BARKING, CHEWING, DIGGING

Barking, chewing and digging are all common behavioral problems with dogs. They do, however, have something else in common - they are normal dog behaviors. They’re what dogs do!

Instead of trying to completely eliminate the behaviors, try to redirect the behaviors to appropriate outlets. For example, if you catch your dog in the act of chewing the wrong thing (a shoe, or the leg of your coffee table), give him a verbal correction and immediately after, give him a chew toy. When the dog is making contact with the chew toy praise him. Let him know that you are not opposed to his chewing in general, you just don’t like it when he is chewing on the table but you’re quite happy when he is chewing on a chew toy.

Also keep in mind that boredom and lack of exercise is the underlying cause of many behavioral problems.

Barking - Why dogs bark: Dogs bark to communicate different needs and emotions. For example,

1. Warning signals when someone approaches your property (dogs are territorial, protective animals),
2. attention-seeking behavior as a way to manipulate you into doing things i.e. take him out of the crate,
3. boredom and loneliness,
4. separation anxiety,
5. fear i.e. of people, sounds, thunderstorms, etc.

When trying to change excessive barking, make sure that you address the problem, not the symptom. For instance if your dog is barking because (s)he is suffering from separation anxiety, just preventing the dog from barking will create other problems because the dog is still anxious when he’s left alone.

He might start chewing excessively.

1. To consume food,
2. to relieve some of the pain associated with replacing their puppy teeth with adult teeth,
3. out of anxiety,
4. out of boredom.

Make sure that you provide your dog with chew toys and enough physical exercise. Redirect your dog to chew on the appropriate items. You can try spraying bitter apple as a way to discourage your dog from chewing on a specific item.

Digging - Why dogs dig:

1. To retrieve or bury food items,
2. body temperature regulation (digging cooling pits),
3. to escape confinement,
4. boredom,
5. because it’s a fun activity.

Examine the reason why your dog is digging then address it. Keep in mind that certain breeds (many in fact) were bred to hunt and dig animals out of burrows, for example, many terrier-type dogs.

Compliments of Ronen Tivony, Canine Interactions- Dog Training, 727-322-0777 www.CanineI.com