Very Helpful Dog Behavior Advice
| note: this is part 2/2 of our article series on dog behavior advice, part one can be found here: Dog Behavior Advice – Part One |
When it comes to the term, independent dog, many owners have to realize that the term doesn’t really illustrate the temperament of dogs in general. While many breeds are more independent than others are and do better in single pet homes, they are still, in essence a pack animal.
The dog’s family is his pack and for this reason, he does react with a pack mentality. If there is no one in his family that is the main pack leader, then the dog will just naturally fill that role and it can account for much of the behavior that you see in your dog.
So when you see many negative behaviors and correcting your dog isn’t working, it is usually associated with the hierarchy in your home. Your dog thinks he is on top and it will take substantial training and strict rules to put the dog back in his place. It is important to note that your dog is not doing this to be “bad” but is doing this because there was a lack of leadership, at least in his eyes.
Another thing about pack mentality is that a dog prefers being with his pack. Dog behavior such as barking or chewing may occur when you are gone or when your dog is separated from the family. The main reason why he is doing this is because he is lonely and wants to be with the pack.
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His needs are not being met
Another reason why your dog is acting the way that he is could simply be because his needs aren’t being met. Taking care of a dog is not the easiest thing to do but in many ways it can be, because a dog won’t usually complain if he isn’t getting enough exercise or you aren’t paying him enough attention.
What he will do is misbehave and suddenly your well-behaved dog is doing things like counter surfing and garbage diving. At this point you are probably wondering why your dog has suddenly turned into this ill mannered beast but it is important to realize that he isn’t being vindictive, he simply needs a bit more care.
Exercise is a big issue and is usually where there is a need for a dog. Many times, owners just don’t give their dog enough exercise for their breed and they are left with a dog that is jumpy or destructive. By providing your dog with at least 30 minutes of exercise per day, you can solve many of the problems that you are having with him.
Remember attention as well and make sure you plan to spend some one on one time with your dog each day. Take some time for training or to toss a ball around or simply to lie down on the floor and rub his belly. He will appreciate getting attention that doesn’t involve correction.
Remember that dogs are instinctual
Lastly, remember that many of the behaviors that your dog does is instinctual. Dogs bark, bite, dig, chew and do a thousand other things that are completely natural for them. When we train our dogs, we are often training them to not do many of those natural behaviors and it can be very easy for a dog to slip into old habits because of this.
While you can’t let the behavior go, understanding that it is completely normal for your dog to behave the way he does is one step closer to solving any problem you do have.
