Dog Behavior Problems

Common Dog Behavior Problems

• Anxiety and separation anxiety: fear of being alone, noises, people or other dogs^4,12
• Aggression and biting: the most common reason dogs are referred to behavior specialists, making up about 70% of cases. Fear is the most common motive.^6,3
• Excessive barking: alarm, attention, boredom, frustration or anxiety¹⁵
• Peeing or pooping in the house: often medical, especially in older dogs^16,17
• Eating poop and grass: common and usually normal, but sometimes a sign of illness^18,19
• Destructive chewing: normal in teething puppies, whose adult teeth are in by 7 months. In adult dogs it can be a sign of boredom or separation anxiety.^20,21,12

Most dogs show some behavior their owners would like to change, but serious problems affect a minority. Estimates vary widely depending on how a "problem" is defined.^22,23,4

Medical Causes of Behavior Changes

A vet should check for physical causes before treating a behavior problem, especially if it started suddenly or in an older dog.^2,1 Common medical causes include:^5,24,25,26

• Pain from arthritis, teeth, ears, the back or the belly. Pain is linked to aggression, noise fears, house soiling and excessive licking. Vets may try pain relief to see if behavior improves.
• Hormone and metabolic diseases such as thyroid disease, Cushing's disease and diabetes. Their behavioral signs are often vague.
• Poor vision or hearing, which can make dogs startle or snap
• Cognitive dysfunction (dementia), usually from about age 9. See dog dementia.
• Brain disease and seizures

Low thyroid levels are often blamed for aggression, but the evidence is weak and mixed. Your vet may still test thyroid function as part of a workup.^27,28,24 Taking a video of the behavior at home helps your vet.^2,5

Training That Works, and Methods to Avoid

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) says reward-based methods should be used for all dog training, with no exceptions. It found no evidence that aversive methods are needed.^7,29 Rewarding the behavior you want works because dogs repeat what gets rewarded. Many unwanted habits, like jumping up, persist because they were rewarded in the past.⁸

Avoid:^7,30

• Shock, prong and choke collars
• Spray bottles, shaker cans and compressed air
• Leash jerks and "alpha rolls"
• Flooding, which means forcing a dog to face its fears

These can increase fear and aggression.^6,9 The idea that dogs misbehave to be "dominant" or "pack leader" is outdated. Modern studies of wolves and dogs don't support it, and acting on it often provokes aggression.^31,8,32 Punishing a dog after the fact doesn't work either. The "guilty look" is a reaction to an angry owner, not a sign the dog knows it did wrong.^31,16

When to Get Professional Help

• Your vet is the first stop, to rule out medical causes and discuss medicine.^33,7
• A trainer helps with basic manners. Training isn't legally regulated, so choose one who uses reward-based methods.^33,7
• A veterinary behaviorist (DACVB) is a vet with specialist training who can diagnose medical and behavioral causes and prescribe medicine. A certified applied animal behaviorist (CAAB) has advanced training in animal behavior.³³

Get a specialist for any aggression, self-injury, severe phobias or problems that aren't improving.^1,33 Several prescription medicines are approved for separation anxiety and noise fears in dogs. They work best alongside behavior modification.^34,35,1

Normal Dog Behaviors: Following, Licking, Zoomies and Humping

• Following you everywhere: usually a sign of bonding, or that following has been rewarded, and common in herding and working breeds. A dog with true separation anxiety panics when apart from you. A dog that suddenly becomes clingy may be unwell.¹⁰
• Licking you: often a greeting or exploration. Constant licking of a body part can mean pain, allergies or skin infection. Licking floors or the air can be linked to stomach and gut problems.^36,37 See dog licking paws.
• Zoomies: bursts of frantic running, called FRAPs (frenetic random activity periods). They're normal, especially in puppies and young dogs, and seem to release energy or stress. Keep zooming dogs away from stairs and roads.³⁸
• Humping (mounting): usually play, excitement, stress or sexual behavior, and very rarely about "dominance." Urinary infections and itchy skin can also trigger it. It may continue for several months after neutering. Calmly redirect instead of punishing.³⁹

See also dog shaking and senior dog health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop my dog's bad behavior?

Rule out medical causes, then reward the behavior you want and prevent the unwanted one.

Should I punish my dog?

No. Punishment can increase fear and aggression. Reward-based training works better.

Why has my dog's behavior suddenly changed?

Pain or illness is a common cause, so see your vet.

Who should I see for my dog's behavior problem?

Start with your vet. For aggression or severe fear, ask for a veterinary behaviorist.

Can medicine help behavior problems?

Yes. Prescription medicines can help anxiety, combined with training.