do so as a greeting or to show dominance over other dogs within their pack. Puppies usually adopt the behavior for the former reason. They’re excited to see other pets and people, and jump on them in order to greet them. Unfortunately, many owners neglect to take steps toward curbing the habit. The pup matures into an adult dog and continues to jump on people.

Fear Of Everything

Fear is usually a learned trait displayed by adult canines. Their anxiety stems from having been beaten, mistreated, or involved in a traumatic event. Puppies, while rarely afflicted with irrational fear, occasionally exhibit the same signs. This is often the case with puppies that have lived in puppy mills or with abusive owners. They quickly learn to fear others.

For owners, this problem can be especially frustrating. It impairs the pup’s ability to go on walks, or be near other people and their pets. Plenty of patience is required from owners to help modify the behavior.

Relentless Barking

When your puppy barks excessively, the effect is felt by you, your family, and your neighbors. Over time, it can rattle everyone’s nerves. As with influencing other behavioral problems, it’s important to identify the reason your pup is barking so much. Is it due to concern or alarm regarding your safety or its own? Is it due to separation anxiety? Or, is the catalyst a physical need (e.g. hungry or needs to urinate)? The only way to properly curb the habit is to address its root cause.

Be patient with your puppy if he displays any behavior that frustrates you. In nearly all cases, the offensive habit can be modified by encouraging the desired behavior (typically, with praise and dog treats) and ignoring the objectionable behavior. You’ll find that positive reinforcement is a powerful lever with canines, and especially so with puppies. The benefit is that your puppy will mature into a more pleasant companion whose friendship you’ll enjoy for the remainder of his life.

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Category: Pets
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