1. Click to begin

2. Is your dog the perfect pet… …or a perfect nightmare?

3. Before you blame the dog, it might interest you to know that most dogs behave the way they do because of their owners. However, most owners don’t know what they’re doing wrong and can’t correct their own bad behaviors.

4. The following is a brief overview of common canine behavioral problems, their likely human causes, and the best solutions. Wake up and get to studying!

5. A Behavioral Guide for Dog Owners

6. Below are links for navigating this instructional aid. Problems Resources If you need clarification of the aid’s layout, please click the Map bone in the upper right-hand corner for the Site Map, or click the Help bone for the Help page.

7. Below is a list of common dog behavioral problems. Click for more information. Barking Barking Barking Overexcitement Overexcitement Overexcitement Digging Digging Digging Anxiety Anxiety Anxiety Aggression Aggression Aggression

8. Your dog is barking again and you just can’t seem to figure out why. Did the neighbor’s cat get into your yard again? Is there a fire truck going by somewhere? What on Earth has gotten into your dog?

9. Simply put, barking is your dog’s way of talking to you. What they want varies, but it’s clear that they want your attention for something that is very important to them.

10. Reward your dog for good barking, like when they’re Alerting you of an intruder (someone at the door). If they’re barking at an unwanted time, try to figure out what they want. If nothing is apparent, divert their attention with a toy, but only give it to them once they’re quiet.

11. Someone has come home – you or a family member, acquaintance – and the dog, as usual, goes nuts. It barks, pants, runs, wags its tail, and jumps up on whoever just walked in.

12. The dog’s reaction begins naturally – alert to the newcomer. An excited, positive reaction is only intensified by greeting the dog with smiling, high- pitched voices, and praise.

13. Do NOT reward your dog with attention and praise until they calm down, and be sure to tell your guests to do the same. Do not pet the dog, speak to it, or make eye contact until it is calm. Then reward it with praise.

14. Your dog has dug another giant hole in your yard. Some of these holes have even been dug partway underneath your house’s foundation. Not only does it ruin your lawn, but it poses a serious risk to the dog if they get stuck.

15. Digging is a common outlet for a dog’s frustration and pent-up energy. They often dig up things that they enjoy smelling, which is only an added perk.

16. Take your dog for long walks or give it other viable forms of exercise. If you have a second dog, let them play together safely to release energy. This will most likely translate into reduced habitual digging.

17. You come home from a multi-hour absence to find your home completely demolished. Your dog has escaped its crate and torn up nearly everything, but is very happy to see you come home.

18. Separation anxiety is a chronic problem with many dogs and may stem back to abandonment issues with their previous owners or residences. Whatever the cause, they are afraid of being abandoned when you leave.

19. Train them by leaving them for smaller increments of time (30 seconds at first, then increasingly longer) until they are more comfortable with you leaving. Leave an old piece of clothing with your smell on it, for comfort.

20. Your dog snarls, bares its teeth, or even snaps at someone – be it you, a family member, or another pet. It has become hostile for no apparent reason and seems willing to bite someone.

21. Aggression could be caused by several things – most often, fear or territorialism. The dog could be asserting its dominance, or it could be afraid for its own safety.

22. Aggression should never be taken lightly. If your dog bites someone, it could be forcibly taken from you and put to sleep. Consult a professional dog trainer for a thorough assessment of the causes and solutions for your dog’s behavior. Note: Visiting a website does NOT count as a professional consult.

23. Below are further resources for dog behavior information. Cesar’s WayCesar’s Way – The website of Cesar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, with helpful articles on several dog behavior topics. Sheppard SoftwareSheppard Software – An educational website with a page that details explanations for several dog behaviors.

24. Click the purple, underlined hyperlink text and the white bone-shaped buttons to navigate through the aid. The Splash page is the animated introduction, which can be revisited at any time via the Splash button. The four buttons in the upper right-hand corner of the page are present on every non-Splash page. Main takes you to the Main Menu, Map takes you to the Site Map, and Help takes you back to this page.

25. Splash Main Problems Barking Context -> Causes -> Solutions ContextCausesSolutions Overexcitement Context -> Causes -> Solutions ContextCausesSolutions Digging Context -> Causes -> Solutions ContextCausesSolutions Anxiety Context -> Causes -> Solutions ContextCausesSolutions Aggression Context -> Causes -> Solutions ContextCausesSolutions Resources Map Help