When behavioral issues are present, it's easy to just blame the dog, but in reality, it's our responsibility to help fix it.
If your dog is behaving abnormally, there may be a disconnect in your relationship and bond. This could be due to trust issues, depression, internal anxiety, or other emotional problem. Here, we will go over some helpful tips suggested by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Organization that may help uncover the issue.
Check and see if you have made any changes recently in your life that could have potentially impacted your dog. If your house size has changed or is just generally too small for your breed of dog, they could be suffering mental consequences of not having enough room (RSPCA). This generally impacts dogs the larger they are and depending on how often or how much access they have to the outdoors. Another thing that could impact this type of emotional response is loneliness. It is important to socialize your dog, and while it is not necessary for dog to dog communication to occur frequently, it is important that you interact with your pet as much as you can. This may mean altering lifestyles so that you can be home sometimes to dedicate a good about of time to bonding with your pet. This increases trust, security, and well-being for your pet.
Another thing to keep in mind is that negative reactions to any actions by the dog can cause emotional disconnection. The term "bad boy" or "bad girl" is common among dog-owners who are angered by their dog for doing something wrong. It is important that you never punish or shout at your dog (RSPCA). Most people don't understand that dog's don't know what you are trying to say when you treat them like this which will only cause them to become more nervous or scared. If there are behavioral issues, it is best to treat it by praising good behavior. If you react too negatively towards your dog, they will feel as if they did something wrong and have lost your trust, but they will never understand why, which could lead to long-term dissociation.
One more issue that could be getting in the way is exercise. Dogs need a lot of regularized exercise, including going on walks and runs (RSPCA). There are telling signs when a dog isn't in shape or active, and could eventually lead to decreased motivations to do any exercise at all. As a dog owner, you should provide time for your dog to exercise to prevent them from becoming distressed or bored (RSPCA).
A final way to help your dog feel emotionally and mentally secure is to allow time for them to sleep and have places where they can feel safe. Most dogs usually claim at least one place in a home that they go to when they feel uncomfortable, this is why it is necessary to not always control where they go and when. It is also necessary to leave your dog alone for a few long lengths of time during the day because most dogs need up to fourteen hours of rest a day. If you allow these accommodations for your dog, they are way more likely to be receptive to your presence and your relationship.
Works Cited:
RSPCA Staff. “Understanding Your Dogs Behaviour.” Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, RSPCA,
www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/dogs/behaviour.
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