You’ve invited a few friends over. Everyone is enjoying your fine tasting snacks, when someone suddenly asks: “Hey, where’s your dog Scruffy? Why don’t you let him out so he can hang with us?”
You politely decline, convinced that your friends would be better off without dealing with Scruffy’s begging habits, his desire to lick everyone’s face, and his constant need for playing tug-of-war.
If only Scruffy was more well-mannered…
But is there such a thing as “good” dog manners?
Answer: YES, there is!
However, before we dive into teaching your dog good manners, we should look at a few common dog behavioral issues first.
Dog behavior problems
It’s one thing to have a happy, excited dog. It’s another thing to mistake that excitement for unruly behavior. But as dog owners, it’s easy to make that mistake.
The truth is, “bad” dog behavior comes in all shapes and sizes…
- Leash pulling
- Jumping on people
- Destructively chewing household items
- Stealing food from the countertops
- Excessive barking
- Mounting (humping) on people, furniture, or on other dogs
- Mouthing or play biting on people and other dogs
- Food guarding
More serious dog behaviors, like dog aggression, separation anxiety, and uncontrollable barking require a deeper understanding and may need supplemental intervention.
But if you truly think that the common unruly dog behaviors listed above are just a reflection of your dog’s unique personality, then you’re doing yourself and your sweet canine friend a disservice.
Think about it…
If your dog’s constant barking, or jumping on people, drives you up a wall now, don’t assume it will get better with time. That bad behavior will only continue to aggravate you.
Before you know it, you’re so aggravated at your dog’s unruly behavior that you respond by keeping them locked away any time people come over.
Meanwhile, your poor pup is left to wonder what they did so wrong to cause this abrupt solitude.
So what gives? How do you train an unruly dog?
