5 Common Dog Behavior Issues and How to Solve Them

Dealing with behavior issues is a significant part of owning a dog. From dogs running away to separation anxiety, each behavioral problem presents unique challenges.

In this blog post, we will do a deep dive into five common dog behavior issues and offer tips and strategies to help you solve them. These insights draw on techniques used at University of Dog to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce problematic ones. You can help your dog become a well-behaved family member through understanding, patience, setting boundaries, and consistency. 

1. My Dog Won’t Come When Called or Runs Away

One of the most common and potentially dangerous behavior issues is when your dog refuses to come when called or runs away. For instance, if a dog runs off in a public place, they could end up in a traffic-filled road or become lost in unfamiliar territory. If your dog refuses to respond to you, they may not be able to navigate safely back, resulting in harm or distress for both you and your dog.

Dog owners typically think this is an obedience problem, but it’s about the relationship you share with your dog. A strong, balanced relationship built on trust and respect will get your dog’s attention when a reward isn’t present.

Yes, obedience training helps, but when you’re not in practice mode, and treats aren’t involved, whether your dog comes when called depends on if they consider you important enough to listen to. Obedience training doesn’t make an obedient dog — building a solid relationship with your dog is crucial. 

 

Use Run Away Recalls

We use a technique at University of Dog called “run away recalls” – you run away and build your dog’s desire to come to you – with consistent practice and positive reinforcement to solve this issue through a strong reflexive response. 

When working on this skill with your dog, using a different phrase than your standard command for emergency recall can be helpful. Choose something unique – like “stat,” “pronto,” or “home” – and say it brightly, almost like a trumpet call. This specific sound will make the command more distinct for your dog.

Make sure not to overuse the recall cue. Only use this special cue in emergencies or when practicing obedience skills. When trained well, your dog will respond reflexively and come when called, no matter what’s happening around them. 

In practice, reward and praise your dog generously when they come when called. This must be done with your dog’s most prized reward: their favorite food, toy, or affection.

With time, patience, and consistency, you can train your dog to come when called, even when they’re running away. Remember that a strong relationship with your dog is the cornerstone of successful training. If your dog sees you as important in their world, they’re more likely to listen and take direction from you.

 

2. My dog pulls on the leash and lunges at strangers.

Does your dog pull on the leash or lunge at strangers, bikes, or other dogs when walking? This leash reactivity is a common concern among dog owners, which can turn a pleasant walk into a stressful experience.

The key to addressing this issue lies in understanding a simple formula:

A Tight Leash + Adrenaline = Reactivity

It’s like a match to gasoline. If we can teach very good loose leash walking, we can reduce leash reactivity by about 80%. The reason? There isn’t tension on the leash that often triggers the dog’s reactivity.

But what about the remaining 20% of dogs that still react? This subset may have been reactive for so long or might have genetic predispositions leading them to struggle with adrenaline response to excitement or fear. 

Around 5% of this subset may be stuck in an adrenaline/dopamine cycle – an addiction. These dogs may have had a legitimate reason to react defensively in the past, which led them to associate this state with empowerment. They seek out situations that trigger their adrenaline, contributing to their reactive behavior.

In these cases, applying appropriate perception modification principles and relaxation skills is crucial. This involves starting work with the dog under threshold and gradually raising the difficulty level, exercising patience in the process.

Teach Your Dog to Relax

To address reactivity, we must teach dogs how to enjoy relaxing and access GABA (a gamma-calming neurotransmitter). Many dogs don’t readily access this neurotransmitter, but once they experience the calming effect of GABA, they’re likely to seek it more often.

Think of relaxation and adrenaline as sitting on a 0-10 scale (0 is completely relaxed, and 10 is full adrenaline – barking, whining, and lunging). When a dog is out on a walk and primed for reactivity, they are sitting at a 7 or 8, on the verge of erupting. However, with relaxation practices, we can lower this baseline to a manageable 3 or 4, making them less likely to react at the slightest trigger.

At University of Dog, we teach a triad of relaxation practices for dogs that pull on the leash or lunge at strangers. In these practices, we teach dogs to self-satisfy through relaxing. Doing so improves their leash manners and contributes to their overall well-being.

3. My dog jumps on people. 

This issue is a common complaint among dog owners. Jumping can be a challenging habit to break, whether during greetings, when guests come over, or when the owner returns home. 

Often, this behavior traces back to puppyhood, making correcting it from the start crucial. Let’s see how we can nip this before it becomes a significant problem.

Addressing the Behavior in Puppyhood

The issue usually starts innocently. Imagine a 9-week-old puppy approaching you and placing their paws on your shins, seeking attention. If you pet them in response, you’re teaching them that putting their paws on you will get your attention. 

This pattern continues, and while it may not bother you when they’re small, it becomes a problem as they grow bigger. When this behavior that has worked for so long suddenly doesn’t yield the desired attention, the dog may resort to more vigorous attempts to gain your attention, such as jumping. 

So, it’s essential not to encourage such behavior in puppies. Instead, reward them when they keep their paws on the floor.

 

Addressing the Behavior in Dogs

If the dog has already developed the jumping habit, you can try to offset it. For food-motivated dogs, sprinkle a “confetti party” of high-value treats, like crumbled bacon, redirecting their excitement to search the floor, keeping their paws on the ground. Only acknowledge the dog once they have settled down.

Additionally, teaching dogs to respect threshold areas (such as the entrance door) can help manage this issue. Mark off these areas with painter’s tape, and through fair boundary correction and reward, the dog can learn to stay back when someone is coming through the door.

Teaching Alternative Behaviors

We can also teach them alternative behaviors, like going to a specific bed or area. The dog gets acknowledged in that area; thus, they begin to associate that area with positive reinforcement. But it’s essential to give your dog a choice; if you merely direct them to a spot without any options, they aren’t learning to control their behavior.

Letting the dog think they have a decision or shaping the situation so they believe it’s their idea often yields the best results. It’s always better when the dog thinks it’s their idea.

4. My dog steals and guards items.

A commonly observed behavior among dogs is what’s known as resource guarding. This refers to when a dog becomes overly protective or possessive over an item or “resource,” such as food, toys, or specific spaces. 

Understanding why this happens and how to address it is essential to maintaining a peaceful and safe home environment. Resource guarding often starts from puppyhood, and certain behaviors from their human counterparts can inadvertently encourage it. 

Implement a Trade System

If your puppy picks up something and you immediately take it from them, you’re teaching them to protect their finds. It’s the same principle as if you found a $100 bill on the street, and someone just came up and took it. The next time, you would guard it or hide it. 

It’s crucial to implement a trade system. Offer a treat or toy of higher value to encourage your dog to drop what they have willingly.

Puppy-Proof Your House

To reduce the chances of your dog taking something important, puppy-proof your house. Keep items that your dog might be inclined to steal out of reach. Also, avoid playing chase games, which can inadvertently encourage stealing and guarding behaviors.

If your dog has picked something up, an effective strategy is to drop multiple pieces of food, redirecting their attention from the object to the food. As they go to grab the food, you can calmly pick up the item and put it away.

Think About How You Feed

A common misconception is that you should put your hand in your puppy’s food bowl to prevent food guarding. However, this can be seen as threatening and can encourage resource guarding. 

Instead, you must build a solid relationship based on trust and respect. This means playing fair, sharing, and not coveting objects your dog values.

If you want to have your hand involved with feeding, consider hand-feeding your puppy. Doing so builds trust and helps you to develop a stronger bond.

Teach Reflexive Response to “Drop It” and “Leave It”

It’s important to teach behaviors like “drop it” and “leave it.” Playing games such as tug and fetch can also be helpful, as they allow your dog to practice these behaviors. For example, in a game of fetch, they’re instructed to drop the toy before they can play again.

Overall, addressing issues related to resource guarding requires patience, understanding, and consistent, fair training.

5. My dog has separation anxiety.

Separation anxiety can be a serious issue among dogs. It’s characterized by signs of distress and problematic behaviors when separated from their primary caretaker. It can be a significant challenge for many dog owners, but understanding its root causes and how to manage it can make a world of difference.

This issue usually begins during puppyhood. For instance, after bringing a new puppy home, many pet parents make the mistake of immediately responding to their puppy’s cries when placed in the crate. After this pattern repeats several times, the puppy learns to associate crying with getting let out of the crate, which can plant the seed for separation anxiety to develop.

Teach Your Puppy to Self-Soothe

It’s important to let your puppy learn to self-soothe. Cover the crate and let the puppy cry for a while, usually around 10-30 minutes before they stop. To simplify this process, consider using a puppy toy you can stuff with food and freeze. 

Remote feeders are also available that hang on the crate door and provide food at varying intervals. Doing so helps keep the puppy occupied and encourages them to settle.

If you notice that your puppy cries for over an hour straight, this may indicate a more serious problem, and you should seek professional help.

Handle Personal Space in a Healthy Way

If your dog tends to be overly clingy, introduce a place bed and teach them to stay on it even when you’re nearby. This is a great way to establish boundaries and promote independence.

Incorporate crate nap times in your routine, complete with a relaxing environment and a chew toy. “Exercise pens” are also excellent for teaching your puppy about boundaries. These are 4×4 areas that you can move around, providing a safe space for your puppy to play and rest while you’re a few feet away.

Separation Anxiety in Older Dogs

A three-sided approach may be helpful for older dogs with deeply ingrained separation anxiety. This process involves balancing the relationship, teaching them impulse control through good obedience training, and applying relaxation techniques. In some cases, short-term medication may also aid the training process.

Remember, dealing with dog separation anxiety requires patience and understanding. 

Solve Common Dog Behavior Issues at University of Dog

Each bark, growl, or wag has a meaning in the complex and nuanced language of dog behavior. As we have seen, many common behavioral issues stem from misunderstanding, fear, or the need for connection. 

Addressing them requires patience, consistent practice, and a balanced relationship built on mutual respect and trust. Here at the University of Dog, we understand these needs and have developed our training to help you navigate your journey as a pet parent. Whether you have a new puppy at home or an older dog exhibiting challenging behaviors, we can help. 

We use evidence-based methods grounded in best practices (Best Practices Dog Training™) that respect the emotional needs of your pet while providing you with the tools you need to guide them effectively. We believe in fostering strong, positive relationships between dogs and their owners that stand the test of time.

At University of Dog, we believe every dog deserves guidance and love. Take the first step in transforming your relationship with your dog – take a course today.

If you’re already experiencing difficult behaviors, you’re not alone. We offer a 90-minute behavioral consultation where you meet with our behavior modification specialist. She will answer your questions and explain how to address your dog’s behavior concerns with homework.

After 5-10 business days, you’ll receive a custom behavioral plan including various skills to learn and recommendations for classes and private sessions to address your dog’s behavior. You can schedule your consultation now!