Sharing your life with a dog can be rewarding and joyful—until behavioral issues pose a challenge. Some can make it difficult to have guests in your home, leave your dog alone, or take them to a park with other dogs. Ask your veterinarian for help managing these common behavioral problems. 

Challenging Dog Behaviors to Ask Your Veterinarian About  

1. Aggression

Aggression can be toward other animals or people, and different dogs exhibit this behavior in different ways. Guarding the food bowl, barking aggressively, baring teeth, or growling are all signs of aggression, and should be addressed. Even if your dog has never attacked someone, it’s important to talk to your veterinarian or contact a dog behaviorist before and person or animal gets hurt.

2. Barking

Barking is normal, but if you live close to neighbors or in an apartment, it can be a nuisance. It’s tempting to yell at your dog for barking, but it’s an ineffective technique and often encourages more barking. Instead, praise your dog for quieting down and offer a treat.  

3. Rough Play

Rough play can easily turn aggressive if you don’t put a stop to it right away. If your dog is playing roughly with you, stand up and freeze in place until they clam down. Playtime with guests or other animals should be monitored if your dog has a tendency to get rough.

4. Jumping on People

A dog who jumps on guests can make hosting visitors or going for a walk stressful. Teaching your dog to obey “sit” and “lie down” commands is an easy way to prevent this. You can teach these skills around guests by putting your dog on a leash when people visit and offering treats for good behavior. Hold onto the leash to encourage compliance and only offer praise when all four paws are on the floor.

5. Chewing

No shoe is safe around a dog who loves to chew. Ask a veterinarian to suggest breed-appropriate toys and try different ones until you find something your dog loves. Put your dog in the crate or behind a gate with toys until the habit of chewing other objects has been broken.

Crescent Springs Animal Hospital is a full-service pet hospital and emergency clinic in Kenton County, KY, with a pharmacy, laboratory, and surgical suite, so you and your pet can make one stop for all of their health care needs. Their team of veterinarians and staff have the training to provide high-quality care and the compassion to treat your pet like family. Call (859) 331-6608 or contact a staff member online to schedule an appointment.