There are different causes for behavior problems in dogs. Often, the foundation for such problems lies in anthropomorphism ( attribution of human qualities to dogs ). We believe that dogs think the same way we do and we react according to this false notion. Jean Donaldson describes this to a tee as the "Walt Disney" factor. Without meaning to, we can eventually reinforce a particular behavior and cause unnecessary stress in our beloved dogs simply because of our erroneous beliefs about the way a dog thinks. When trying to understand your dog by attributing human feelings to a situation, you are barking up the wrong tree.

Another issue to consider when dealing with a behavior problem is the health of our dogs. Your dog may have an undetected illness, disorder or ailment, which prompts him to act in a way that may lead you to believe he has a particular behavior problem, when in fact, a health problem is actually contributing to this. In addition, behavior problems can sometimes develop due to poor quality nutrition. It is important to feed your dog a proper diet, that will benefit his health, and keep you out of the vet's office!

Health problems which experts say may contribute to behavior problems

.Loss of vision ( can cause fearful or agressive behavior )
.Loss of hearing ( can cause agressive behavior if your dog gets startled )
.Arthritis ( can cause frustration due to the constant pain )
.Urinary tract problems ( can cause a loss of housetraining manners )
.Brain tumors or other related illnesses ( can cause severe behavioral changes )

It is important to seek veterinary help when sudden or severe behavioral changes appear, to rule out any important health problems.

Yet another cause of behavior problems can be boredom. Is your dog getting enough mental stimulation? Physical activity is important but what about mental activity? Boredom can result in hyperactivity, destructive or even, agressive behavior. You might think that you are satisfying all of your dog's fundamental needs and that that is enough, but think again. It is true that food, water, vet visits, and the occasional rub-down are all part of your dog's needs. However, your dog needs more. He needs meaningful social interaction with its family/pack; at least 6 hours a day or more of togetherness time and interaction is greatly beneficial. Your dog also needs to experience excitement related to satisfying his natural instincts. Playing with and being around other dogs is one way to accomplish this. Scentwork and tracking are a great way to satisfy instincts as well. This will also work your dog's brain, another need to satisfy. Your dog needs to be challenged and you can help challenge him to solve problems, perhaps through some nosework?

Another common cause of behavior problems is stress. Look closely at your dog's environment. Is he able to socialize with his own species on a regular basis? Are you allowing your dog to be a dog rather than a little person? Are you using calming signals to communicate clearly with your dog, so he can feel comfortable communicating with you and being understood? Are you overtraining your dog? Are you using too many aversives? Does your entire day consist of NO to this, NO to that? Do you reward good behavior ( positive reinforcement ) or do you only punish bad? Did you know your dog can be stressed out for days after a stressful encounter in the park with another dog, too much exercise or too many demands you might put on your dog? After a stressful event of this magnitude, your dog must have some relax time alotted to him so that his stress level can get back down to normal levels. This may take a few days or longer depending on your dog.

If you are thinking of possibly surrendering your dog to rescue due to a behavior problem which you do not feel you can handle, your first recourse should be a behavior consultation with a professional behaviorist/positive reinforcement trainer. Remember, most behavior problems can be fixed with the proper program and your dedication to it. We urge you to look into it further; there are too many dogs out there who are abandoned by their owners due to behavior problems which are actually manageable and/or fixable. You may think it is too much work, or you may feel like you don't want the hassle of dealing with it. But remember, your role in your dog's life is to protect, guide and love him so you can enjoy his friendship for a long time to come. It is so devastating for a dog to be ripped apart from the home and family that he loves! He did not ask to be this way. No matter what, he is always there for you and now, you must be there for him.

Above all, remember that your dog is a dog. He IS your best friend and life companion, and if he could be by your side 24/7, he would. But your dog is NOT a human being. When a problem develops, we must look at it in its proper context. What instincts are not being satisfied? What needs are not being met? Let us look at it with a dog's perspective. Don't forget domestication of the dog does not mean that the dog is part human. What it means is that now we can cohabitate in a harmonious way. We do not think alike, we do not act alike; though we share a strong bond, we are still a separate species. Look for a behaviorist/positive reinforcement trainer that clearly understands this fact and doesn't try to sell you "vengeance" type scenarios or tells you that your dog acts this way because he wants to take over your pack! These things are not happening. Your dog knows that you are not a dog and it is long overdue that we accept this fact so we can have a harmonious, healthy and productive relationship with our dogs. 

Please refer to our dominance theories page for more helpful information.