Common Behavior Problems in Dogs

Why do dogs bark?

-Threat
-Warning to pack
-Solidarity
-Boredom
-Want attention

When is barking a problem?

When the owner is home or not home

How do owners manage barking?

By ignoring or distracting dogs

When an owner wants to treat a dog that is excessively barking, it is best to avoid..

physical or verbal punishment

What collar is best used to modify barking behaviors?

Citronella collars

What kind of punishment has the advantage of consistency when dealing with barking?

Remote punishment

Destructive chewing is a normal behavior for...

Puppies

In older dogs, destructive chewing is associated with...

-Lack of Exercise
-Boredom
-Separation Anxiety
-Thunderphobia
-Lack of supervision

How should owners treat destructive chewing?

-Treat separation or storm anxieties
-Limit access to inappropriate locations or objects
-Provide chew toys
-Address contributing factors

What is highly recommended to treat destructive chewing?

Crate training

Pica

Eating of non-food items

How should owners treat pica?

-Identify and treat any GI problems
-Prevent access of non-food items
-Taste aversion

Why do dogs tend to eat feces of horses/cattle?

Predigested vegetable matter

Why do dogs tend to eat feces of cats?

Large amount of protein remains

Why do dogs tend to eat feces of other dogs?

-Boredom
-Medical reasons

Why do puppies tend to eat feces of the mother?

Obtain intestinal microflora

What dog breed eats the most feces daily?

Labradors (10.4%)

What are the top 5 dogs that eat their own feces?

1. Labradors
2. Golden Retrievers
3. Bassets
4. German Shephards
5. Shelties

What percentage of dogs that eat feces are female?

60%

What percentage of dogs that eat feces are male?

40%

What percentage of dogs eat their own feces plus other dog feces?

48%

What percentage of dogs eat their own feces?

10.2%

What percentage of dogs eat another dogs feces?

32%

Copraphagy

Ingestion of Feces

How should owners treat and manage copraphagy?

-Muzzle
-Pick up yard

Jumping on people is a behavior that tends to be...

encouraged and rewarded

Best ways to modify dogs jumping on people:

-Walk into dog
-Stand and ignore
-Teach alternate behavior

What percentage of intact female dogs will mount?

40%

Mounting is most commonly seen in...

young, intact male dogs

Mounting may or may not include...

Masturbation

Displacement behavior

An act that is irrelevant to the behavioral context

How should owners treat/manage mounting?

-Surgical Castration
-Remove triggers
-Exercise

The location a dog chooses to dig suggests the...

Cause

What would be the cause of a dog digging near a fence/gate?

Nearby activities or escape

What percentage of dogs have a noise fear?

47-49%

What is the #1 noise that dogs are afraid of?

Fireworks

What is the #2 noise that dogs are afraid of?

Thunderstorms

Drugs can be used for dogs that have a...

Noise fear or Separation Anxiety

Dogs that came from animal shelter have a __________% chance to develop separation anxiety.

87%

Dogs that did not come from animal shelter have a __________% chance to develop separation anxiety.

26%

Dogs with separation anxuety tend to have...

-Noise phobias
-Aggression
-Hyper-attachment

Clinical Signs of Separation Anxiety

-Digging
-Destructive Chewing
-Diarrhea
-Excessive Licking

Signs of Separation Anxiety usually develop ____________ after leaving

5-30 minutes

Do not reward separation anxiety with...

Attention