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The almost perfect, well-balanced, well-mannered dogs that are so well controlled and trained
by their humans that major behavior problems never become fully-realized because minor
behavior problems are effectively addressed.
Dogs that possess a non-threatening but mildly irritating behavior problem such as leash
pulling, excessive barking or reactivity to other dogs, or not listening that has the potential to
escalate to a threatening behavior problem like out-of-control hyperactivity, separation
anxiety, possessiveness, and aggression.
Physical discomfort, old-age (including loss of sight and hearing, and arthritis), injury, or
illness. Always have a veterinarian assess your dog for a physical problem before seeking
training to address anxious or aggressive behavior, especially if the behavior really has
appeared overnight.
Dogs in the throes of a serious, fully-realized behavior problem.
You don't have a severe problem now, should you take preventative steps?
How did this happen?
Behavior Escalation
When it comes to behavior, there are really only three types of dogs out there:
Learn more:
No one approaches a trainer with a "good" dog that they'd like to make into a "super-dog." As a
professional trainer, I tend to see people who are in the throes of a severe behavior problem:
usually some form of anxiety, hyperactivity, or aggression. A trainer is often the "last resort" that
dog owners seek after their dog has delivered a severe enough wake-up call (a bite, major property
damage, or injury to self). Dogs learn from their environment, people, and other animals. It's very
infrequent that even these severe wake-up calls were completely unforeseen. You can read more
about how dogs teach themselves unwanted behavior in the article, "Finding a Training Approach
that's Right for You." Usually even severe behavior problems have a gradual escalation in severity
that was likely not apparent to the dog's owners.
Accompanying the behavior problem(s) from the dog is usually a host of excuses from the owners for why the behaviors are occurring: the dog was startled, there was food nearby, or it was their natural instinct kicking in. We (me included) are very good at denial and at rationalizing our dog's behavior or wishing it away saying, "maybe it's just a phase that she'll grow out of."
A combination of owner denial, behavior rationalization, and busy schedules contributes to the development of severe behavior problems in dogs. With some dogs it can take very little time and reinforcement for a minor behavior infraction to become a major, scary problem.
Accompanying the behavior problem(s) from the dog is usually a host of excuses from the owners for why the behaviors are occurring: the dog was startled, there was food nearby, or it was their natural instinct kicking in. We (me included) are very good at denial and at rationalizing our dog's behavior or wishing it away saying, "maybe it's just a phase that she'll grow out of."
A combination of owner denial, behavior rationalization, and busy schedules contributes to the development of severe behavior problems in dogs. With some dogs it can take very little time and reinforcement for a minor behavior infraction to become a major, scary problem.
Internal Causes of Behavior Escalation
The majority of dogs out there fall into that second category: they possess some mild unwanted
behavior that has the potential to develop into something serious. If you're being honest with
yourself, you already know if your dog fits into that category. The real question becomes what
causes dogs to escalate their behavior from mildly annoying to frightening and will my dog do it?
Time and repeated reinforcement of the unwanted behavior, often unwittingly or unknowingly
reinforced by the owners. Examples of common behaviors that are unwittingly reinforced over
time include, pushy, demanding behaviors, leash-pulling, separation anxiety, and jumping up.
Environmental Causes of Behavior Escalation
A generally stressful, uncertain, unstructured living environment. Dogs find comfort in
routine. Lack of routine creates stress and over time that can cause a dog to act out.
A major life event that create stress and uncertainty. Examples include moving to a new
home, having a baby, adding a new dog, or the dog being involved in a fight.
All dogs have a different tolerance for stress. For some dogs, it's a very low threshold. These dogs
will escalate a lot faster. Dogs that are more laid back but feeling the effects of stress will take
longer to develop the more serious behavior problems. This is where the genetics sometimes come
back into play. If you have a high drive, high energy dog, or one with unstable genetics to begin
with (think puppy mill again), you will likely see the escalation more quickly.
The average black lab or mixed breed that's a little more laid back will probably take longer to escalate and may never get to the point where the behavior becomes intolerable. Rather, they and the owners will live their entire lives together in a state of mild frustration at the dog's behavior and inability to communicate effectively.
The average black lab or mixed breed that's a little more laid back will probably take longer to escalate and may never get to the point where the behavior becomes intolerable. Rather, they and the owners will live their entire lives together in a state of mild frustration at the dog's behavior and inability to communicate effectively.
While the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" applies in some cases with dogs, in other
situations it's wise to take pre-emptive measures to avoid behavior problems down the line. Due to
their environment and genetics, some dogs are at a higher risk for developing unwanted behaviors
and for faster behavior escalation. If any of the descriptions below sound familiar to you, you should
seek professional help for even mild behavior problems, and also as a precaution to prevent issues
from developing later on, even if they aren't yet surfacing.
It's the first dog (especially a puppy) that the owners have ever had-especially if it happens to
be a high caliber breed such as a German Shepherd, Rottweiler, or American Staffordshire
Terrier. Young couples planning to eventually start a family may take the intermediate step of
getting a puppy to simulate the experience of having a child. This can create problems for
everyone if they find it difficult to enforce healthy boundaries and discipline with their furry
pseudo child. A dog is not a human child, and if inexperienced owners treat it like one,
behavior problems can develop very quickly.
The dog is from a pet store or online broker. These are usually "pure bred" or "designer" dogs
from large, commercial puppy breeding operations (puppy mills). Besides being born and
raised in a bad environment and with a significant lack of human and environmental
socialization, many may also have bad genetics contributing to their behavior issues.
Problems typically experienced with these dogs is inability to house train or crate train, a high
degree of anxiety or nervousness in any new situation, and separation anxiety.
The dog was purchased from a breeder after 12 weeks of age. Most breeders sell a litter by
eight weeks of age. If the breeder was responsible, they did as much handling and socializing
as they could with the pups during that time. If a dog is left after that eight week period
passes, it may already have a behavioral deficiency (that the breeder may or may not disclose
to you). Or, the breeder may be holding onto the dog to be used for breeding. If they change
their mind and decide to sell the dog later on, it may not have received the proper training
and socialization necessary to become a well-adjusted adult pet dog for a household. Of
course there are many good adult dogs sold by breeders, but don't automatically assume that
because it's from a private breeder, its fool proof. Behavior problems are typically the same
as with dogs purchased from puppy mills, mentioned above.
A dog from a shelter or foster group, especially adult dogs (one year or older). While shelters
and fosters typically do their best to train and socialize dogs to maximize adoptability and
permanent placement, many dogs have been shuffled through multiple homes or had difficult
lives spent fending for themselves with minimal human contact and these rescue
organizations have limited resources with which to help them. Potentially difficult behavior
problems related to socialization and anxiety may appear later on.
You have the best chance to resolve, reverse, and permanently change unwanted behavior and avoid
severe behavior problems by addressing the issue early, when it's still relatively mild. Seek help at
the first indication that the dog's behavior may not be able to be managed or is escalating to
another level.
The "blame game"
As with all things training-related, the dog is only half of the equation. The humans that handle the
dog and create the dog's home environment comprise at least half, if not more, of the problem and
solution. Even if your dog's behavior problems are mild, if you fit any of the descriptions below, you
should seriously consider getting professional help for your dog's behavior problems.
You are scared, apprehensive, or anxious around your dog. You will be ineffective at
retraining your dog if you're intimidated by the dog or uncertain about what you're doing. The
dog can sense your uneasiness and that will hinder your ability to calmly and confidently
communicate your behavior expectations.
You've tried training classes or used a trainer in the past and were unsuccessful-now you're
thinking about trying a different approach and have a lot of doubts about effectively training
your dog. It's important to commit to a single training approach and/or tool for a period of
time (a minimum of several months to a year). Quickly switching from one approach to
another will confuse the dog and can lead to ineffective training at best, or increased
behavior problems at worst. Check out the article entitled "Finding a Training Approach that's
Right for You" for additional information about finding an effective training approach.
You've had "bad luck" with dogs in the past. There's no nice way to say this, but if you've had
multiple dogs throughout your life and always experienced behavior problems, it may not be
the dogs, it may be you. The good news is it's relatively easy to change your own behavior if
you can commit to it. Once you change how you handle and interact with your dog, the rest is
easy.
A Word about "Doing it Yourself"
An effective DIY analogy for dog training would be the difference between trying to treat a small cut
and a large, infected wound at home. A small cut may be treated effectively at home with a band
aid. If the small cut becomes infected, or you're dealing with a large wound, you've got to go to a
hospital and get a professional involved. If your dog is already deep into a serious behavior problem
(a serious wound), you should seek professional help and not try to address the problem on your
own. You risk making it worse with ineffective training and the result of this could be serious,
including injury to you or your dog. If you're dealing with a mild behavior annoyance (a small cut),
and you feel relatively confident about your ability to address it at home, give it a shot. If the
problem worsens, you can always call in a trainer at that point.
If after reading this article you're ready to try addressing the problem on your own, you can obtain training DVDs, books, read articles online, and even use YouTube to view training videos. Beware when using any of these resources. There are a myriad of different training tools and approaches out there, not all of which are necessarily well-suited to your specific behavior problem, dog, or lifestyle-meaning not all tools and approaches have an equal chance at getting you the training results you want. While you can ask specific questions of the trainer sitting in your living room, you can't do so of the trainer in the DVD.
If you're ready to bring in a professional, review the article, "Choosing a Dog Trainer that's Right for You" for more specific tips and information about locating a good trainer or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
If after reading this article you're ready to try addressing the problem on your own, you can obtain training DVDs, books, read articles online, and even use YouTube to view training videos. Beware when using any of these resources. There are a myriad of different training tools and approaches out there, not all of which are necessarily well-suited to your specific behavior problem, dog, or lifestyle-meaning not all tools and approaches have an equal chance at getting you the training results you want. While you can ask specific questions of the trainer sitting in your living room, you can't do so of the trainer in the DVD.
If you're ready to bring in a professional, review the article, "Choosing a Dog Trainer that's Right for You" for more specific tips and information about locating a good trainer or contact us to schedule a free consultation.
By Sarah Smith (CPT)
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