Dog Behavior Question:
Lose the Confusion

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As an owner (or annoyed neighbour!), you will likely be stumped by a dog behavior question at some point in your pooch's life. This will range from something as harmless as a goofy "quirk" like racing in circles to something as dangerous as aggression.

Most (if not all) dog behaviors have a solution... the trick is finding it! And that's exactly what we're going to help you with here. Find the underlying cause to the behavior, and PRESTO! You're half way there to fixing the problem.

Many dogs wind up at the SPCA or in the classified ads because of an owner who, at their wit's end, doesn't know what else to do with him. It really does take serious commitment to have a dog as well as time invested in turning him into the "perfect" pooch you've always wanted.

Let me just say that often, you are the problem. Gasp! That's right - I just heard your jaw hit the computer desk. Now you're wondering... how in the world can I say that? Don't get me wrong. You love your dog to bits, and would never do anything like that. But let me ask you - have you ever petted your dog when he put his paws on you at the front door to say hello? Well, you've inadvertently praised him for jumping!

While you don't mean to teach him improper behaviors, it happens frequently. And I really can't blame you for this. As a dog owner, you simply didn't know. Ahhh... but now the blindfold comes off, because our goal is to demystify dog behavior questions.

A few dog behaviors that tend to leave owners puzzled are:

• Nuisance barking - the dog is bored, either inside or outside, or simply wants attention
• Urine marking
• Eating grass
• Eating poop
• Digging
• Stealing objects
• Taking treats roughly
• Chewing inappropriate objects
• Mouthing and nipping your hands or clothing
• Peeing or pooping in the house
• Jumping on you or your guests

And of course, there are the more dangerous behavior problems such as:

• Food and/or toy aggression - being possessive
• Dog aggression
• People aggression
• Chasing cars, bikes, or roller-blades

Keep in mind - when faced with an aggression issue, you should always seek the advice and hands-on help of a certified professional in your area. We can't solve aggression online for you. You will need to hire a professional for one-on-one work with you and your dog.

These lists aren't all-inclusive, so if you have a dog behavior question that isn't covered here, ask us in our handy Dog Behavior Q & A forum . We'd love to hear from you!

Maybe your dog drives the neighbors nuts with his incessant barking, or is trying to re-create the Grand Canyon in your backyard. Perhaps he prefers baseboards and furniture to chew toys. Anyone every heard of Marley? You get the idea...

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