Additional Common Behaviour Problems in Dogs Flashcards
Why do dogs pull on the leash
Training problem
Feel restraint, try to break free
How does destructive chewing develop
As puppy, chew on toys to relieve pain
Problematic when dog does not grow out of it
Chew when bored, lonely, anxious
How do you treat chewing in dogs
Puppy-proof
Re-direct
Bitter Apple
Supervision
Do not give objects similar to off limit items
Adequate physical activity
Why do dogs dig
Escape, find cool spot, bury a bone, frustration/boredom, search for object/prey, seek attention
How do you treat digging
Based on cause, reinforce good behaviour, redirect digging to new spot
What are the causes of escape behaviour in dogs
Environment outside rewarding
Inconsistent outing schedule
Enclosure not secure
How do you resolve escape
Secure enclosure
Schedule routine outings
Do not give attention when escaped
What causes roaming behaviour in dogs
Distant places = attractive
No reward for staying home
Pattern? time of year, location?
How do we resolve roaming
Eliminate distant attractions
Castration?
Buried perimeter (remote punishment)
+ Reinforce staying home
What are the causes of soiling
Medical problems
Submissive/excitement urination
Territorial urine marking
Separation anxiety
Fears/phobias
What does submissive urination look like
Urinates when scolded/approached
History of abuse, shyness, anxiety
Submissive posturing
What does excited urination look like
Urinates when being greeted
<1 year old
No submissive posturing
Causes of inappropriate elimination in adult dogs
Medical problems
Disturbance of house training
Weak den sanitation predisposition
How do we resolve inappropriate elimination in adult dogs
Treat medical/primary behavioural causes
Reinstate house training (small room)
Frequent trips outside
Clean soiled areas
Remote punishment near soiled area
Submissive urination (inter dog) causes
Natural response to avoid aggression by dominants
How do we resolve submissive inter dog urination
tone down greeting
stage multiple greetings (desensitize)
What are some attention seeking behaviours that defy categorization
Chasing shadows, barking at light beams, snapping at imaginary flies, vomiting, twitching, lameness
What causes attention seeking behaviour
Attracts attention from owner (payoff)
If competing pets
May begin initially as medical issue
How do we resolve attention seeking behaviour
No attention for problem behaviour
Leave dog alone when problem occurs (social punishment)
Attention for good beh only
What are the reasons a dog will jump up
Greet you at face level
Get attention
Testing position in group (dominant/subordinate); not usually
Why might a dog display gorging behaviour
Can be socially facilitated
More likely in competitive environments
- dominant get larger proportion
- subordinate might be undernourished
How do we prevent gorging
Plenty of food spread out if multi-dog space
Slow down eating (ball in bowl, using puzzle box)
What are the forms of problem feeding behaviour
Gorging, conditioned food aversions, eating grass
Why might a dog have a conditioned food aversion
Acquired aversions/tastes
Garcia effect
