When dog owners seek help for leash-pulling, barking, lunging or other frustrating behaviors, they often focus on the behavior itself, yet many of these problems are symptoms rather than causes. Dogs that feel anxious, insecure, overwhelmed or uncertain frequently express those emotions through behaviors that owners find challenging or upsetting. Understanding why a dog is behaving a certain way is often the first step toward meaningful improvement. To make life pleasant for all involved, small changes can make dogs feel more secure, and a secure dog is generally a happy dog.
Behavior Is Communication
In general, dogs aren’t trying to be difficult, with a few exceptions I have seen in my career. (They know who they are.) It should be realized that behavior is communication. When a dog is pulling on a leash with no overt cause, and it’s chalked up to being “excited” or “stubborn,” ask what the behavior is accomplishing. There may be an underlying cause such as anxiety, fear, frustration, a predatory drive or simply poor training.
Undesirable behavior usually has a cause and is a symptom rather than a diagnosis. Step back and think about causes of the behavior and understand that actions may be a consequence of something else. There is definitely a difference between anxiety, fear and just plain old excitement.
Rule Out Medical Causes
Once we recognize that behavior is often a symptom rather than the problem, the next question becomes whether there is an underlying medical or physical reason. Puppies are puppies and generally don’t have significant medical problems contributing to behavior issues, but they do teethe, which can be uncomfortable, and some may even have “growing pains.” In all dogs, whenever a sudden behavioral change develops with no apparent cause, a veterinary exam may be warranted before the issue is assumed to be purely behavioral.
Just like people, dogs will be grumpy if in pain. Osteoarthritis can make dogs less tolerant of handling or other dogs. Older (and sometimes even not-so-old) dogs may not simply grow grumpy being around puppies ‒ they may have aching joints and not want to rough-house. Pain also greatly increases reactivity and possibly even biting behavior. The same can be attributed to hearing and vision loss. They may be more or less reactive. We’ve touched upon this in past articles. Brain aging leads to behavioral changes, as does endocrine disease. There may be something medical behind that behavior you are noticing.
Creating Predictability
We generally like routines, and so do dogs. A routine reduces uncertainty, and reducing uncertainty leads to less anxiety. Stable routines for feeding, exercise, rest, training and home schedules usually make for a happier dog.
Behavioral changes and anxieties may be noted when routines are broken in unexpected ways. Moving residences, adding a new family member (human or animal), losing a companion pet, changing jobs or schedules, boarding and travel may all trigger behavioral changes. New behavior developing? Ask if anything in the routine has changed.
Adding Enrichment
Here’s a theme we have addressed over the years. Remember that a bored dog may easily become stressed. While exercise is essential, being tired or physically fit isn’t sufficient: they must use their brains! Monotony leads to bad behavior in dogs and people. A “misbehaving” dog may need more enrichment. Consider sniff-walks, food puzzles, simple training games, hide-and-seek with treats or teaching a new trick. Mental exercise often tires a dog more effectively than another mile on the leash. A tired dog is not necessarily a calm dog; a mentally-enriched dog is better equipped to handle stress.
Positive Experiences
A rule of training is, “reward good behavior, ignore bad.” Remember that attention is a reward. Dogs do not always understand why they are being corrected, particularly if the correction occurs after the behavior has already happened. Or if harsh, a corrective command may increase fear and anxiety! Modern behavioral training focuses on rewarding desired behaviors rather than punishing unwanted ones. Dogs that feel safe and successful are generally more receptive to learning than dogs that are fearful or confused. Avoid known stressful situations whenever possible and don’t overwhelm them with stimuli. It is important to set them up with positive experiences in order to succeed.
Patience Matters
Confidence is not an innate behavior ‒ it develops over time. Progress is rarely linear and often comes in fits and starts. Many owners hope for immediate improvement, but confidence, resilience and trust are usually built over weeks or even months. While exercise is important, many anxious dogs benefit just as much from mental enrichment, training and predictable routines.
Perhaps most importantly, the solution is often not simply finding a way to stop an unwanted behavior, but understanding what that behavior is trying to communicate. When we address the underlying cause, whether it is pain, anxiety, uncertainty, boredom or a lack of training, we frequently find that the behavior improves on its own. The goal is not perfection but helping a dog become more comfortable, confident and resilient. A secure dog is generally a happier dog, and a happier dog makes life more enjoyable for everyone. Like most worthwhile things in life, that takes time.
Dan Teich, DVM, is the founder of District Veterinary Hospitals.
