Changing Behavior

1 I've made the mistake of letting my 2-year-old dog sleep on my bed. How do I break her of this bad habit that I started?

2 I recently rescued a very sick pup, he is well now but has separation anxiety and panic attacks when I leave what can I do?

4 My dog won't stop chewing, he chews everything no matter what it is. What can I do?

5 I have a German shepherd he is very hyper, always jumping on people, and constantly pacing. What can I do to stop this?

8 My dog barks all the time. Are the collars that shock them good to use? If not, how can I stop my dog from barking all the time?

9 I have a 1 yr old Golden who is still into chewing. Any idea when this will stop? She has destroyed quite a bit. She has dog chew toys and we try to keep her busy.

10 I need help. I am having trouble disciplining my dog. I have not been able to take him to obedience classes but I was wondering if there were other ways to get him to behave?

12 How do I get my dog to stop digging? Her under paws are red. Could they be infected and the digging feels good?

13 I have a Labrador retriever mix that is about 10 months old. He is housebroken but wants me to take him out every five minutes. He won't stop barking until I take him out. How can I stop this?

14 My puppy is 6months+ now and he has been put outside. He has a problem; he wrecks the back yard but when he is inside he eliminates everywhere. Do you know if he has a bladder problem?

16 Why do dogs jump all over me when I go outside and why does my dog not listen to me?

17 I have 7yr. old dog, and I adopted an 8 week old kitten yesterday. How do I make my dog accept the kitten and not hurt it?

18 How can I introduce my new 7 month old puppy to my 11 year old blind dog without there being total aggression?

19 We just got a 10 week old sheperd puppy. Is there a way to teach him to not bark every time he goes outside?

21 How do you stop a dog from submissive urination? He only does this with a few people?

23 I have an English Beagle that won't stop barking. How can I make him stop with out using any type of muzzle, shock collar, or spray collars?

25 How to control disruptive behavior?

28 I can't leave my dog home alone. He chews on the doorframe attempting to escape.

29 What can I do to get my dog to stop eating everything she can reach?

1 I've made the mistake of letting my 2-year-old dog sleep on my bed. How do I break her of this bad habit that I started? If you no longer wish to have your dog sleep on your bed the most important element in changing that behavior is for you to be consistent. This means that whenever your dog gets on the bed, you have her get off. Although this might mean a few nights of disrupted sleep, if you are persistent and consistent, she will eventually learn that she is to sleep elsewhere. You might also help things along by offering her a bed on the floor near your bed.
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2 I recently rescued a very sick pup, he is well now but has separation anxiety and panic attacks when I leave what can I do? This could be a serious problem that may need intervention from a veterinary behaviorist. If your puppy is damaging your home and/or himself while you are gone then please seek additional help immediately. If the problem is minor, try using many short departures and returns to help your puppy learn that you are coming back soon. Over time he should acclimate to you being gone.
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3 Is there something I can do for my dog who is extremely fearful of storms and very noise sensitive? I see her also fearing rainy days as well as stormy ones. The latter being the extreme. She is also very touch sensitive. Noise and storm phobias can be very difficult to treat. It is often helpful to isolate the dog in a room with no windows and provide some "white" noise such as music to help block out the sound and sight of a storm. However, some dogs are extremely agitated and may be destructive to property and/or injure themselves during storms. If this is the case with your dog you may need intervention from either your veterinarian or a pet behaviorist to help treat the problem. Please contact your veterinarian for additional help and information.
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4 My dog won't stop chewing, he chews everything no matter what it is. What can I do? Young dogs will chew for various reasons. They might chew to investigate their environment, in play or because they are anxious. Older dogs may chew because they are anxious or trying to escape. If your dog is only chewing when you are gone, it may be a sign of separation anxiety and your dog should be seen by your veterinarian to get appropriate treatment. If the problem occurs both when you are gone and when you are home, providing interesting and fun chew toys may help. Toys that can be stuffed with food seem to work the best.
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5 I have a German shepherd he is very hyper, always jumping on people, and constantly pacing. What can I do to stop this? The best thing you can do is start teaching your dog what you want him to do when no one is around. When people other than you are present he probably is so excited he can't listen. However, if he has practiced sitting and staying still when there are no distractions and he can do it very well he is more likely to follow your commands when people are present. You might also want to consult with your veterinarian about using a head collar for additional control. The key is to be consistent and persistent until your dog knows what you want him to do.
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6 Our dog, Cleo, has a problem. She can hold her urine and bowels for a full 8-10 hour day if we enclose her in our kitchen but, if we let her have run of the house or we forget to close the gate, she pees and poops in my sons' bedroom or in the basement if we forget to close that door. She is 4 years old and seem to be fine otherwise. Our veterinarian says it is because we are gone too long but, she will do this even if we are gone for 1/2 hour. How can we stop this behavior? There may be a combination of things going on at the same time. I do agree with your veterinarian that 10 hours may be an awfully long time to routinely leave a dog without access to an appropriate elimination location and may result in elimination indoors. She may choose locations away from where she stays so she does not have to remain with the urine or stool. The fact that she may eliminate even after a short departure makes me wonder if she is suffering from separation anxiety. Please bring these additional symptoms to the attention of your veterinarian. If separation anxiety is diagnosed hopefully they can help you treat it or refer you to a veterinary behaviorist for more help.
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7 Hunter (35-40 lb mix breed dog - maybe a terrier mix) is very BAD when we are away at work. He eats our shoes, clothing, couch, and any other items we accidentally leave about. We have given him balls, ropes, bones and other toys, but nothing will keep him busy the whole time we are gone (4hrs in the AM and PM with an hour home for lunch.) We also leave the TV or radio on. We used to put him in a kennel, but he was so stressed in there he destroyed it and hurt his snout. Do you have any suggestions that can help with separation anxiety? Separation anxiety can be a serious and potentially dangerous problem for your dog. From what you describe, your dog is very anxious when left home alone. However, there are other reasons that dogs are destructive when left home alone. Please consult with your veterinarian so that you can get a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If your dog does have separation anxiety, there is an approved medication for treatment that along with behavioral modification may help your dog.
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8 My dog barks all the time. Are the collars that shock them good to use? If not, how can I stop my dog from barking all the time? Dogs bark for a variety of reasons so in order to stop barking it is essential to determine the underlying motivation for barking. For example, a dog might bark if left alone all day because it suffers from separation anxiety. In that case, your barking problem is really a separation anxiety problem and if treated the barking may stop. In other situations, dogs may bark if they perceive it is their job to alert you to all new things in their territory. If that is the reason, then teaching the dog a quiet command and acclimating them to people and new and novel things is the answer. As for using shock collars, I personally don't believe that is the answer to a barking problem. In addition, bark collars only work when they are on the dog so unless the underlying reason for barking is determined and addressed, barking will continue if the collar is removed. And, if the desire to bark is stronger than the deterrent you are using, barking will continue in spite of the punishment. The better response is to change the way the dog perceives the situation and teach a quiet command and barking should decrease.
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9 I have a 1 yr old Golden who is still into chewing. Any idea when this will stop? She has destroyed quite a bit. She has dog chew toys and we try to keep her busy. Dogs that were bred to retrieve things are often very interested in putting things in their mouths. In addition, chewing is what dogs do to entertain themselves and investigate their environment. Most dogs will decrease their chewing behavior as they mature, usually between 2 and 3 years of age. In the meantime, your dog needs daily regular exercise, play time and appropriate chew toys to keep her out of trouble. Make sure that her chew toys are safe and free of loose parts that could be ingested. When you cannot supervise her, find a safe place for her so she will not destroy household objects.
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10 I need help. I am having trouble disciplining my dog. I have not been able to take him to obedience classes but I was wondering if there were other ways to get him to behave? As simple as it seems there are several basic things you can do to increase good behavior in your home. The first is to keep your dog with you are all times so that he cannot get into things in your house. This may mean keeping him near you on a leash. The second is to provide him with plenty of daily exercise like a walk and appropriate toys to play with. If he is occupied with the right activities, he is less likely to engage in behaviors you do not want. It is much easier to show him what you want him to do rather than discipline him for misbehaving.
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11 Jack is an 18-month Stafford Shire Terrier cross cattle dog. He jumps on people, is cautious and suspicious of men in uniform (postman/labourers/fruitman) or anyone he sees as unfit to enter our yard or his personal space. He has nipped a labourer in our yard, digs holes, and pulls plants out of the garden. He is exercised almost every day and socializes with another dog regularly. Is it his breed or is he not being stimulated enough? Jack's behavior could potentially be dangerous and he might hurt someone. When a dog exhibits the behaviors you describe, it is important to control them and prevent them from injuring people. This might mean confining him away when visitors or workman come to the home, or keeping him on a leash and under control. In other cases, intervention by a veterinary behaviorist may be needed to teach the dog new behaviors. Please contact your veterinarian to find someone in your area who can help you with Jack.
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12 How do I get my dog to stop digging? Her under paws are red. Could they be infected and the digging feels good? You actually could have two problems occurring at the same time. Dogs will dig for several reasons. They may dig to go after animals living in the ground such as moles or voles. They may dig to find a cool place to rest on a hot summer day. Finally, they may dig because they enjoy it. Regular daily exercise such as fetch and/or a walk may help decrease her tendency to dig. Attending to any animals underground and providing shade and cool water may also help. Finally, her paws may be irritated because of something in the yard and a veterinarian should examine them.
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13 I have a Labrador retriever mix that is about 10 months old. He is housebroken but wants me to take him out every five minutes. He won't stop barking until I take him out. How can I stop this? If you know that your dog has been outside to eliminate and does not need to do so again, he may be barking to get your attention. A young dog needs a great deal of activity and exercise. Be sure that you have scheduled interactive and lively playtime with your dog on a daily basis. These sessions can be walks, ball playing/fetch or even teaching tricks and obedience tasks. Once you know you have met both his physical and emotional needs, then you can ignore him when he barks. If you do not attend to him when he barks, barking for attention should decrease and/or stop.
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14 My puppy is 6months+ now and he has been put outside. He has a problem; he wrecks the back yard but when he is inside he eliminates everywhere. Do you know if he has a bladder problem? It is possible that your dog eliminates indoors because he is not housebroken. Good supervision indoors and outdoors to be sure he eliminates may help that problem. His destruction outdoors may be a way for him to entertain himself. Increasing your playtime with him and taking him for walks may help. If your dog is destructive outside while you are gone and eliminates indoors while left alone inside, he may be suffering from separation anxiety. A visit to your veterinarian may help determine which of these is causing your problems with your dog.
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15 My 4 year old German Shepard/Labrador mix frequently digs holes, big and deep holes every summer. He always gets in trouble because he digs them in the yard next to his doghouse. Why does he dig holes and how can I stop him from digging in the yard? There are generally three main reasons that dogs will dig. First, they will dig to get to animals such as moles and voles that live underground. Second, they will often dig in the summer time to create a cool place to rest. Finally, they might dig to keep themselves entertained or because they are anxious about being alone. Once you determine the reason for the digging you can work on a solution such as getting rid of the moles, making sure your dog has plenty of shade and water in the hot weather and giving daily exercise and attention to your dog so that he has sufficient activity and interaction on a daily basis.
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16 Why do dogs jump all over me when I go outside and why does my dog not listen to me? A dog usually jumps up on people as a form of greeting and to solicit play. A dog that lives outside may be very excited to see you and unable to remain calm. Make sure that you have spent enough time each day meeting your dogs daily needs for exercise, social interaction and training. It might help to use a leash for additional control. If the jumping continues, a training class will be hepful to give you more control.
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17 I have 7yr. old dog, and I adopted an 8 week old kitten yesterday. How do I make my dog accept the kitten and not hurt it? Initially it will be very important to keep the kitten and the dog separated unless you are doing supervised introductions. Initially all introductions should occur with your dog on a leash that you are holding so that you can control her. Reward her with food and praise for calm quiet behavior around the kitten. At no time should she be allowed to chase or bark at the kitten. It will also help to reward the kitten with food when she is around the dog. It may take several weeks or months until you know how each one will act around the other. Until that time all their interactions should be supervised.
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18 How can I introduce my new 7 month old puppy to my 11 year old blind dog without there being total aggression? The key to introducing a young exuberant puppy to an elderly, sedate dog is control. All interactions should be supervised by you. Preferably you should have the puppy on a leash and collar so that you can control her. Allow slow introductions where both smell one another. It might help to use some treats to associate pleasant things with each other. Watch your older dog for signs of agitation or fear which could lead to aggression. If she begins panting excessively, tries to escape, tucks her tail and looks upset you should end the introduction and try to keep the next one shorter.
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19 We just got a 10 week old sheperd puppy. Is there a way to teach him to not bark every time he goes outside? A dog will bark for a variety of reasons. Dogs may bark if stimulated by the sound of other dogs. They may also bark to get your attention, perhaps to come inside or for you to come outside. In other situations a dog may bark if startled by something. Once you know the motivation for the barking you can try to teach you puppy a quiet command. If your puppy is just outside too long without supervision, then bringing him inside will stop the barking.
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20 I have a Chinese Crested Hairless and I live in an apartment. I adopted him when he was 9 months old. He is now over 2 years old. He is extremely shy and scared of other animals and other people. Because of his high level of anxiety during the day, I have to leave him in a crate while I am at work. Otherwise he becomes destructive and eliminates all over the apartment. I do not use the crate as a punishment - ever. But he does not like being in it. He gets very worked up and even moves the crate across the room while he is inside of it trying to get out. What can I do for him? I would love to leave him out of the crate altogether, but I don't want my apartment destroyed. But, I know how miserable he is in the crate. Is this separation anxiety? What can I do? When dogs are destructive, eliminate and anxious when left alone it is possible that they are suffering from separation anxiety. Some dogs also find being confined very stressful and have a barrier frustration and would be okay left alone if they were not confined. A dog that is two years old and very agitated and frightened of people and other animals may have not been exposed to many things as a puppy. Both of these problems can be helped by a behavioral consultation with a veterinary behaviorist who will prescribe a treatment plan and possibly suggest using medication to help diminish the anxiety.
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21 How do you stop a dog from submissive urination? He only does this with a few people? Submissive urination is a communication strategy that dogs will employ when they feel threatened. Certain people may talk too loud, be unfamiliar or very tall causing your dog to feel threatened. It might help to use toys or dog treats to make him feel more comfortable. The worse thing to do is to yell at him when he urinates. This will only make the problem worse. Many dogs will outgrow the problem especially if people ignore them and do not speak to them or try to pet them until they have been in the home for 10-15 minutes.
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22 I have a puppy and an adult dog that love to chew my floor. I have changed it 3 times now. I have tried pepper spray and other things, but they still go for the floor and sometimes even the wallpaper. HELP PLEASE. There are many reasons that a dog or puppy may be destructive when confined or left home alone. In some cases the chewing and destruction is exploration and activity especially for young animals that are not provided with daily outlets such as play, walks and appropriate chew toys. In other situations the dog is experiencing separation anxiety and is very distressed when left home alone. Dogs with separation anxiety may bark or whine, and often are destructive or eliminate when home alone. If you suspect that your dog has separation anxiety, please consult with your veterinarian for appropriate treatment recommendations.
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23 I have an English Beagle that won't stop barking. How can I make him stop with out using any type of muzzle, shock collar, or spray collars? Dogs bark for many different reasons. Some dogs bark because of the stimulation they get from things outside the house or yard. Others may bark when they are frightened or agitated. Finally some dogs may bark for attention or to come inside. Determining why a dog is barking is the first step toward treating the problem. Next it is important to help the dog associate a word with silence. This can be accomplished by saying a word such as "quiet" and using a loud noise to interrupt the dog's barking. Once he is quiet the dog is praised and given a food reward. If he starts barking again the process is repeated. A head halter (like a halter for a horse) can also be used to close a dog's mouth and stop the barking. Consult with your veterinarian for the best method for your dog.
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24 Is it bad to stop a dog for asserting dominance? We have two dogs, a Jack Russell Terrier and a 60lb mutt. Should we try and stop him from stealing her food and sleeping on her pillow, or let them be If the dogs are not fighting about the arrangement and each dog is able to get what they need for food, companionship, attention and play, it often is best if people do not interfere. However, it is important that both dogs get daily interaction, play time and space to rest and eat.
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25 How to control disruptive behavior? So many behaviors that dogs do are normal behaviors but disruptive never-the-less. If the dog is quite active, jumping, barking and running through the house, control can often be achieved using a leash indoors. In other situations a head halter gives additional control. Head halters are like a halter a horse might wear and control the dog's head. By controlling the head it is easier to interrupt and redirect disruptive behaviors. Finally, training a dog to obey simple commands such as sit, down and come will help keep the dog under control.
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26 Once I got my dog, Zach, about 6 weeks ago, I noticed my 2 1/2 year old male started to urinate on the corner of everything in the house. Do you know why? He has slowed down a lot with verbal reinforcements, but still urinates when I am not looking. A dog may begin to urinate in the house if he has a medical condition, he is anxious or stressed or if he is marking his territory. A visit to your veterinarian to check a urine sample may help to rule out a urinary tract infection. If your dog is an intact male dog, neutering him may diminish the marking behavior. Trying to create a calm, stress free and regular routine for your pet may help diminish his anxiety and decrease urination. It may also help to keep the dogs separated part of the day so they each have time alone.
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27 My dog (9 months-female-medium size hound/beagle mix) is extremely aggressive towards other dogs - what can/should we be doing to stop this behavior? Going for a walk is a nightmare if other dogs are out - dogs in our area are required to be on a leash and she is - but she flips around, jumps up, barks, growls etc. HELP! Many dogs are very agitated when they see other dogs. Often the underlying motivation is fear, anxiety or just lack of experience with other dogs. Walking with a head halter may help you have more control and allow you to redirect her away from other dogs. It is also important not to yell at her or reprimand her since your excitement and punishment are likely to increase her anxiety rather than diminish it. In some cases just crossing the street and increasing the distance between her and other dogs can help. If the problem persists you should seek assistance from a veterinary behaviorist for a more complete assessment and treatment plan.
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28 I can't leave my dog home alone. He chews on the doorframe attempting to escape. Many dogs that are destructive when they are left home alone are suffering from separation anxiety. The common symptoms include anxiety or depression as you prepare to depart, vocalization, elimination or destruction while home alone, and a very excited greeting when you return. In many cases it is unrelated to how long you have been gone; the behaviors occur both on long and short departures. Dogs with separation anxiety are very upset and need professional intervention to learn how to be left home alone. Please contact your veterinarian for a complete diagnosis and treatment plan.
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29 What can I do to get my dog to stop eating everything she can reach? Food seeking behavior is actually a pretty normal and adaptive canine behavior. When living in the wild, dogs may spend many unsuccessful hours hunting for food. Once they find food they will eat as much as they can hold since food may again be scarce. Many of our pet dogs retain this same pattern; eating when food is present even though we provide food for them on a regular basis. The way to prevent food stealing is to keep the food in places where the dog cannot reach it.
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30 We just got a Pembroke Welsh Corgi about 1 month ago from an SPCA and we are the 3rd owners of this 1 1/2 yr. old spayed female. She just started digging big size holes right at the entrance gate where we go in and out. She seems to do this after my husband leaves for work in the morning.I also work,but on a part-time basis.What do we do? Is this some sort of boredom or rebellious behavior? As she gets older,will she stop? How do we handle the situation now? There are many reasons a dog may dig after you depart. Although she could be digging after prey in the ground, one of the more common reasons is separation anxiety. It is unlikely she is being rebellious or bored and also unlikely that this will stop as she gets older. Separation anxiety is common is dogs adopted as adults and often is characterized by vocalization, destruction and elimination when the dog is left home alone. Please consult with your veterinarian for advice on treatment or a referral to a behavior specialist for additional help treating this problem.
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