Preventing the escalation of behaviour problems in dogs
As a dog trainer and behaviourist I deal with problem behaviour in dogs nearly every day. These can range from the relatively benign – puppy chewing for example, something which can be often simply addressed through management and appropriate outlets; to the more serious behaviours like growling over stolen items and even dogs who have escalated to more serious demonstrations of aggression towards people and dogs.
Some of these dogs have complex histories, dogs from abroad for example can have traumatic pasts and not be able to easily adapt to domestic life or may have triggers around men or people in general that may not have treated them kindly. Or a dog demonstrating aggression to other dogs may have had an unpleasant experience with other dogs in a significant developmental stage which has caused lasting anxieties about the presence of other dogs. These types of behaviours are best addressed via a behaviour consultation or longer 1-2-1 package to provide support and continuity.
Sometimes, however, if spotted early enough and addressed there and then, some problems can be prevented from becoming much bigger. This is the stage where I wish more people would ask for that help. So often I see dogs when the problems have become so much bigger and much more established and difficult to resolve without a significant investment of time and money.
This purpose of this blog post is to help you prevent problems from even starting and, if they do, spotting the early signs so they don’t escalate to a major behaviour problem.
If you are experiencing problems, here are a few tips to get you thinking about what you can do to change the outcome for the behaviour you are seeing.
Prevention
Behaviours which are regularly practiced and rehearsed become stronger. What can you do to change this? Very simple strategies might include:
Using a long line outside if your dog has started to ignore your recall cues (very common in adolescence).
Consider a post-box attached to the wall or a parcels box for your Amazon deliveries if your dog is barking at numerous deliveries to your house.
Change your walking route if your dog can’t cope with walking passed a particular dog who rushes the fence and is now becoming stressed and hypervigilant on all their walks.
Teach them to do something else instead
Often, we focus on the ‘don’t do this’ element of a behaviour problem but often it is better to look at what we want the dog to be doing instead.
Can your dog sit instead of jumping all over guests?
Can your dog watch you or search for titbits in the grass when something exciting or scary passes by?
Can your dog chew a stuffed Kong while you prepare dinner so they are not under your feet or jumping at counters?
Change your behaviour
It’s very common for us, as caregivers, to be accidentally reinforcing unwanted behaviours or even exacerbating a problem by not reading our dogs’ emotional state. Here are some examples:
If you are inconsistent about how you allow your dog to greet you or other people then it is difficult for the dog to know what the expectations are of them and may cause frustration about being asked to act differently at different times.
If you have a puppy or young dog (often a spaniel or spaniel cross) who has started stealing items, our instinct is to often catch the dog and take the item out of the dog’s mouth. This can cause either a fear in the dog of the handling or a determination to keep hold of the ‘prize’ and this can then escalate to growling or worse. Try exchanging the item for food when it occurs so the dog learns that something better will appear. Teach a leave, drop and retrieve cue to resolve an already established problem.
These are just a few ideas to help you prevent a problem starting or getting any bigger.
If you recognise you have a problem which is beginning to escalate or you have a puppy and want to give them the very best start to prevent any problems occurring, I have a range of options available to help you, as shown below.
Problem targeting
A single behaviour rarely occurs in a vacuum and resolution can be complex but if you would like a one off targeted 1-2-1 appointment for 1 hour with a bullet point summary to address a single behaviour this is for you. Choose from:
1 hour one to one = £70 + fuel
Package of 3 x 1 hour one to one lessons = £200
(also includes WhatsApp support over a 3 month period)
Puppy 1:1
Problem prevention and understanding how best to manage the behaviours you are seeing when you bring your puppy home.
1 hour one to one = £70 + fuel
Package of 3 x 1 hour one to one lessons = £200
(also includes WhatsApp support over a 3 month period)
Adolescent chaos
Has your adorable puppy just hit adolescence and you are experiencing a range of problems which you hadn’t anticipated? This is for you!
1 hour one to one = £70 + fuel
Package of 3 x 1 hour one to one lessons = £200
(also includes WhatsApp support over a 3 month period)
Every dog and every situation is unique. Whether you’re looking for help with a specific behaviour, want to support your adolescent dog through this tricky stage, or are aiming to give your puppy the very best start, I’m here to help. Together, we can put a plan in place that’s kind, practical, and tailored to you and your dog’s needs.
Why not get in touch today for a friendly chat about how I can support you? Or, if you prefer, book a one-to-one session now and take the first step towards a calmer, happier life with your dog.
