1. Barking

Most dogs bark, howl and whine to some degree. Excessive barking is considered a behavior problem. Before you can correct barking, determine why your dog is vocalizing in the first place. These are the most common types of barking: Warning or Alert ; Playfulness/Excitement ; Attention-seeking ; Anxiety ; Boredom ; Responding to Other Dogs.

Learn to control excessive barking. Be consistent and patient. Also, consider teaching the Bark/Quiet Commands. Dedication and attention to detail can go a long way.

2. Chewing

Chewing is a natural action for all dogs – it’s just a part of the way they are wired. However, chewing can quickly become a behavior problem if your dog causes destruction. The most common reasons dogs chew ares:  Puppy Teething ; Boredom / Excess Energy ; Anxiety ; Curiosity (especially puppies) Encourage your dog to chew on the right things by providing plenty of chew toys. Keep personal items away from your dog. When you are not home, keep your dog crated or confined to an area where less destruction can be caused. If you catch your dog chewing the wrong thing, quickly correct him with a sharp noise. Then, replace the item with a chew toy. One of the most important things you can do: make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise!

3. Digging

If given the chance, most dogs will do some amount of digging – it’s a matter of instinct. Certain breeds, like Terriers, are more prone to digging because of their hunting histories. In general, most dogs dig for these reasons:  Boredom or Excess Energy ; Anxiety or Fear ; Hunting Instinct ; Comfort-Seeking (such as nesting or cooling off) ; Hiding Possessions (like bones or toys) ; To Escape or Gain Access If your dog digs up your yard, it can get pretty frustrating for you.

Try and determine the cause of the digging, then work to eliminate that source. Spend more time with your dog, give him more exercise, and work on extra training. If digging is inevitable, set aside an area where your dog can learn it is “okay” to dig, like a sand box.

4. Separation

Anxiety Separation anxiety is one of the most commonly discussed dog behavior problems. Manifestations include vocalization, chewing, inappropriate urination and defecation, and other forms of destruction that occur when a dog is separated from his owner. Not all of these actions are the result of separation anxiety. Signs of true separation anxiety include:  Dog becomes anxious when owner prepares to leave ; Misbehavior occurs in the first 15-45 minutes after owner leaves ; Dog wants to follow owner around constantly ; Dog tries to be touching owner whenever possible True separation anxiety requires dedicated training, behavior modification and desensitization exercises. Medication may be recommended in extreme cases, but this should be a last resort.

5. Inappropriate Elimination

Inappropriate urination and defecation are among the most frustrating dog behaviors. They can damage areas of your home and make your dog unwelcome in public places or at the homes of others. It is most important that you discuss this behavior with your veterinarian first to rule out health problems. Next, determine the reason for the behavior, which can come down to one of the following: Submissive/Excitement Urination ; Territorial Marking ; Anxiety ; Attention-seeking ; Lack of proper housebreaking

Inappropriate elimination is unavoidable in puppies, especially before 12 weeks of age. Older dogs are another story – many require serious behavior modification to rid them of the habit because you must often alter their perception of themselves.

6. Begging

Begging is a bad habit, but many dog owners unfortunately encourage it. This can lead to digestive problems and obesity. Dogs beg because they love food – but table scraps are not treats, and food is not love! Yes, it is hard to resist that longing look, but giving in “just this once” creates a problem in the long run. In a pack setting, a subordinate would never beg from alpha dogs without reprimand.

When you teach your dog that begging is permitted, you jeopardize your role as pack leader. Before you sit down to eat, tell your dog to stay, preferably where he will not be able to stare at you. If necessary, confine him to another room. If he behaves, give him a special treat only after you and your family are completely finished eating.

7. Chasing

A dog’s desire to chase moving things is simply a display of predatory instinct. Many dogs will chase other animals, people and cars. All of these can lead to dangerous and devastating outcomes! While you may not be able to stop your dog from trying to chase, you can take steps to prevent disaster.  Keep your dog on a leash at all times (unless directly supervised indoors).  Train your dog to come when called.  Have a dog whistle or noisemaker on hand to get your dog’s attention.  Stay aware and watch for potential triggers, like joggers.

Your best chance at success is to keep the chase from getting out of control. Dedicated training over the course of your dog’s life will teach him to focus his attention on you first – before running off.

8. Jumping Up

Puppies jump up to reach and greet their mothers. Later, they may jump up when greeting people. Dogs may also jump up to exert dominance. A jumping dog can be annoying and even dangerous. There are many methods to stop a dog’s jumping, but not all will be successful. Lifting a knee, grabbing the paws, or pushing the dog away might work for some, but for most dogs this sends the wrong message. Jumping up is often attention-seeking behavior, so any acknowledgment of your dog’s actions provide a reward!

The best method: simply turn away and ignore your dog. Do not make eye contact, speak, or touch your dog. Go about your business. When he relaxes and remains still, calmly reward him. It won’t take long before your dog gets the message.

9. Aggression

Dog aggression is exhibited by growling, snarling, showing teeth, lunging and biting. It is important to know that any dog has the potential to become aggressive, regardless of breed or history. However, dogs with violent or abusive histories and those bred from dogs with aggressive tendencies are much more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior towards people or other dogs.

Reasons for aggression are basically the same as the reasons a dog will bite or snap, but overall canine aggression is a much more serious problem. If your dog has aggressive tendencies, consult your vet first – it may stem from a health problem. Then, seek the help of an experienced dog trainer. Serious measures should be taken to keep others safe from aggressive dogs!

Each year, anywhere from half a million to one million dog-bite injuries are reported. The most likely victims of dog bites are children under 12 years old (accounting for about 60 percent of the total), and the top five perpetrators are Chow Chows, Rottweilers, German Shepherd Dogs, Cocker Spaniels, and Dalmatians. In the general dog population, unneutered male dogs are the most likely to bite. In other words, keeping an unneutered male Chow Chow in a home with a two-year-old, a five-year-old, and twin eight-year-olds will probably guarantee you’ll take at least one bite-motivated trip to the emergency room. This doesn’t mean you should never have bite-prone breeds or that you must wait until the kids are in high school before getting a dog. It does mean you need to have a better understanding of why and when dogs bite, and take steps with your dog and your family to bite-proof your household.

In at least half of all reported dog-bite cases, the bites were provoked by the victim — although often unintentionally. Dogs usually give clear signals they’re ready to bite — clear, at least, to other dogs and to people who know how to recognize them. The most common dog-bite scenario involves a person or young child who misses the dog’s warning sign and gets within range. The other common cause of bites is miscommunication. Perhaps the best known example is the encounter between a child and a stray dog: Frightened by the sudden appearance of a large and unfamiliar pooch, the child instinctively screams and runs away. This triggers the dog’s chase reflex or is misinterpreted as play behavior. Either way, the only way the dog has of catching the child is with his mouth.

Classic canine body language that signals a dog’s readiness to bite includes staring, bared teeth, growling, stiff-legged stance (it almost looks like the dog is standing on the tips of his toes), raised hackles (the fur on his shoulders, back, and rump), and a wagging tail with a stiff, rapid movement. Usually, your final warning is a more intense stare and deeper growling. When the dog’s head is lowered and the ears go back against his head, you can expect the next thing you hear to be the sound of his teeth snapping together on whatever of yours he can get ahold of. Of course, it doesn’t have to come to that. A wise person will back off well before it gets to this point.

When to Call a Behaviorist

If the potentially threatening dog you encounter is your own, you may need professional help. Dogs may bite out of fear, defense, pain, or to protect territory — all reasons too subtle for you to detect without knowing what to look for. A trained behaviorist can help you pin down the reason for your dog’s biting as well as develop a strategy to change the behavior. This might be as simple as giving the dog more exercise; socializing with people and other dogs; or teaching all family members to leave the dog alone while he’s eating, sleeping, or hiding. However, it may involve a more extensive overhaul of your relationship with your dog.

It can happen to the best of us. You see a cute, tiger-striped kitten with white paws and green eyes, just begging for attention. Or maybe it’s a gorgeous Labrador mix whose tails seems to be wagging just for you.You take one look, and the next thing you know, you’re walking down the pet food aisle at the supermarket.If you’re like most of us, falling in love with a pet is easy. And no wonder!

To an animal person, owning a pet is a wonderful experience. However, it is very important to understand what goes in to owning a pet. Often, we only consider the fun times, but being a pet owner is a HUGE responsibility.

It is amazing to see how we go down on our knees the second we see a stray wagging its tail wanting to be loved. I really admire the people who have put in the effort to make portals for stray adoption in India and the people who are more than willing  to adopt them and give them a loving home. But there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.

Coming back to the point, The 4 main things to consider before getting a companion are :

Time : They are just like kids.Dogs, cats, and other animal companions cannot be ignored just because you’re tired or busy. They require food, water, exercise, care, and companionship every day of every year. Many animals in the shelter are there because their owners didn’t realize how much time it took to care for them.

Cost : The costs of pet ownership can be quite high. Licenses, training classes, spaying and neutering, veterinary care, grooming, toys, food, kitty litter, and other expenses add up quickly.Flea infestations, scratched-up furniture, accidents from animals who aren’t yet house trained, and unexpected medical emergencies are unfortunate but common aspects of pet ownership.

Noise : Pets can really noisy at times and a problem for your neighbours. Birds can really be noisy! Dogs can bark at odd hours at any noise ! Believe or not cats are good attention seekers – they will hiss and growl and meow because they know they’ll get a reaction. More than anyone, it is important to take your  family members take on this aspect.

Flexibility : Leaving your pet alone is not a good  option at all. Not only will it lead to depression in your pet but temperament issues and a messy house. So in way, you can’t leave home for long durations. What you really need to ask yourself is : Will someone be home during some part of the day to allow the pet to play outside or take him/her for a walk? Do you know who will care for your pet while you’re away on vacation? Do you have reliable friends and neighbors or enough money to pay for a boarding kennel or pet-sitting service?

THINK and think HARD before you get a pet. Are you willing to make the necessary commitments of time, money, responsibility, and love—for the life of the pet ?

P.S. : When you adopt a pet, you are making a commitment to care for the animal for his or her lifetime.

I’m not a self proclaimed Pet guru. All you can find on my blog would be articles and information that I think people ought to know and my personal experiences. At any stage , if any of you feel that you have something to contribute, be my guest

I look forward to learn more everyday and make a difference