Can behavior problems in dogs be changed?
In many cases, behavioral problems can be improved upon. They are not always completely solvable, but with some professional guidance and sometimes training, you can improve upon your dog's behavior at home.
When should you start obedience training with your dog?
Obedience training can be started as early as when the puppy has finished several of their required health vaccinations. So generally speaking, I would say anywhere from three to four months of age.
What are the most common behavior problems in dogs?
There's a list of several things that come to mind: whining, barking, digging, chewing, separation anxiety, inappropriate elimination within the house, and of course, aggression.
How can you address those behaviors?
It's really important to understand the foundational cause behind why those behaviors are occurring in order to be able to solve the question or problem about the behavior. Sometimes behavior problems are rooted in fear. Sometimes they're rooted in inadequate or improper socialization skills. Other times, it can be the product of incomplete housebreaking. So it really just depends upon what the problem is, and then asking good questions, which is what your veterinarian should do to help you get to the bottom of why your pet may be exhibiting the behavior that he or she is.
Can any behavior issues indicate that a dog is sick?
Absolutely. There are a number of behavioral problems that can indicate your pet is sick. For instance, inappropriate elimination in the household—urinating may indicate that there is a medical problem like a urinary tract infection or something even more serious. Defecating in the house can also be a sign associated with diarrhea, which is commonly seen with a lot of different problems. Wandering aimlessly, howling, and turning day into night—the dog's inability to recognize when they should be sleeping and when they should be awake—are very common signs of cognitive problems, which we see in older dogs. Dementia, if you will. Those are several examples that I can think of where behavior is actually a clinical sign of a much bigger health problem.
What does treatment look like for behavior problems?
Treatment is based upon what the problem is, and as I shared in the early part of this conversation, not all behaviors can be solved. Some are going to be lifelong problems that will require lifelong management, but in many cases, management or improvement in the behavior can be seen. For instance, separation anxiety, which we commonly see in dogs, is something that would require not only help from the veterinarian insofar as prescribing medications that might help the animal be more open and receptive to learning new behaviors or tolerating new situations. That medication must always be paired with behavioral modification that the owner is providing for that animal at home. In other situations, when you're talking about aggression, we need to determine what the cause or the root cause of the aggression is. If it's fear-based, we may be able to make improvements upon it, but you're definitely going to need to speak with a veterinarian and possibly a trainer recommended by your veterinarian to help get to the bottom of that problem. And of course, unfortunately, there are some behavioral problems that are significant enough and/or pose a significant liability for an owner when they have their pet around other people. In those cases, we will sometimes need to refer to an actual veterinary behaviorist who can help them get going in the right direction and see if any of those negative behaviors can be improved upon.
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