Dog Behavior – What To Do If My Dog Breaks The Rules And Shows Unwanted Behavior

Many dogs show unwanted behavior when left alone. Apart from cats, they are the only animal that we allow free access in our homes without supervision and we expect them not to break any of our rules. Here we look into the best ways to tackle bad dog behavior.

Unwanted behavior can include:
• barking, whining, howling.
• chewing, scratching.
• lapses in house-training.

Possible causes:
• Anxiety about being left.
• Boredom.
• Never having been taught how to behave when left.
• Over-attachment to owner.

• Teach the dog to be left. Practice closing a door between you and your dog for short periods of time, when your dog is calm and settled. Return to your dog as a reward for good behavior, i.e. not barking or scratching.
• Include this in normal routine. Ensure that your dog spends some time each day alone. This is essential for dogs who are not left every day.
• Give the dog plenty of things to do, with or without you, Walks and games help to tire a dog, and things to chew occupy him when you are not there.
• Ignore your dog at times. If your dog is used to having your attention at any time, it will be difficult for him when you are away. Ignore him at times during each day.
• Do not leave a dog alone for long periods. It is unfair to leave a dog alone for longer than he can cope. Consider asking neighbors or friends to call in, or find a reputable dog walker.

What to do if problems have arisen:
• Follow the above points.
• Do not get cross with your dog on your return — he does not look guilty. Owners tend to interpret their dog’s look of fear as guilt that ‘he knows he’s done wrong’, and the owner feels more frustrated. Dogs do not have a sense of guilt, he is simply afraid of your reaction. Although it is difficult, do not tell your dog off. It will only make matters worse. If you had a dog who was chewing because he was worried you were leaving him, he will now become anxious about you coming back as well.
• Seek expert advice to help teach your dog how to cope without you.

This problem is especially seen in:
• Rescue dogs.
• Labrador types.
• Dogs whose owners are with them for most of the time.
• Dogs left alone for long periods.
• Dogs who are especially close to their owners.

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